Patronising to whom ?
Pet dog owners ?
Like myself who enters shows with my pet dogs ?
No need to be offended on my account, I dont feel patronised by it and I doubt many others would be either

As someone said, its a win win situation. If non-show dogs get beaten by show dogs, the owners can be satisfied that it was fair enough if the show dog was of a better example of Breed Standard.
But if they beat the Show dog, they can feel great that their `pet` was deemed to be great standard as a peer with the Show dogs and will leave the ring absolutely beaming with happiness.

Its really not about who wins anyway, its about the spirit of a load of dog lovers sharing a day together, being pleased for whoever gets placed, and telling those who didnt get anywhere that the judge was having an off day, [ in a good humoured manner ], and ultimately knowing their pound here or there in entry money adds up to benefitting a charity, done in the company of likeminded people.

Sure people can [ and do ], just send money to charities without going anywhere to do it but why not have a social gathering at the same time as giving, a lovely social opportunity for the dogs not just the people incidentally especially as it can be a quite infectious way to give more than intended when caught up in the atmosphere

Anyone who cant understand or feel the pleasure it all can bring as a social event might be better off staying at home and watching Victor Meldrew reruns on the telly instead

I think you are selling the committe way too short. They ran the show to help stop puppy farming and the transportation of puppies in cruel conditions. Hardly the remit of people who don't care. I think if you had voiced your concerns it might have surprised you seriously they would have taken them.
Cliper & the furry gang

So long as they pays their money, does it really matter what their intent in entering may be though ?

I'll definately put my hand up to that :smt001 . I don't really give it a thought to me it's just an enjoyable day although, obviously when I do think about it I believe it's a very good thing.
Do you think all the non show owners see it differently? Does it matter?

Please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say they didn't care. I just feel they may have caught up in the running of the rings, rather than to fully listen to what I had to say. Infact, i'm almost sure of that.

Yes, it does matter actually. As these people often take it far too seriously and huff and puff and shrug their shoulders if they either get last place or not placed at all. As I seen yesterday!

I'm not saying all those who show their dogs officially don't care at all that their entry money is going to benefit a charity, I just believe that some of them don't, and are only there to win, nothing else, imo.

Surely you go to companion shows to win, well thats why I go to Champ shows to get a SHCH before my dogs name (something I've not acheived yet but I live in hope).

What do letters before the dogs name matter? It won't change the dog.

No, actually, I don't go to win. It's a bonus if I do, but is not the soul reason of why I go to Companion shows.

I attend these shows to ensure my dogs are kept well socialised, and I also like to meet and greet some of the dogs that go, and because most of the shows support specific animal charities. I also enjoy the day out.

My main ambition for my dogs isn't to acheive titles before their names, but to ensure they are happy and healthy.

This whole thread has got me gob smacked, I can't believe what I'm reading. What is not right or fair about a 'show dog' entering a Companion show. As long as no Kennel Cub rules are broken of course it's fair. Just because someone doesn't like it doesn't make it unfair.

Now I don't much care about the ins and outs of Companion shows, I don't do them, but if I wanted to support a particular event I'd take all seven of my dogs and they've all been shown at one time or another.

I suspect that you wouldn't mind so much as long as the show dog was taken to the show ungroomed and was handled by a child.

Dawn R.

Are you saying all the non show owners are there because of the charity? I went to exemptions shows long before I took up breed showing at I never gave the charity a thought.