That Time of Year Again

lorebringer

Crufts!

More 4 covering it this year, from 7 - 9 pm Thursday to Sunday (inclusive).

Anyone heading over?

Anyone boycotting totally?

Opinions please

andreac

Im going over, but not showing this year. Too expensive to get the boat so got flights for 30euro return:D
Will be there to watch the rotties tomorrow and will be there Saturday too. My friends are showing both days so will be able to give them a hand as its a very busy day.

ISDW

I will watch it, see if I spot anyone I know.

I'm actually very impressed with the KC, there is a dalmatian being shown that has been outcrossed with pointer in her lineage to try and eradicate a certain genetic health problem in the breed. Some other dallie showers and breeders aren't happy, as they see it as a crossbreed, but the KC do seem to be doing what they said they would, and trying to improve the health of the breeds. If that means crossing with something, then it appears they will allow it.

So, I think with that stance, they should be supported.

TooManyDogs

I'd love to be going over to watch the agility, a couple of people I know are competing but as usual I never arranged anything in time. I am going to the World Agility Open in Bristol in May though so excited about that!

Cows Go µ

My parents are over showing one of our dogs while I stay home and look after the other 5. Going to watch it on tv and see if I can see anyone but I'd say because this is mum's first Crufts, she will have someone videoing the shelties for her

Cherry Blossom

Looking forward to watching the coverage on tv . Pleasantly surprised by this thead, I though it was going to be about unwanted kitten season :rolleyes:

lrushe

Yep, I'll be watching, I have it SKY+ as I will be in work. Some of my Rottie's close relations have qualified so looking forward to see how they place.:)

lrushe

ISDW wrote: »

I'm actually very impressed with the KC, there is a dalmatian being shown that has been outcrossed with pointer in her lineage to try and eradicate a certain genetic health problem in the breed. Some other dallie showers and breeders aren't happy, as they see it as a crossbreed, but the KC do seem to be doing what they said they would, and trying to improve the health of the breeds. If that means crossing with something, then it appears they will allow it.

I was reading this too and thought it was a great idea. While I am all for protecting a breeds' breed standard it can't come at the expense of the dogs health. Such a little tweek in the Dalmatian's genetic make up has made such a big difference to the health of the gene pool without compromising the standard, an excellent way to go in my opinion

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1203753/Spot-difference-One-dalmatians-healthy-life-dog-lovers-furious.html

SophieSakura

I'm going to watch it on TV. I probably won't like everything I see, but it'll be interesting to see

SophieSakura

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

Pleasantly surprised by this thead, I though it was going to be about unwanted kitten season :rolleyes:

I thought that too actually! There's been a few tom cats prowling around recently, fighting my cats :rolleyes:

ISDW

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

Looking forward to watching the coverage on tv . Pleasantly surprised by this thead, I though it was going to be about unwanted kitten season :rolleyes:

Me too:D Aren't we all so predictable:P

lorebringer

Come to think of it, around now (eh, spring) is a pretty dodgy time of year for pet owners - everything coming into season/heat, loads of unwanted litters, grass starting to grow like mad (and the bloody seeds :mad:), hot one minute then cold the next and lets not forget the shedding that is currently plaguing many of us! With every silver lining there is a big cloud :rolleyes:

sotisme

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

Looking forward to watching the coverage on tv . Pleasantly surprised by this thead, I though it was going to be about unwanted kitten season :rolleyes:

Same here, or all the unwanted christmas presents.

Knine

I'm going over on Saturday and staying for the night. I will watch some friends showing and do a bit of shopping:D

hdowney

watched it on telly tonite. LOVE crufts so glad it is back on telly.

one thing though. i thought a couple yrs ago they brought in a rule that dogs couldn't have docked tails anymore? yet there were a number on tonight with docks?!?

borderlinemeath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKYn5Al83nE


My setter watching the agility at crufts earlier on, she only reacted to the agility, then she sat and watched her relatives in the gundog group being judged and then went outside to check her territory!:D

lrushe

hdowney wrote: »

one thing though. i thought a couple yrs ago they brought in a rule that dogs couldn't have docked tails anymore? yet there were a number on tonight with docks?!?

Dog who were legally docked before April 2007 can be shown at Crufts, so any dogs you saw being shown with a docked tail would have been 4 years old or older.

EGAR

I had planned to go over for the Hound and Terrier Day as for the past two years, combined with a rescue run and staying at a friend;s place who has the dubious honour of being the only person in the world to have three EGAR dogs (2 German Wirehaired Pointer and 1 Bracco Italiano).

Booked the ferry as per usual with Norfolk Line in January (Dublin - Liverpool), only to receive an email a few days ago to say that Norfolk has been taken over on all the Dublin - Liverpool crossings have been cancelled.

Money didn't show up until 2 days ago and now I cannot find a ferry crossing for the same price and will have to stay at home and AM FUMING!!

borderlinemeath

EGAR wrote: »

I had planned to go over for the Hound and Terrier Day as for the past two years, combined with a rescue run and staying at a friend;s place who has the dubious honour of being the only person in the world to have three EGAR dogs (2 German Wirehaired Pointer and 1 Bracco Italiano).

Booked the ferry as per usual with Norfolk Line in January (Dublin - Liverpool), only to receive an email a few days ago to say that Norfolk has been taken over on all the Dublin - Liverpool crossings have been cancelled.

Money didn't show up until 2 days ago and now I cannot find a ferry crossing for the same price and will have to stay at home and AM FUMING!!

Very annoying. Ferry prices are crazy if you don't book on a special offer or off peak.
On a separate note, who would have given up a Bracco Italiano? Georgeous gundogs, so powerful and athletic. I have a setter myself so love nothing more than seeing a gundog out enjoying his work in the field.

ISDW

EGAR wrote: »

I had planned to go over for the Hound and Terrier Day as for the past two years, combined with a rescue run and staying at a friend;s place who has the dubious honour of being the only person in the world to have three EGAR dogs (2 German Wirehaired Pointer and 1 Bracco Italiano).

Booked the ferry as per usual with Norfolk Line in January (Dublin - Liverpool), only to receive an email a few days ago to say that Norfolk has been taken over on all the Dublin - Liverpool crossings have been cancelled.

Money didn't show up until 2 days ago and now I cannot find a ferry crossing for the same price and will have to stay at home and AM FUMING!!

I would be fuming as well, thats terrible. Wonder whats going to happen with that crossing then, its a good one if you're doing lots of driving, really long, with dinner and a nice sleep.

EGAR

Permanently canceled according to Norfolk (they have been taken over by another ferry company...). The Belfast - Liverpool crossing is still sailing though.

Quick

I predict a labradoodle for best in show.

quarry

Just back from Crufts and have posted a gallery at http://www.ohmydog.ie/crufts2011/photos.html.

bitter_lemon

best in show - flat coated retriever
reserve - petit basset griffon vendeen

there has to be more active threads on this.

just finished watching the last of the whole weekend of beauty and fun.

there was also a great programme after on more4 about the dangers of breeding intensively.

it is a thorny issue and i thought it was most excellent of more4 to have this programme straight after.

claire balding did bring the issue up in crufts coverage also.

bitter_lemon

Quick wrote: »

I predict a labradoodle for best in show.

that guy who bred the first labrador/poodle cross was on saying it was the sorriest thing he ever done. he opened a can of worms and he can't put the lid back on it.

andreac

I was there the last 3 days, was great. All my friends did very well, one even got 2nd in the working group, the Newfoundland, so was great to be there in at the Group judging to cheer them on:D

bitter_lemon

andreac wrote: »

I was there the last 3 days, was great. All my friends did very well, one even got 2nd in the working group, the Newfoundland, so was great to be there in at the Group judging to cheer them on:D

ah great stuff. must have been some buzz

round tower huntsman

watched the best in show tonight. the german shep and fox terriers were a disgrace. the shepard couldnt even walk properly wit its gimpy hips,bacl legs were all over the place.

round tower huntsman

the winner and reserve were healthy looking dogs though.

andreac

The Pet Bassett was actually my winner i thought, but both fabulous dogs. A great line up for BIS, the boxer was fab too.

andreac

round tower huntsman wrote: »

watched the best in show tonight. the german shep and fox terriers were a disgrace. the shepard couldnt even walk properly wit its gimpy hips,bacl legs were all over the place.

Em, what was wrong with the fox terrier?

round tower huntsman

i disagree, i wasnt impressed with the bis at all. bar the winners i thought the rest were uninspiring.

round tower huntsman

its un naturally long head, working terriers dont have long heads like that. its an other exagerated breed trait that the show people have created. i know show terriers arent workers but the should look like they are capable of working.

Cows Go µ

Gutted I missed best in show, was watching every other night. My parents got back from Crufts this morning with our Sheltie who got 2nd in his class (yearling). So chuffed with him and it was their first Crufts too

ISDW

round tower huntsman wrote: »

its un naturally long head, working terriers dont have long heads like that. its an other exagerated breed trait that the show people have created. i know show terriers arent workers but the should look like they are capable of working.

I don't know enough about terriers to have noticed that, but I did find it ironic that on Thursday they had a gun dog display (on the TV coverage) with working labradors. These dogs were fairly tall, slim and athletic looking, then the showing for the gun dog group was on, and the lab in it was a totally different shape, small, plump and whilst a lovely dog, really didn't look as if it could spend a day in the field working. In my opinion, the working dogs should set the breed standard.

Andreac, did you spend much money?:D

lorebringer

andreac wrote: »

I was there the last 3 days, was great. All my friends did very well, one even got 2nd in the working group, the Newfoundland, so was great to be there in at the Group judging to cheer them on:D

Fantastic! You must be so tired after it all. I'm sure the haul of doggie stuff is pretty cool too - very jealous!

kylith

Thought that the GS looked a state with its roach back, but the Flatcoated Retriever was a lovely looking dog. That Petit Griffon wasn't two yet, and I saw a Shih Tzu that was only 10 months, is it usual for dogs to be placed so highly when they're not yet fully grown?

Thought that the programme after it was good, and said a lot of things that people needed to know, but again they focused too much on Pitbulls Are Evil rather than Idiot People Ruin Good Dogs. Yes they touched on "Some people want to see the people punished rather than the dog...", but it was with a hint of "Those misguided fools" imo. Would have liked to have seen them show Pitbulls as service and therapy dogs, really change people's idea of them.

borderlinemeath

andreac wrote: »

The Pet Bassett was actually my winner i thought, but both fabulous dogs. A great line up for BIS, the boxer was fab too.

I was rooting for the Petit Bassett as well, such a happy healthy dog and only 17 months old.

borderlinemeath

ISDW wrote: »

I don't know enough about terriers to have noticed that, but I did find it ironic that on Thursday they had a gun dog display (on the TV coverage) with working labradors. These dogs were fairly tall, slim and athletic looking, then the showing for the gun dog group was on, and the lab in it was a totally different shape, small, plump and whilst a lovely dog, really didn't look as if it could spend a day in the field working. In my opinion, the working dogs should set the breed standard.

Andreac, did you spend much money?:D

I have a working Irish Setter, and the hunting variety are so far removed from the show dogs, ears, stance, height, coat.
People comment on my girl and ask is she still a puppy because she is so much smaller and her coat isn't as feathered as the show breed. Plus the fact that she doesn't walk along with the regal walk of the show dogs, her nose is in the ground the whole time looking for a scent to follow.