How is it good for them? They feel stress just as much as any other dog, they are not bereft of feeling just because they are guide dogs. The ones I saw there were being bashed into left right and centre...that isn't good for any dog, nor should it be part of it's training.

I was there on Saturday, we were in hall 5. The dogs have their own entrances throughout the complex and can't enter where the GP come in.

I didn't see any crowds, I stayed in Hall 5 with the dog. I wouldn't dream of taking him where the main shopping areas are. Crufts has become too big and is attracting the wrong sort of people. I heard that someone had squealed to get a dog away from her because she didn't like dogs Why visit the biggest dog show in the country.

I also never take my dogs around the trade stands, it's just too risky to have them pushed around and possibly have their feet trodden on. I always have a friend with me and we take it in turns for toilet breaks and shopping etc., so that the dog is never left unattended on it's bench.

That's my only gripe about Crufts, it is too commercial and more pointed towards the general public and what they will spend, rather than the dog show aspect and making sure the dogs and exhibitors are their number one priority. But I am aware of that when I enter my dog for Crufts, and so long as my dog doesn't have to endure the squashing in amongst the crowds then that is fine.

Yes, I am aware of that and I would hope the trainer would take sensible precautions (ie. not TOO busy an area that the puppy's physical risk is in danger and not for too long a time either and so on) as the dog will have to learn to cope with busy situations obviously without being scarred for life during training. They do have to be bombproof, as they say.

One of our Pets As Therapy dogs is also an assistance dog to his owner who is in a wheelchair. He's a Labrador and coped fantastically well in the busy environment that was Crufts - his tail didn't stop thrashing around even with the huge crowds. He was one happy, bombproof dog.

I went on saturday the same as last year & pretty much the same events going on in the arena, I thought it was Allot busier than last year & and the arena seemed packed out, esp for the Fly-ball events and the small knock out agility!!

Completely agree, dogs should not be taken aroudn the main shopping areas, if they stay where they are supposed to be, that will not be trampled on by the crowds.

One year the junior benches were no where near the ring. I don't know where they bench the dogs in the KC good citizen displays now but that was also no where near.

The activities benching was close to the activities ring but not near the display ring that some of them were required in.

The show benching is easy as the dogs aren't needed anywhere else but some of the activities are a problem.

rune

or randomers hanging out by your bag

i love it had a great time and no doubt will have a great time in the years to come too

i fell in love with so many of the paintings in frames, definately filling my house with some when i have my own place! love them. also wanted a grooming book, but didnt take much money with me and it was £45.

but i love it. the general public can be a bit of a pain, they dont seem to think of the dogs, even though the dogs are the reason they are there.

i got really annoyed at DD because all the dogs i wanted to talk to owners about, i couldnt get anywhere near because there were so many people wanting cuddles and pictures with them, i gave up in the end

How bad was I I have to have my stuff and doglets in view..Would never forgive myself if something happened.