Anyone going to Crufts?

[TeaOneSugar]

I've just booked tickets for me and DD and we're unreasonable excited.

We're going on gun dog day :)

[Piffle]

Me... Showing on Hound Day... The Thursday...

[TeaOneSugar]

Luckily the gun dog day is Saturday so no day off needed, dd is excited about discover dogs.

[TeaOneSugar]

What breed are you showing?

[Piffle]

Ridgeback, just the one though I have 2 qualified

[TeaOneSugar]

My Cocker has fallen in love with a lovely ridgeback at his training class, absolutely besotted.

[twojues]

I'm there on gundog day. Showing my toller.
You'll have to come and watch us. His Mum, Dad and sister are competing too :)

[Piffle]

What is the Ridgeback called? I prob know it LOL

[Baffledandbewildered]

I'm there on gundog day showing Irish and Gordon setters and in the breeder competition final ! I hate Saturdays as its so busy :(

[TeaOneSugar]

The Ridgeback's called Milo, he's recently come from a rescue, lovely dog.

[Baffledandbewildered]

Sorry should have said Saturday has a great atmosphere just hard work with 6 dogs and 6 cages !!!!!

[TeaOneSugar]

That sounds like a handful

I'm planning to take lunch with us, remembering what the queues for food can be like at the NEC.

[kitsmummy]

I'm there friday and saturday with my sister who will be on the K-9 Design grooming stand!

[saintmerryweather]

im there on friday with my mum showing her utility dog. abc agility is on friday too apparently so lookingvforward to that!

[MrsPlopperson]

I am thinking about going to Crufts this year (I have only been once, about 15 years ago). I could either go on Thursday with baby in pram or on Friday with baby in pram and toddler.

I guess the visit would be more for me, but I do think my toddler would like to walk around and see the dogs/agility type displays etc.

What is holding me back from booking at the moment, it the fear that it will be too busy to enjoy. Does anyone who has been more recently than me have any thoughts on whether Crufts with baby/toddler would work, or whether it would be a complete nightmare navigating a pram and a toddler on the loose round?

Thanks in advance.

[TeaOneSugar]

I haven't been to crufts at a weekend, but I've been during the week (although years ago) and to other shows on Saturdays and the the things I'd consider are,

• The car parks are massive and so is the NEC so you can have quite a trek from the car to the hall(s) you want to be in, especially is you're not their first thing.
  
• You'll do a lot of walking if you want to look around discover dogs and the trade stands.
  
• Lunchtime is very busy, queue's for the cafes and take-away places are huge and slow, and even if you take your own food (which we'll be doing) you might struggle to find somewhere to sit, if you need a high chair for the baby that might be tricky, worth calling the NEC in advance for some advice.

[gregssausageroll]

I agree baffled. I much prefer Thursday or Friday!

[fairimum]

I am supposed to be going saturday and wondering if it will be managable to keep dd 4 months (but 7 weeks prem) in the sling all day....

[Vickster1967]

Im going to crufts tomorrow, is the best in show in a different building completely away from the NEC?

[CornflakeHomunculus]

No Vickster, it's not a separate building. You can walk through all the halls and into the arena without ever having leave.

Do you already have tickets booked for BiS?

[Wolfiefan]

Can I ask a really stupid question. Are qualified dogs only allowed or could a wellbehaved pet dog attend with a visitor?

[CornflakeHomunculus]

Spectator dogs aren't allowed. Only "invited dogs" are allowed which is basically those who have qualified in either showing or sports, the ones being used in displays, those on the Discover Dogs stands and any other official business.

Obviously assistance dogs are allowed but you can't just take your dog along for a day out. I'm not sure I'd want to anyway, it gets pretty busy and at least if you're competing you have a benching area for your dog you can go chill out at.

[Vickster1967]

Yes I have tickets

[Vickster1967]

Thankyou,
CornflakeHomunculus x