Petting Dogs At A Dog Show.

[Blackdogs]

A couple of years ago I went to the Royal Show to see the animals. This is the only reason I tend to go to the show, the rides and show bags don't really interest me. I particularly enjoy seeing the dogs and will often choose a day that some of my favourite breeds are being shown.

If the exhibitor/owner is present I sometimes ask to interact with their dogs, some of them say no, others seem genuinely delighted that I'm showing an interest and agree. I don't expect all people to be okay with me petting their dogs, and it doesn't bother me if they decline, however, on this occasion I was surprised when I got a very hostile reaction.

A lady was brushing her GSD in a stall and I asked whether I could pet him/her, as the dog seemed relaxed and content. The lady said 'of course' and then wandered off leaving me with the dog who was soaking up the attention. A lady in the stall next to her however, took this opportunity to berate me.

She told me that the dogs were not there for my 'personal amusement', they were there to be shown and that no one should be asking to pet any of the dogs. She told me I shouldn't be touching other people's property and instructed me to leave the dog alone.

So. Am I missing something here? Is this the typical attitude of showies towards people who want to inteact with their dogs? Are they just generally too polite to tell the public to piss off when they ask to pet their dogs? Was this a terrible faux pas on my behalf?

I know there are a lot of show people in here, I'd be interested in hearing your opinions.

[Salukifan]

Only wrong if you don't ask first.

My dogs enjoy the attention but just as they are due in the ring is not the time. However, mine are smooth coated and don't have "hairstyles" that can be mussed up.

Dogs and exhibitors are different. Don't generalise either the good or the bad - take each as they come.

[*Lolapalooza*]

The lady in the next stall sounds like a mole. My dogs throw themselves at people at the Rpyal and they love it. She obviously had her knickers in a knot and decided to take it out on you.

I often get my dogs out at shows for public to pat.

[~*Shell*~]

I understand if you hadn't asked and were patting a dog while someone was trying to groom it for the ring - a few years ago at sydney royal, snofyre was trying to get magnus ready and I ended up having to stand between the fence and magnus on the grooming table because people kept patting him without asking. It was very annoying. But you asked, the owner said it was okay, what business is it of another person if you pat a dog that isn't theirs? If she didn't want you to pat the dog, she would have said no.

[tdierikx]

Just ignore the "precious" ones... the lady that let you interact with her dog is more likely to be the one you might want a pup from in future as she obviously socialises her dogs well...

I can probably see some people with a coated breed that has taken ages to get "just right" may not want you ruffling through their fur, but if you've asked and been given permission to cuddle a dog, go for it!

Some dogs can get a little narked at all the attention at shows like the Royal sometimes too, and if that's the case, then the dog will probably back away from yet another pat... not come across many of those yet though - especially if you are gentle about it and talk gently to the dog.

T.

[Andisa]

Ahh - yes the coated breed. I was chatting to a lady who was getting her Bernese mountain dog ready ages ago, she was lovely, dog so so sweet I could have rubbed my face in his coat. She had a smile and said it's easy to see I have short coated breeds...I almost died when I realized I had upset the luscious coat. NO harm done, she fixed the coat up and when she was finished with him she told he I could go for it now. .

To the OP - that lady sounded snotty, you never touched her dog and had permission to touch the other dog - don't worry about it.

As said above - easy to see the type of person you would want to buy a puppy from.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Andisa

[Allerzeit]

You asked, and you were given permission - so the cranky bat in the next bench should mind her own business!

Gawd, if you tried to walk past my dogs without paying them attention at a show, they would sulk! Like others mentioned though, we don't have coat to worry about.

[rusty&biscuit]

I've seen one or 2 people like that in 4 years, but most people are lovely and so willing to share their information. My 3 LOVE the attention they get at the ag shows, so as long as people ask, I am more than happy for them to pat my dogs. A bit off topic, but I notice that each year more and more children ask to pat, which is excellent

Anyway, like others have said, there will be some petty ones, but majority of "showies" are very nice, so just take them as they come :)

[Evolving]

I have only been to one Royal so far. Anyone who wanted to pat my girl was given permision. I even put her up on her troley at times so people could get a closer look at her.

If you speak to Lappiemum she has a boy to who the show is just a small inconvenience in the middle of his day of cuddles and pats from all and sundry.

[Rebanne]

you are asking this 2 years after the event

[WoofnHoof]

The lady in the next stall sounds like a mole. My dogs throw themselves at people at the Rpyal and they love it. She obviously had her knickers in a knot and decided to take it out on you.

I often get my dogs out at shows for public to pat.

OT but I haven't heard that expression for years! Thanks for the lols :D

Agree with everyone else, if you ask and the owner is happy for you to pat the dog then that is all that matters :)

[redangel]

I think it is good manners to ask, some dogs have completed their campaign on the day and a request for a pat is ok. I think if you are genuinely interested in a breed most exhibitors are quite happy to listen & chat. I guess there are also some people who come to look at dog shows to treat them like free petting zoos and so in the case of the exhibitor you spoke to she may have encountered some of these. Ive seen it where people shove whiny kids at dogs to appease them with "pat the nice doggie!" Poor form.

Especially in the coated breeds handling can upset the coat presentation during show handling is not encouraged. Agreed different people have different opinions on people touching their dogs so it is no hard rule on this. Also some people lack the skills to convey their concerns in a nice way :)

[Greytmate]

Large ag shows will have displays from dog food companies and other groups with dogs or pups, the dogs being exhibited are not the only dogs there. There are always dog at large shows that you can meet and pat.

Imagine going through the craft pavilion, and trying to touch all the soft fluffy garments exhibits there. Or wanting to taste the cakes in the cake pavilion. Appealing, but not allowed.

The public should be aware that until judging is completed, they should keep their grubby mitts off the entries.

The exhibitors should be aware that they can ask a person to come back after judging and touch the dog then , or they could point the public in the direction of other dogs that have already been judged or who are there as part of a display instead of as show exhibits. Just saying "no" is mean and doesn't help the public understand anything.

I think sometimes the public has an unreal expectation of how they should engage with animals at a show. You can go to the amusement section and pay for a pony ride if you want or visit the baby animal nursery and see what they let you touch in there. But show exhibits are there for a serious purpose, and that needs to be respected.

[Salukifan]

Large ag shows will have displays from dog food companies and other groups with dogs or pups, the dogs being exhibited are not the only dogs there. There are always dog at large shows that you can meet and pat.

Royal Shows that are benched shows, on the other hand, have the dogs displayed for the public as part of the conditions of entry and exhibitors need to keep their company manners on display at all times as well.

"A polite, if you come back after judging, I'd be happy to let you meet my dog" or even "sorry but he's not fond of strangers" sure beats snarling like a biatch. :)

Edited April 25, 2012 by Haredown Whippets

[Diva]

She had probably had a few bad experiences with the public treating her dogs inappropriately and was taking it out on you. Not fair but human. Or she might just have been cranky that day. It was a couple of years ago you say, has it been playing on your mind all that time?

Most people are happy to have the public interact with their dogs under supervision and at an appropriate time, but not right before going in the ring.

I have had the other extreme, with an official at an Ag Show standing in front of my gazebo and telling some of the public not to bother about the gazebos,the public could enter any of them at will and look at any dog they wanted, whether people were in them or not. Umm, hang on, what about personal possessions in the gazebos, the valuables that go missing sometimes, the dogs having a sleep and exhibitors needing a break or preparing for the ring. I am very happy to talk to the public but not to have them wandering through my stuff.

[WreckitWhippet]

I say no most of the time to interacting with my dogs. My dogs go to shows for the purpose of exhibition and like any interaction I pick and choose who and when I want them to interact with other people or dogs.

Fair enough if someone else wants the public patting their dog, I'm not about to rip a member of the public a new one for it.

I do however feel that it creates some expectations amongst the general public and some even think they have the right to touch your dogs, regardless of you being there or having asked first.

[Greytmate]

One thing that I have always found a bit annoying is the accidental layout of most shows. There are usually no clearly defined public and non-public areas. The benching arrangements have evolved over many years, and at outdoor shows the layout is usually to benefit the society and the competitors, with little thought to public access.

This is why we have these problems and this is why we have this thread.

If things were laid out a bit better,with appropriate modern signage, the public would know what they could and could not go, they would understand in advance what they could and what they could not touch. And everyone would be so much happier and more satisfied. -the public, competitors and most importantly, the dogs.

[SwaY]

I say no most of the time to interacting with my dogs. My dogs go to shows for the purpose of exhibition and like any interaction I pick and choose who and when I want them to interact with other people or dogs.

Fair enough if someone else wants the public patting their dog, I'm not about to rip a member of the public a new one for it.

I do however feel that it creates some expectations amongst the general public and some even think they have the right to touch your dogs, regardless of you being there or having asked first.

Agreed

[capanash]

We show Standard Poodles, probably the most labour intensive breed to prepare for a show, and we are always happy to let members of the public interact with our dogs. Even a fully groomed show poodle with a topknot full of hairspray has some part of the coat accessible for a pat. However, we do expect basic dog courtesy, ask permission, let the dog smell the back of their hand, not pat them on the head or ears and not when we are about to go in the show ring. We often take one of our retired dogs to a show just so there is a poodle available for the public to pat without having to worry about their coat.

We are there to promote our beautiful purebreed dogs.

We have also seen members of the public do really stupid things around dogs. Recently at a country show, a whole family came up to our dogs in their puppy pen with a blanket around the side, approached from behind and lent over the top of the pen and tried to pat them. We were distracted watching the ring, nearly ready to go in to show and didn't see the family even though we were standing right beside the pen. Dogs went beserk. The whole family got lectured about dog safety, I am an educator with the Resonsible Pet Ownership program.

[Lyss]

There is always going to be stupid people. My mother showed Irish wolfhounds and always got the comment "oh you could put a saddle on that!".. "Its so bloody huge!". We had an idiot jam his hands inside a dogs mouth to prove that he was tough and brave and also people just stroll up and chuck a child on the dogs back to prove that you could ride them. Despite the fact that a wolfhounds back is defintely not strong enough to hold that kind of weight.

However mum was always happy to chat to reasonable people about her dogs and let them have a pat before and after showing. Politely telling the idiots where to go. If you act rude and prudish thats the general impression people are going to leave with and tell there friends about "I wouldn't go to a registerd person to get a pup there all f**cking crazy!".