Curious Question

[NinaA]

Was at the Louisville show yesterday and noticed that there were dogs left in the middle of the floor in some cases. We sat near one poor Mastiff who was a nervous wreck being all alone. We watched her for an hour before someone came and got her. By then she was curled up in a ball shivering. They kept calling during the day for people to go pick up their dogs. I would think, as an owner, I would be furious to know my handler did this to my dog. The vet was called several times, which also was new, and one dog was said to be in "distress" with a vet called and the owner/handler was not answering any calls. Is is customary to just leave the dogs like this. We could easily have stolen that mastiff. Also, another thing we noticed was that a lot of the handlers, when asked, had no idea what the dog's name was, they had just picked them up for the first time right before the judging. Is this true, or is this what they tell people to leave them alone? We've been attending the Louisville show for 20 years or so and never saw so much of this before.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Dogs are left in crates at shows. Some come with the owner and some come with the handler. It would be pretty low of someone to steal a dog at a show, although it has happened. If a handler has a conflict with another breed in another ring, they may send another handler or an assistant to get the dog. I do feel bad for the Mastiff though whether it was there with the owner or handler.

 

[R Taft]

I would have thought the owner would be along to be with the dog...the Handler would be expected to be in the ring with any number of dogs the they handle on the day.
Poor Mastiff....i like our little local shows here in Australia, where we all set-up like a little village, we all look after each others dogs in mixed breeds and we mostly all show our own dogs.
It has got to the point mine look forward to meeting their show friends...Bullterrier's, Japanese Spitz, cockers, Great Danes and Berners.......We all sit in the same area and anyone has to leave the others stay with any left-over dogs. Friendly happy environment for dogs and people

 

[Jeannie]

I have seen many dogs, what I would consider, being mistreated or neglected at shows. I remember one time I was in the grooming area and some people (handlers) were sitting in a grouptalking while this boxer pup was on a table. More than once the dog was off the table by as many as 3 legs, dangling by the noose, scambling to get back on the table. I grabbed the dog many times. The handler spoke up and told me to stop helping the dog that he needed to learn to stand on the table. She said he is hung himself enough he'd learn. I was shocked to say the least.

 

[CMDRTED]

One of us is always with our dogs, myself and Janet P pretty much go to the same shows. Either Judy, Janet, or I will stay with the Newfs if someone goes somewhere. Our handler, has 6 Brothers so there is plenty of eyeballs around

 

[911Newfs]

Sadly, this is not too uncommon at shows. Dogs are left on tables unattended, dogs are left in the public x-pens all day, etc. At our kennel club shows last year, someone left their dogs in the outside x-pens for several hours; she left the show site to go eat and drink with all her friends. She showed up just in time, as we were taking her dogs out of the x-pens to take them to the local vet - the shows were over and we were packing up the rest of the club equipment.

People have stolen dogs, and worse, is when all the nuts from PETA show up! They have been known to let dogs out of their crates or poison them.

While I try to be a good ambassador for my breed, I am also very cautious about who pets my dogs and do not allow people to give them treats. I do not allow strangers in my setup.




_

 

[blaue_augen]

People have stolen dogs, and worse, is when all the nuts from PETA show up! They have been known to let dogs out of their crates or poison them.

What!? People are crazy! I can see why you never leave your dogs alone!!!

 

[Lisa@Caeles Hills]

Most dogs I see are in crates, and even though they may appear to be alone thats not usually the case. I know in Duluth, I left my two Newfs indoors in the air conditioning with a fan on them for a few hours. Although it appeared that our grooming space had no one there, my friend who was next to us grooming her Old English Sheepdogs was watching them like a hawk. We usually all help each other out that way. I don't know that all handlers are so diligent, but I only know a couple handlers that I know well enough to trust my dogs with. They always have several kennel hands with them at shows who are always with the dogs.

 

[NinaA]

This poor mastiff was out in the middle of a large center isle walkway, so a lot of people were rushing past him. No one was in the area and we asked anyone who seemed to be near. She was there over an hour by herself. I was furious and fortunately when somebody finally picked her up I was off shopping with my husband sitting nearby watching her. He gave them a few choice words as only a lawyer can. And she was so sweet, and I had just lost Echo. Believe me, she was tempting.

 

[NinaA]

And, the bad part is she was not the only one. There were several call going out for people to get their dogs, because they had been left too long in one place or another. One "abandoned" dog was having a seizure or something and a vet was with it. As I said, I have been attending shows for many years, but this year just seemed so much worse.