Tips and advice on running a charity childrens dog show please!

[Kallibear]

Has anyone ever organsied a small childrens dog show and would be willing to impart some words of wisdom?

A friend and I are thinking of running a community childrens dog show to raise funds (for a community good fund) but would love any advise or hints and tips!

It'll just be a very low key affair aimed at having fun for children. There will probably be a 'breeds' class or two but mostly it'll be classes open to any breed: veteran classes, condition classes, agility classes (for child and dog ), handling classes, waggiest tail etc.

I was thinking of contacting the dog feed companies etc and seeing if they would send out goodies bags of free samples (type of thing they had out at majority of agri shows etc) and maybe even sponser or send out some rossettes (branded if needs be). Has anyone had any experience of dealing with the feed companies? Any suggestions as to good ones to try? OR any other places to try. Local vets and kennels maybe?

Any suggestions as to good classes to have, prices to charge, things we need to bear in mind etc etc would be very much appreiciated, thanks.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

make sure you have public liability insurance!!!! good luck

 

[SavingGrace]

Waggiest tail, best biscuit catcher, dog most like handler, best 6 legs, doggy dash, fun agility
All the fun classes Fudge and I have done this year have been £1 - £2 entry I would possibly open it to adults entering aswell though as Fudge and I would want to come

 

[Goya]

If it is aimed at children, then a fancy dress (dog and handler) might go well.

 

[blond1]

Have a cake sale to run alongside the dog show. At the last dog show held at our riding club the cake sale made as much as the entries for the dog show. No idea about approaching dog food companies but can't hurt to send an email.

We laminate flyers about the dog show and put them up along local dog walks, church notice board etc.. and that works well to bring in entries.

Also found that the agility class wasn't popular even though we'd held a Clear Round agility beforehand. That only had 2 going round though!

 

[Kallibear]

Insurance sorted - same company who insure the horse show: the events insurance we have covers up to 6 other similar events in a year apparently.

Love the fancy dress idea - might do something like a 'dog most like it's handler' fancy dress and a fancy dress class for just the dog. It will be aimed mainly at kids but we'll prob do non-handler age specific classes too.

Have a cake sale to run alongside the dog show. At the last dog show held at our riding club the cake sale made as much as the entries for the dog show. No idea about approaching dog food companies but can't hurt to send an email.

We laminate flyers about the dog show and put them up along local dog walks, church notice board etc.. and that works well to bring in entries.

Also found that the agility class wasn't popular even though we'd held a Clear Round agility beforehand. That only had 2 going round though!

Cake and food is always a grear idea - we were thinking we might have a 'tuck' shop and do a shopping trip to a wholesalers to may up penny sweet bags.

I'm suprised at the lack of interest in agility? Was it a proper agility round? Maybe it was a little intimidating? We were thinking along the lines of 'hound and handler' obstical course.

Great idea for the laminited flyers! I could make use of my laminator I bought from lidl's but haven't used yet

 

[SavingGrace]

Every place I have been to with my dogs the agility has been pretty busy Fudge loves it

 

[kirsty1]

I would go for opening it up to adults as well, split classes if need be. Try contacting local kennels etc as local places are more often up for sponsoring if they are going to be getting some free advertising out of it! Also make sure it is well advertised well in advance, even at horsey places as most people who have horses have dogs!

Also just to be really cheeky are you giving out rosettes? If so i would be pleased to give youj a quote! We supply the rosettes for most of the major shows reound edinburgh such as the drum, ravelrig, hunter and lass etc!

 

[Bossdog]

Never organised a dg show but I am in Fife so if you want any flyers put up round here etc just let me know, would love to come along!!

 

[MinskiKaii]

On the agility front. Insead of classes you could do a have a go agaility. They are very popular round here. None of our local show actually have competitions.

 

[MurphysMinder]

This thread is from January 2011, I suspect the show may have been and gone.

 

[Naryafluffy]

Dammit, who re-started this thread I was hoping they would open to adults as well (although mentally I've never got past the age of 12!!!!) and was planning fancy dress as I was reading the thread :-(

 

[floral]

I have used pet food companies to sponsor prizes in the past for local dog shows. Most of the time they are up for it. I feed fish4dogs complete and know they are a company worth asking. Why dont you contact them on www.fish4dogs.com and ask. You've got nothing to lose. Most decent pet food companies would be more than happy to have their name advertised, even if they send you a load of leaflets and samples, that would be better than nothing. The last one I did, which was a few years ago I admit, Fish4dogs gave me samples and prizes for the 1st, 2nd and third best fancy dressed owner and dog!! Such a laugh and people really got into the spirit or it all! Best of luck!