Showing ain't my "thing", but I don't have a problem with show dogs entering fun shows - as long as everyone takes it for what it is ... a bit of fun

Having in the past spent about 12 years showing the lurcher everyone in this region had to beat, I can assure everyone that a sound, balanced, well-presented, trained, groomed, competently-handled mixed breed is perfectly capable of blowing away the competition, no matter how well-bred they may be.

And that's as it should be.

Companion shows (and exemption shows before them) are licensed by The Kennel Club and have always been okay according to the rules. In fact, they were called 'exemption' because they were exempted by the KC from some of the rules governing 'proper' shows.

The rules for these shows exclude dogs with such things as CCs or JWs from conformation classes, but they can still compete in the novelty classes. There is, after all, nothing about taking BOB at Birmingham that gives a dog a better shot at winning Waggiest Tail or Best Condition. Similar rules apply about dogs having won awards that count towards Ob Ch not participating in obedience classes in these shows, while being free to enter the rest. It's all common sense really.

Participation at unlicensed fun events however has always been discouraged by the KC. To get the KC to licence a companion show, organisers must provide evidence that they are hosting it on behalf of a charity and have suitable insurance for the event. There is no guarantee for the exhibitor at unlicensed events that the money is really going to a good cause, or that the show has any insurance at all.

As an unlicensed event doesn't usually hold the traditional conformation classes or have a legitimate judge, they don't make a particularly good proving ground for young show dogs anyway, and there are plenty of licensed companion shows to pick from so no-one need miss out.

That`s why I decided to apply the same criteria for the [ unlicensed ] Virtual Dogsey Show - it does`nt matter how many wins a dog has had, it wont help them in the Grubbiest Dog or Best Sticky Out Tongue classes etc

For the Dogsey Show however, there is a Special Class for dogs not eligible for the nearest equivalent Pedigree classes because of real Show wins, plus I also gave Crossbreeds, Lurchers & Longdogs, and Unrecognised breeds equivalent status classes in their own right, [ Show Posed ], as the Pedigree`s

I would`nt necessarily agree there - they all add toward handlers and dogs gaining experience, and the socialisation is so beneficial too of course, so while the small unlicensed shows at a little village Fete might not have huge `kudo`s`, they are goldmines for Handling practice, tackling ring nerves, and just getting a feel of things toward bigger shows including Breed events - plus the sheer fun of it which is the main thing