Petting Dogs At A Dog Show.

[Greytmate]

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

"Grubby mitts"?

I'll have you know my mitts are usually pretty clean. Why do you have so low regard for Mr and Ms Pubic and their 16 screaming children?

:laugh:

Let's eat some greasy fried meat on a stick followed by some fairy floss and an icecream, touch interactive stuff in the government pavilion, feed some straw to a goat, stick our fingers through the bars on all the cages of the fancy chickens, and then go into the dog pavilion. And run our fingers through all that lovely soft white fur. That's what I like to do at the ag show, what do you do there? :laugh:

[Luke W]

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

"Grubby mitts"?

I'll have you know my mitts are usually pretty clean. Why do you have so low regard for Mr and Ms Pubic and their 16 screaming children?

:laugh:

Let's eat some greasy fried meat on a stick followed by some fairy floss and an icecream, touch interactive stuff in the government pavilion, feed some straw to a goat, stick our fingers through the bars on all the cages of the fancy chickens, and then go into the dog pavilion. And run our fingers through all that lovely soft white fur. That's what I like to do at the ag show, what do you do there? :laugh:

I always carry around a pocket full of brown chalk.

and I talk to the general pubic who comment on Elspan Barkly "oh look at his tongue" Blue.

[mita]

I agree, Greytmate. The trick would be to make what behaviours are expected, clear....& why....but without sounding like it's wanted to isolate the dogs from people.

'Just ask & the owner will tell you if it's OK to pat or not.... And they might have time to tell you more about the dog or the breed.' Good way to start a conversation.

My neighbour, who has home-bred racing greyhounds was telling me recently how chuffed he is, when people ask if it's OK for their children to pat his greys. He socialises his puppies & dogs well, so they love being petted.

One of his dogs became a Q'ld sprint champion, but he's just as proud of another, named Bertha, who adores small children & is amazingly good with them. He & Bertha once were almost late for a race at the track, because a family asked if their children could pat her. Which led to a love-in!

Edited April 25, 2012 by mita

[WreckitWhippet]

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

"Grubby mitts"?

I'll have you know my mitts are usually pretty clean. Why do you have so low regard for Mr and Ms Pubic and their 16 screaming children?

:laugh:

Let's eat some greasy fried meat on a stick followed by some fairy floss and an icecream, touch interactive stuff in the government pavilion, feed some straw to a goat, stick our fingers through the bars on all the cages of the fancy chickens, and then go into the dog pavilion. And run our fingers through all that lovely soft white fur. That's what I like to do at the ag show, what do you do there? :laugh:

You're welcome anytime.... You don't come covered in tomato sauce, carrying a dagwood dog and fairy floss, 6 show bags and armed with the shoot-em up gun from the sideshows.

ETA: walk in and sit a can of coke on my trolley and watch me go OFF

Edited April 25, 2012 by Pav Lova

[Keshwar]

I show two breeds that people want to interact with, Afghan Hounds and Irish Wolfhounds.

Generally I'm more than happy for people to interact with my guys. In my experience most people are respectful and ask if they or their kids can pat the dogs. I've even let people pat Lochie, the Afghan, just before I go in the ring It usually doesn't take much to brush a topknot tidy again. Most people realize that it's not on for their kids to have messy hands when they pat a dog. Yes you are going to get all the stupid questions but I see this as an oppurtunity to educate.

For me it works both ways, my dogs get socialization with kids and strangers and I do some breed education and the people walk away feeling good and happy about interacting with the dogs.

IMO aggy shows are great for getting dogs used to all sorts of weird things, kids, strange, loud noises, people in wheel chairs, different animals etc. these are things that you normally don't encounter every day ad are great ways of socializing your dogs and doing breed education and getting the word out about purebred dogs. :)

[Blackdogs]

Lots of interesting responses from people in the show world. Sounds like this woman's attitude was a bit of an aberration, but some show people tire of the attention their dogs' receive. I can understand that.

Thanks for the replies.

Edited April 25, 2012 by Blackdogs

[Blackdogs]

I show two breeds that people want to interact with, Afghan Hounds and Irish Wolfhounds.

Generally I'm more than happy for people to interact with my guys. In my experience most people are respectful and ask if they or their kids can pat the dogs. I've even let people pat Lochie, the Afghan, just before I go in the ring It usually doesn't take much to brush a topknot tidy again. Most people realize that it's not on for their kids to have messy hands when they pat a dog. Yes you are going to get all the stupid questions but I see this as an oppurtunity to educate.

For me it works both ways, my dogs get socialization with kids and strangers and I do some breed education and the people walk away feeling good and happy about interacting with the dogs.

IMO aggy shows are great for getting dogs used to all sorts of weird things, kids, strange, loud noises, people in wheel chairs, different animals etc. these are things that you normally don't encounter every day ad are great ways of socializing your dogs and doing breed education and getting the word out about purebred dogs. :)

You sound like a great breeder and a very tolerant and understanding person. Do you breed or just show?

[Blackdogs]

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.

It was probably well over two years ago, actually. It hasn't really been playing on my mind all this time, but I have occasionally thought about it and wondered what the general consensus among breeders was with regards to things like this.

I can imagine that it would be very waring to have to fend off an inquisitive public when you have a dog that is not great with strangers, so I can see that side of things as well.

[Shelby]

I enjoy having my dogs meet & greet with the public as long as I am not just going in the ring. My dogs enjoy it too especially my boy - he will let people pat and then walk along so the next person has a turn :laugh: I remember one Royal when I grabbed a child's hand before it could land on my girl's white collar and said "sorry, you will have to wash your hands first". The mother looked a bit miffed until I turned the child's hand over - it was yellow from the face paint. I would not have worried but we were just getting ready to go into the ring.

Most of the adults & kids ask if they can pat & I am OK with that. I was a little worried with some of the people at the Pet Expo this year - they seem to think it is OK to grab either side of the dog's head & then eye ball it whilst talking. Thankfully my dogs were OK although I kept a close eye.

I was a bit sorry this year that my bench was not where the public could get a pat so took them over the Dogs NSW stand after we had been judged for about an hour so people could have a pat. It is lovely hearing people tell their stories about dogs they might have had as kids or giving sympathy to those who have just lost a dog.

[Aetherglow]

Even a dog that loves people needs a break after a while. My girl loves meeting people, but a Royal show day is a long one and I try to position myself so she can go to sleep behind me when she needs a rest, and I'll happily watch my fellow competitors' dogs so that they don't get bothered when they are resting either. At a Royal I feel that introducing my breed to the public is part of the day, so if the dog is taking a break I say so politely and nicely but otherwise I'm okay with supervised pats, and we tend to all work together so that there is always someone supervising. The set-up at last year's Royal Melbourne the day we were there was abysmal, though - because of the weather the entry to the marshalling area was in the main public walkway and random people could just walk past and pat dogs fully groomed and getting ready to go into the ring and there wasn't a lot you could do to stop them.

[Alyosha]

Love your reply Keshwar. :)

My boy and I had a ball at the Sydney Royal this year. But I entered him as he is a people loving, attention nut. And we were lucky as we were judged early and the big crowds were coming through well after we were finished.

We did a few laps around the pavillion, through the crowds to get to and from the exercise area which was on the opposite corner to us. The aisles inside the benching area being jammed full of trolleys with small dogs on top, crates and chairs, it was mostly easier to walk a big dog through the tight crowds. He loved being patted and hugged by kids, and when back at his bench was keen to get up frequently and meet and greet folks over the fence by standing up on the short people bench inside it.

But he did have a few rest periods on his bench, and I found people respectful of that, they could see he was sleeping. But I also found that some of the other exhibitors in my breed were also doing lots of public interaction so there was normally a Borzoi at the fence for people to meet.

Same at Ag shows, I've had lots of people come up and haven't been unfortunate enough to encounter too many pushy types. Mine tend to love pats even heading into the ring, and I normally have a brush in a pocket to quickly re-adjust hair. Folks love to pat the unusual and coated dogs. But yes, if I had a breed that needed specific styling - Bedlington, Poodle etc I'm pretty sure I would be much keener to ask people to wait until after judging.

We had some spectators talking to our dogs the other day, and they later put a video of their day meeting different breeds up on youtube. It was lovely, so happy and enthusiastic - with them meeting and chatting to friendly exhibitors and lots of dogs. :D You don't get better PR for purebred dogs!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBHO2KwhdcE&feature=player_embedded

[Keshwar]

I show two breeds that people want to interact with, Afghan Hounds and Irish Wolfhounds.

Generally I'm more than happy for people to interact with my guys. In my experience most people are respectful and ask if they or their kids can pat the dogs. I've even let people pat Lochie, the Afghan, just before I go in the ring It usually doesn't take much to brush a topknot tidy again. Most people realize that it's not on for their kids to have messy hands when they pat a dog. Yes you are going to get all the stupid questions but I see this as an oppurtunity to educate.

For me it works both ways, my dogs get socialization with kids and strangers and I do some breed education and the people walk away feeling good and happy about interacting with the dogs.

IMO aggy shows are great for getting dogs used to all sorts of weird things, kids, strange, loud noises, people in wheel chairs, different animals etc. these are things that you normally don't encounter every day ad are great ways of socializing your dogs and doing breed education and getting the word out about purebred dogs. :)

You sound like a great breeder and a very tolerant and understanding person. Do you breed or just show?

Let's just say I have witnessed a lot of intolerance during my life and these days I try to encourage people instead of putting them off. :)

I just show and leave the breeding to others who are better at it than I would be.

[Jetson]

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.

I love this response capanash. You are the type of breeder I would buy a puppy off.

Whilst I never have shown dogs, I have shown horses and would always be happy to show them to people and let them have a pat. Isn't that what it's all about to attract people to the breed?

[Clyde]

I show two breeds that people want to interact with, Afghan Hounds and Irish Wolfhounds.

Generally I'm more than happy for people to interact with my guys. In my experience most people are respectful and ask if they or their kids can pat the dogs. I've even let people pat Lochie, the Afghan, just before I go in the ring It usually doesn't take much to brush a topknot tidy again. Most people realize that it's not on for their kids to have messy hands when they pat a dog. Yes you are going to get all the stupid questions but I see this as an oppurtunity to educate.

For me it works both ways, my dogs get socialization with kids and strangers and I do some breed education and the people walk away feeling good and happy about interacting with the dogs.

IMO aggy shows are great for getting dogs used to all sorts of weird things, kids, strange, loud noises, people in wheel chairs, different animals etc. these are things that you normally don't encounter every day ad are great ways of socializing your dogs and doing breed education and getting the word out about purebred dogs. :)

[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.

It was probably well over two years ago, actually. It hasn't really been playing on my mind all this time, but I have occasionally thought about it and wondered what the general consensus among breeders was with regards to things like this.

I partly asked that because I still remember clear as day approaching two different exhibitors at the Canberra Royal Show years back with a puppy enquiry. Even though judging was well over and I didn't want to touch their dogs, both were really really rude, to the point that my companion on the day was gobsmacked. I shrugged it off but they confirmed the worst stereotypes of the 'purebred' scene for my friend who still mentions it to me every show time and has it as her vision of the show community. Fortunately showies like Keshwar have largely restored my faith in the bulk of exhibitors and most really are helpful and not nasty. But for my friend that is the one and only exposure she has had to showing and it was really terrible PR.

Edited April 25, 2012 by Diva

[Blackdogs]

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.

It was probably well over two years ago, actually. It hasn't really been playing on my mind all this time, but I have occasionally thought about it and wondered what the general consensus among breeders was with regards to things like this.

I partly asked that because I still remember clear as day approaching two different exhibitors at the Canberra Royal Show years back with a puppy enquiry. Even though judging was well over and I didn't want to touch their dogs, both were really really rude, to the point that my companion on the day was gobsmacked. I shrugged it off but they confirmed the worst stereotypes of the 'purebred' scene for my friend who still mentions it to me every show time and has it as her vision of the show community. Fortunately showies like Keshwar have largely restored my faith in the bulk of exhibitors and most really are helpful and not nasty. But for my friend that is the one and only exposure she has had to showing and it was really terrible PR.

It's a shame that your friend was put off by the rudeness of these people. My experience didn't really put me off purebreds, I have two of them from great breeders. :)

[Atanquin]

if you hadn't asked first then yes it is wrong, but you did ask and they lady had said yes. just tell the other woman that you asked first and that there is no need to jump to conclusions and leave it at that.

[Blackdogs]

if you hadn't asked first then yes it is wrong, but you did ask and they lady had said yes. just tell the other woman that you asked first and that there is no need to jump to conclusions and leave it at that.

The lady knew I asked first, she was standing there watching when I did it.

[Atanquin]

if you hadn't asked first then yes it is wrong, but you did ask and they lady had said yes. just tell the other woman that you asked first and that there is no need to jump to conclusions and leave it at that.

The lady knew I asked first, she was standing there watching when I did it.

then just ignore her its not her dog.

[BigDaz]

I think it is polite to ask if there is someone around.

Years ago I went to the Melbourne Show and they had Great Danes there. There was a dog sitting in the boxes they sit in and there was no one around, so I gave him a nice chest rub.

I turned to walk off and someone grabbed my shoulder, I looked over my shoulder to realise it was a pig paw sitting there, apparently the Great Dane hadnt quite had enough of the chest rub.

I think it is polite to wait until someone is around before touching their dog.

I would suggest dont leave your dog unnatended if you are that concerend about your dog. The Royal Show is (or was) a pretty open area with the dogs sitting about 2 feet from the public walkway