GoldenAussie Spirit

Continuing our last two weeks topics with the start at the Planning of a Dog Show, following List of Items necessary to take to a Dog Show we now go to the last details before we get in the car and go.

1º Training

As you can guess, at this time we already have some weeks of intense ring or handling training.

The main, in my opinion, is to make the dogs stay on the stand position for a long time and this has to be trained several times.

2º Clothe

Since I handle and show my dogs I have to be careful in choosing the clothes. If necessary it has to be send to the cleaner.

I start to use a different outfit out of the ring and during the trip.

3º Leashes, coolers and dog bowls

Yes yes it is straight forward … but I once forgot the leashes and was quite upset with myself.
So has soon I can I put on my trip bag. Also take an extra leash just in case one breaks.

4º Sleeping bag and blankets

One of the pleasures of sleeping out of the house is to use the sleeping bag and make an adventure from that.

The blankets is for the dogs to have their one sleeping place and to cover the boxes at the exhibit if and unnecessary noise.

5º Money and Documents

At this stage is to put the necessary amount and dogs, car and exhibit documents at our travel bag.

Don’t forget to check if all vaccines are up to date.

6º Fuel

Fill the car deposit on the day before and you avoid that extra minutes at the beginning of the trip.

Ok, now it is just go to the road and bring lots of prizes.

Continuing our last week topic with the Planning of a Dog Show, we now go to do a list of items that we need to take and buy to that dog show.

• 1º Cleaning the Dogs

Well I think this is the real bases of presenting your dog, the bath.

Since this is a very long trip and I will work full time, this time I decided to ask some professional help to clean my dogs.

But usually this means buying shampoo, conditioner and softener. And be prepare to spend 3 to 4 hours preparing each dog.

In each case I always take with me cleaning towels (the some we use on babies) and conditioner to give shine to the fur before we enter the ring.

Brushes, combs and scissors are always mandatory items to take.

List: shampoo, softener, conditioner, cleaning towels, brushes, combs and scissors

• 2º Trip safety

I always take a medicine kit with me (I learned that with a dear friend and dog lover), because with dogs we never know and it isn’t the first time they step on something and get hurt.

So before I go I always check if it has all necessary items for the dogs and for people.

List: dressings, gauze, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, bandages, aspirin, cotton, alcohol

• 3º Food, Water and Drinks

Ok, you might think, I will buy something or off course we must take food.

But for me it is always a planning ahead since not all food are proper to take for quick or trip meals and you should always take plenty of water and some juices for you, since a dog show is a very long hours standing on your feet.

I also think that an exhibit food, is expensive and isn’t 100 % safe and becoming ill isn’t part of my plans.

Also if you spend a night out, you must take food for your dogs and of course this is mandatory.

Since I also worry with the long hours my dogs are on travel and sometimes waiting to get in, I also take some treats to keep they interested and happy.

List: sandwiches, juice, water, food for dogs, cookies, fruit, biscuits, coffee, treats,…

Ok this is my list of what I have to check and stock before I go on my way

This time I decided to do a exaustive report and exam of what it cost to plan and then go to a Dog Show. I hope in the end the reader can understand what it takes to work and show dogs and all the effort and sacrifice necessary to do it.
So lets start for the beginning.

• 1º Choosing to go or not to the Dog Show

Well this Dog Show is the first of 3 exibts were a dog can win the Champion title or if you prefer the CAC-QC. So it is natural to make an extra effort to go or you will lose your chance.
I will not bother you saying what I did and what I didn’t do to join the amount necessary to go to this dog show. I will just say that after a lot of analysing and thinking the dicision to go was taken.

• 2º Planning the time and costs

The next step is to take an idea of time and cost it will take to arrive to the dog show.
At this case, since I am in Algarve and I must go to Porto, it will be something like 7h drive with 3 stop of about 20-30 min for people and dogs to rest and walk a bit, distance 562 km
The Toll will be arround 37.55 EUR and Petrol 51.69 EUR
Since I have to go and come back I put 200 EUR – 14h drive just to do this trip

• 3º Firs preparation - CAR

Since it is a long way I decided to do a full check up to my car, to be prepare and not have suprises (imagine to be broken on the road with 3 dogs). This was a cost of about 165 €
4º Now to pay the dog show and send our inscription in the first ded line
1 hour in the post office and 65 €

• 5º Find a place to sleep

Since I am not that crazy, make 14 h drive without a rest it is out of the question. So I asked a friend if I could sleep over the night before the dog show and since she kindly said yes, one less expense and something less to be stress about.

Ok this is the first steps for preparing to a dog show and everything is on the move !

On a on-line community conversation a issue about Christmas and the amount of money spent at this time was broad up.

In a dog owner opinion, this is a great time to remind ourselves of those who mean most to us and to review does who have been far away for a long time.

Of course this means big dinners, long nights and a lot of new stuff and people in the house.

I must admit, since my house is a dog house, I simply decline to stay out for long nights and to bring many people to my home. I prefer to go to their homes, stay a while and then to come back to my house.
It is a choice from someone that as many dogs and knows how complicated it is for people to accept my life style and even manage many people and dogs.

But in a house where two or even one dog exist, it is normal to have such reunion and the problem really starts here. A dog cannot be just closed and put aside, and we cannot always pay attention to him, and must of our four leg friends suffer by the noise, amount of people and lack of the routines and habits they are accommodated to. What should be a joyful time to them becomes suffering and they simply don’t understand nothing of our strange habits.

So, from someone that pass for all of this situations a note, Christmas should also be for our four leg friends. Moderate the family reunions, the noise and the lack of attention to our friends. It isn’t a reason to put them in the streets, back yards or even kennels just because we want to have a great time.

In my house there is always a present for every family member. One toy for my sun, something for me, a big bone for each dog and something for the birds.
We go and have Christmas dinner at my family home, and then come and spend the Christmas night with our four leg family.

That is it, simple, no noise no trouble and specially no accidents with no one.

With this thought I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone !