Dogs/Badminton. Just an accessory?

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gable

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I was at Badminton yesterday and I'm sure there were even more dogs there than last year.
Far too many big hairy dogs without water on such a hot day.

I have a border coliie and a jack russell and wouldn't dream of taking them to Badminton - they love their walks and are impeccably behaved but I'm pretty sure they would not have enjoyed being dragged round the course all day, under peoples feet in that heat.

I saw far too many over heated dogs there.

Shoot me down if you wish, but I do believe dogs at Badminton are just an accessory like Dubarry boots and Barbour jackets.
 
Mine are not used to being on the lead all day and would have hated it.

I saw far too many dogs that were clearly not happy.
 
I do think some people take dogs because it is the thing to do, but they are probably in the minority, lets face it dogs can be a bit of an inconvenience. If I went I would probably take Evie, as she would enjoy it, but would not go anywhere near the shopping areas with her. I have been to Chatsworth and Weston Park many times and always taken a dog, I would feel naked without one , but as I said on the Badminton thread, if they started barking at horses etc they would be removed fairly sharpish, cannot understand people who it would seem stood at the same jump all day with yapping dogs.:mad: I did see some dogs on the tv coverage that looked miserable, particularly a golden retriever who was being dragged along.
Just to add, my dogs would be my only accessory as I have neither Dubarrys or a Barbour jacket.
 
I took mine they enjoyed it. I had a back pack full of water bottles and a collapse water bowl. We stopped at every other fence for them and us. I preferred to sit in shade when I could anyway. Dylan was a star except when he stole a stick off a great dane, and then procceded to parade up and down with said stick! Great dane then chased Dylan who v quickly surrendered stick was v funny. Even Teal made friends some how I think it did him good being around so many dogs! But there was dogs who were clearly tired and distressed ! Suppose if I were to go again I would only consider not taking them because of the heat but apart from that I can't see why not.
 
gable said:
I was at Badminton yesterday and I'm sure there were even more dogs there than last year.
Far too many big hairy dogs without water on such a hot day.

I have a border coliie and a jack russell and wouldn't dream of taking them to Badminton - they love their walks and are impeccably behaved but I'm pretty sure they would not have enjoyed being dragged round the course all day, under peoples feet in that heat.

I saw far too many over heated dogs there.

Shoot me down if you wish, but I do believe dogs at Badminton are just an accessory like Dubarry boots and Barbour jackets.
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Gable,

there are those who have the ability to recognise a dog which is stressed, and then there are those who don't.

Not always, but generally, dogs and crowds don't mix. It's that simple. How many times have I heard owners say that their dogs had a wonderful day? I look at those very same dogs, and recognise that the owner hasn't a clue what their talking about.

It's an endurance test for most of them. Poor sods. I've always been proud of my dogs, every single one of them, but are they an accessory? No, I care for their well being too much to inflict that on them.

Alec.
 
I think it all depends on the dog/owner. Would I take Dex? Not on your life- way to much going on for him to ever settle and enjoy it. Would I take the OH's parents JRT? yes, she is much calmer and quite happy to be out and about all day.
 
I take Tink to Chatsworth as its down the road and the crowds are v small on the Saturday and she really enjoys it. :)
She sits quietly at fences and even when she's getting fed up I can pacify her or we walk on. Its annoying when I'm sat down keeping her quiet and the twit next to me is letting their dog yap and yap and YAP. Grr.

She also comes to Burghley with me, we go round the tradestands at about 9am when its deserted and after that stick to the course.
I wouldn't want to take her to Badminton, the crowds squashed and scared ME never mind the terrier! :o

I enjoy seeing all the dogs at Chatsworth etc, and Tink enjoys the attention from kids at fences, so I certainly wouldn't want them banned. Common sense is the way forward!
 
Depends on the dog. Dax has been at a P2P with us all day and I genuinely believe she was better off with us than crated at home all afternoon, she had constant access to water, met and greeted her adoring public, had a walk around the course and eventually chilled out in the shade by the beer tent. She is a dog that thrives on human company and I couldn't have been more pleased with her today.

I saw plenty other well socialised, gregarious and happy dogs as well as several neurotic, snappy, overheated dogs that shouldn't have been there. I also saw many neurotic, snappy, overheated children. :p
 
blackcob said:
Depends on the dog.
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Exactly. Henry likes his days out (though not at horse events) - he spent all day yesterday at our fun dog show with me, met dozens of dogs, children, adults and ponies, carried a collecting tin (raised a good amount for a little dog!) was admired by all and generally had a good time. His only gripe (apart from the naughty Husky that jumped on his head, and was duly chastised:rolleyes:) was that he was not allowed into the ring with me to judge:D
 
blackcob said:
Depends on the dog
Click to expand...

Baaaaa! Some dogs will turn themselves inside out at an event like this, some will take it in their stride and not bat an eyelid, it is up to the individual owner to know their own dog and not be selfish about it.
Unfortunately it is the selfish people (the ones that let their dogs run amok, let them sit at fences and bark, not notice their dogs are stressed/knackered) that spoil things for the responsible people.
 
Sorry accidently hit reply. This was down by colt pond so v busy what was worse was just up from the farm just after the helicopter landed and people were running about to get the action and we were sat under a tree and this little dog decided to run around the tree on an extended lead, some people baffle me.
 
I didn't take chlo cos she's black and also a bit too long for her. I would have taken her if shed been better to the xc day! But I hate the little rats in people's arms being carried around all day.
 
CaveCanem said:
Baaaaa! Some dogs will turn themselves inside out at an event like this, some will take it in their stride and not bat an eyelid, it is up to the individual owner to know their own dog and not be selfish about it.
Unfortunately it is the selfish people (the ones that let their dogs run amok, let them sit at fences and bark, not notice their dogs are stressed/knackered) that spoil things for the responsible people.
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Exactly. I could have left mine behind and paid for one of the girls to let them out and walk them or I could plan a bit and take them with me. I knew I wouldn't get to do much shopping so friends with me had specfic things to look for (small list!), I knew I would have to lug their water around and they did get through a 2litre bottle. I also stuck them in that smelly stream when they wanted to go knowing it meant a bath for them when we got back. We sat in the shade some times to give them a break and I wandered off regularly away from the action to let them stretch out on their extendable leads. Yes some of the really packed areas )water) were off limits. No big deal and on the positive, I had such a lovely reaction from people wanting to stroke the dogs. Mine are staffies so I was very proud they did a good job of being ambassadors for their breed as well and we did get stopped a lot (to the extend of losing my friends on numerous occasions). Mine get to go out pretty much everywhere with me, so that means yard, competitions, pub (!) so are not yappy. Bitch behaved impeccably, dog took longer to stop pulling but both behaved well and we all had a good day out.
 
Well I was wearing my de rigeur Joules and country boots outfit, but was missing the Terrier accessory!! We took him to Burghley - he loved it. Didn't take him to Badminton because it was hot, it's a long drive from us so a very long day, and he wouldn't have been happy if other dogs had got too close to him when he was on his lead and with it being so busy that would have been difficult to avoid.

Planning a trip to Chatsworth on the Saturday if I can find someone to come with me...Tinkerbee, I was pleased to see that you said it's quiet on that day, so may well take the pooch along.

I was suprised at all the dogs barking and getting over-excited at the horses coming by on Sunday - I'm assuming most of the people there have horses so the dogs would be used to it?! I don't think Stan could care less if a horse cantered by, he sees plenty of horses every day!
 
Henry sees horses in their dozens every day but still gets all unnecessary when they start cantering past... hence why he no longer attends these events, at least until I can get him properly socialised around horses that don't just stand in fields eating stuff:rolleyes:
 
I took my Dubarry boots, left the dogs at home.
I thought there were alot of dogs there, i would take mine but not into shopping places and i would clean up after them!!
Also a 5 hr drive in the car would put me off taking my doggys but they do go to events closer to home.
 
well i didnt go to badmionton BUT i did get fed up watching it on tv hearing the terriers manicly bark bark yap yap as each horse went over a fence. If i were competing ... (apart from cr*ping my pants the whole round) I would be pretty cheesed off with the constant noise and distraction. If you are the owner of one of these said dogs at an event of any kind where you dog is yapping and squealing ruining everyone elses enjoyment... ITS NOT CUTE dont look at those around you smiling as tho it is!"!!
PHEW that rant took me by surprise!! and BREATHE>>>>>
 
I agree with most of the people here, the dogs and their owners seem to be split into two groups-
one who's dogs are happy to trot round all day, leg dodging, horse spotting, picking up dropped bits of burger,meeting new friends and where neccessary sitting quietly until its time to set off again...
and then there are the OTHERS!!
the ones that tick one or all of these criteria when met by a horse or dog -
yapping, snarling, launching, chasing, panting (excessively) dawdling, spinning (who wants to hang onto that lead all day?!!) and of course lets have a mention for the ones left in the car to save their poor tired feet...:(
 
Our dogs love going to any horse events, they're a part of the family and days out are tailored around their needs as well as ours. Meeting other dogs is part of the enjoyment for us, my impression is that most of the owners are pretty responsible with some great dogs.
 
i have a dog who i take everywhere with me.... however i wouldnt take her big horse shows like that

one fence it showeed this dog barking constantly - drove me mad.... nevr mind anyone else

so yeah - id rather they werent there.... kennels or find someone else to look after them - shame as it ruins it for good responsble dog owners
 
Well I was there and can't say that I noticed a lot of dogs yapping..

as for fashion accessory - please...!! taking my dogs out with me meant planning, carrying a bag with all their stuff in it all round the course and a couple of deviations. It also meant I had a lovely day out with my dogs, met loads of nice people and the dogs were spoilt rotten.
 
Ditto this. Our two had a great day out. Even the younger one who we got from a rescue last year was wonderfully behaved. He had a harness on as well as his collar, just in case, but didn't need it. We too carried lots of water and stopped under trees now and again. The only time I worried about the heat was near the farmyard while we were in one place for ages due to the air ambulance being landed etc, but I need not have worried - one lab was busy making rspca eyes at a family with a picnic who were fussing her, and the other was rolling about with someone else's retriever. They seemed tired at the end of the day, but then proved us wrong when we let them off the lead before going home by tearing round like mad things. It was our first time at Badminton with them, and their only complaint was that they didn't get to charge about in the water jump at the end like they usually do at Bramham and Burghley!

99% of the dogs we saw were happy and not stressed. I saw one older dog being dragged along on the lead, and a couple of dogs in pink collars being carried, but other than that, most owners were friendly and responsible. The only time that I would leave my dogs behind at an event is when they were older and obviously struggling. Otherwise I couldn't bear leaving them shut at home all day. They are part of a country day out. Fashion accessory - does that mean being covered in slobber and dog hairs is in fashion nowadays? I'm more trendy than I think! As for complaining about a bit of yapping - its not like its at the snooker and would disturb the competitors!
 
It's definitely a case of a few stupid people ruining it for everyone else. I spent five days at Badminton and all I can remember of dogs are the yappy terriers getting under my feet, the poor fat old things being dragged round the course on their last legs, the aggressive mutts picking a fight with anything that came within 10 yards of it in the tradestand (what the hell were these dogs doing in the tradestands anyway?) and knackered puppies too young to be out for so long and too confused & dazed to know what the hell was going on.
Of course there were thousands of well-behaved, happy, sociable and well-watered pooches there, enjoying a day with their responsible owners. But do I remember them? No, of course not, I didn't even notice them. I was too busy disentangling myself from one of those wretched extending leads before it cut off the circulation below my knees while the owner continued merrily on her way, headlong into the crowds...
 
Owner of city dogs here, and mine are not just used to crowds, but lap up the attention from complete and utter strangers, from drunks, to tiny kids, to newspaper sellers, to street performers. They've been inside NYC department stores, on airplanes, trains, the subway etc. I wouldn't take them to any of these places if they didn't look happy and relaxed about it all. For the average suburban/country dog, I do, however, believe that a crowded event like Badminton may be too much of a change from their ordinary environment.

I didn't attend Badminton last year, but went in 2010, and couldn't believe the number of small, short-haired dogs without jackets in the freezing cold rain. Most looked miserable. It sounds like some people didn't take into account the weather, either, this year.
 
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