Dog showing people...

PucciNPoni

PucciNPoni

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please - would you mind sharing - how much do you spend per month or year on showing expenses (ie travel, entries etc).

I am looking to get something to show in the next year or so - and just wondering what sort of budget to start with.

Cheers
 
It depends on how far you are prepared to travel to a show. I haven't shown for a few years now, but I think there is normally about one or two Championship shows per month. Entry fees are usually around the £20 - £25 mark. Open shows vary from roughly £4 to around £10. Then there is the added expense of catalogues, membership, also do you take your own food, and of course SHOPPING!!!!!
 
I do agility - entry fees are different, around per dog around 2.70 per dog per class, 4 classes a day, 2 day show = so say £22 per dog for the weekend. I usually have 3 or 4 to enter. Add in camping, food and fuel and I can easily see without `£200-£300 a weekend. It adds up quickly.
 
I only do local companion dog shows so the cost is negligible but the other dog sport stuff we do would be comparable if you're talking about 2+ hours travel, camping etc. and I agree, a weekend at an agility show or a sled dog rally including your food, travel and accommodation can cost a couple of hundred pounds.

There is an initial outlay to consider as well in terms of kitting out the car with crates or guards suitable for long journeys and overnight stays (and, in my case, buying a new car to do so :o) and either a tent or caravan with all sundry equipment that they need.
 
There is one show that I rarely misses, and a few years it has happened that I've been to up to a handful shows, but with entry fee for three bitches, membership, catalogue, travelling cost, food and shopping all the gnaw bones, books and maybe one or two other things that I can't resist buying, I'm sorry, but I do my best to forget how much money that disappears out of my wallet.




I've seen many people on Swedish dog shows that just turns up with their dogs, uses a safety pin to attach their show number somewhere on their clothes, uses their normal dog leash and doesn't even seem to have brought a water bowl for their dog with them (some of these people is persons that I've met for several years on dog shows, so it is not just newbies that does this), however some people wants to have their own special show kit, including for example ( leaves to empty my show bag) :
A few small gnaw sticks. Brush and comb. Folder for the dog's registration papers/pedigree + show info. Plastic thingy to bring dog food (extra plus if it can double as a food bowl). Roll with poo bags. Rug/rugs. Show leash. Small towel, quick dry type. Special holder for your dog's show number. Thermos and plastic thingies to bring your own food. Tiny squeaky toy. Tiny tug toy. Water bowl suitable for travels. Water container. Wet wipes and some pieces of kitchen roll.

That was in some type of bag on wheels. I also have a crate and some camping chairs. But after all, once you've bought a camping chair, you can use it for several years.



Then, if we're talking outdoor summer shows, you might want to buy a special type of tent...

Oh and I nearly forgot, if we're talking about one of those breeds with more fur, then some of those seems to come to shows with a "complete" beauty shop, for example ear/neck covers, trimming-table, beauty box filled with different types of scissors, brushes and combs...

So regarding budgets, I will only say that there is ways to do it cheaper and still enjoy doing it.


Good luck. :D
 
Championship dog show entries are about £25-£28 for first class per dog then £16 for subsequent classes. Car parking varies NEC is £10. Entrance for extra people can be around £4. Fuel depends his far you travel, during the summer there are champ shows
most week ends so you can
travel from Bournemouth to Scotland without any problems. If
you do all the champ shows there
are 26 general champ shows per year then add on breed and group champ shows. So that's entries and travel sorted add on food, clothing, dog stuff, crate, catalogues and general spending money and you can see showing is not cheap. I have just done my crufts entries for 2 dogs and I paid over £70 including catalogue and 2 extra entrance passes but not car parking.
Don't forget a show quality dog may cost a lot as a puppy too and dome breeders a very fussy about what is suitable to show, all depends on which breed
Good luck
 
Thanks everyone. :)

Okay, so not desperately more (and probably less) than showing my horse then!

I have a lot of equipment already (ie grooming) as I'm a groomer and have most everything I need bar a few specialist items. Travel gear is already sorted and the price of a dog well - that's probably just a drop in the ocean compared to the running costs of keeping a dog in coat and running to shows.

The breed? A min poodle! :eek:

I wouldn't just go and get a poodle as a first time show dog if it weren't for the fact that I'm already a groomer and more importantly, if I didn't have a tremendous mentor willing to help me. She's offering to help me with ring craft, a lot of the grooming work to start with and some of the actual showing as well as finding me "the" dog.

I started out thinking I'll get something as my next grooming competition dog - and then started thinking I'd dabble in showing...next thing you know I'm hearing about this poodle bitch.....

watch this space ;)
 
satinbaze said:
Omg a min poodle is SERIOUS grooming. Also a v bright breed. Good luck and hopefully see you at crufts next year
Click to expand...

Mini poodle is a doddle -my first coated show dog was a Kerry Blue! (Back in the days when they were scissored all over - even the heads)
Costing has been pretty well covered - petrol & entries with anything else an add on. Remember to calculate seasons with a bitch as it is easy to lose £60 of entry fees on one heat.
 
I think that terrier breed styles are easier (for me) to master than the shape and finish of a poodle - and a juvenile pup will require heaps of maintenance ie bathing brushing and wrapping topknot every three days.

Yes poodles are rather bright - I have a 4 year old boy just now who sometimes makes me laugh with the stupidity of his actions but brightness of the thought behind them. Before I got him my hubby was rather "anti poodle" but now he can't wait to get another. Sap ;)

Good point about the missing out on shows during seasons!
 
I couldn't possibly work it out as it would probably make me cry!!

Obviously the major amount of money is spent on fuel, I try to car share if I can to shows a long distance away.

Luckily i don't need to worry too much about grooming with a very short coated breed!;) They get a bath the night before if they are really mucky or a hot towel rub down in the morning if they are relatively clean and a quick rub all over to get rid of any stray hairs! Having such short coats does however mean that nothing can be hidden!:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
Yes, I can imagine that travel expense would be the biggest outlay - particularly since much of my travel will be back and forth to my mentor for ringcraft training (I can go to a local club I'm sure too - but she'll also be helping me with the grooming anyway). So it could get very expensive very quickly.

HOwever, since I sold my lorry I won't be taking my horse out very much - I can get a lift with someone else now and again but that will be limited. I don't have the expense of my lorry any more which does leave me somewhat able to afford an extra expense of dog showing....
 
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