Concerned about dogs left on tables

[sheilabgroomer]

On Sunday I went to a local dog show (Greenville SC) w/some friends. We had a great time and it was a wonderful show. Something that I saw in the grooming area that REALLY bothered me was how many dogs were left alone looped on the tables. Most of the dogs were calm and you could tell okay, but dogs are dogs and you never know what would get them excited enough to jump. One in particular bothered me was a little Schnauzer. He was very rambunctious, barking like crazy, and those feet were dancing at the edge of the table. My friends and I hung around until someone (handler I assume) came and got the dog. This little fella was left for at least 10 minutes w/out ANYONE coming to check. He was back in a corner that you couldn't see easily from the rings and no one else was in this area w/their dogs. Why don't they just put them in one of the many cages that are scattered around? My friend also had a good suggestion(I thought). There were tons of bored looking kids sitting around listening to their iPods or playing Game boys. Pay one of them $10 to sit in the area w/your dog, at least they would be better than NO ONE being there.
I also have a question for those of you that are experienced w/shows. I noticed a lot of the smaller dogs were often put in tiny cages w/2 or 3 other dogs. For instance there was a cage w/3 King Charles Spaniels. This cage didn't have enough room for one of them to be able to comfortably lay down. W/3 of them in there they were packed so tightly they couldn't move. Is this common? Do they just use the cage for a very short period of time? I was observing all of this from a groomers perspective and thinking," wow, I would be run out of town if I had customers dogs stuffed in cages like this, or left them on tables that way". Am I wrong in being a little perturbed?

[blue]

I saw similar sights at my first visit to a dog show last year. Additionally, I saw dogs left in crates for hours in a very hot parking lot (it was around 85 that day and no wind or clouds.) Granted, usually they were in minivans or SUVs and the back doors were left open, but still, it was a very hot day and many dogs seemed stressed, some barking non-stop. I really felt sorry for these guys; it didn't seem like they were having such a great time.

[Briarpatch]

This must be a new trend because when I was showing about 15 years ago, you never saw dogs left unattended. First of all, someone could steal your dog! We always traveled with an air conditioned camper and someone always was with the dogs. Most show people are very responsible and I can't believe that they would leave their dogs on the table.

[4Newfs]

As a show person, I see this a lot. It drives me crazy, and I never leave my dogs unattended on a table. Heck, I don't leave my dogs in crates unattended at shows. I've just heard of too many things happening. But yes, as sad as it is to say, it does happen regularly at shows.

[k2p1e]

There are dumb people everywhere, they have never had an 'issue' yet and keep doing dumb things that endanger their dogs without thinking.

My std poodle, when he was being showed, would be unlooped but sleeping on the table, while we sat down. If we got up to go naywhere he went, I used to have to use the wheelchair stall cause he would follow me in, can you say Mama's boy?

[minkyboodle]

At my first dog show that is exactly what I saw too, dogs just sitting around on tables with no one around. I didn't think much of it at the time, I figured they were just trained to stay still. I would be worried though that someone would try to steal them if it was me.

[Allan]

My "Rule # 1" Never leave a dog unattended, it bothers me to see this at shows. I love my dogs and know how smart they are but would never trust them alone on a table. They get excited and see something that interests them,they slip and if they are on a table and no one is around.........need I say more. I don't care how well behaved your "ShowDog" is,they are DOGS,not bus drivers or supermarket deli workers or doctors or anything else but dogs..............don't leave them unattended!

[Pixie]

Another thing that no one as of yet has mentioned, most of these dogs do not belong to the person that is showing them. This is how they make their living, as dog handler. When I work with a dog handler, years ago, we didn't leave dog unattended, that was my main job, to stay with the dogs and make sure things were ok and that the next dog was ready to go. We usually had about 20-30 dogs at each show, and not one of them belong to us.

It's going to be a sad day when one of those dogs that are left unattended decides to jump off the table or someone comes by and just takes it. I'd hate to be the one that has to answer for that!

It is true that the dogs I handled back then stayed on the table a lot better than the dogs I groom today. I never had to fight with those dogs like I have to fight with the grooming dogs.

[Helly]

This has been going on for years and years. I'd be willing to bet if you saw photos of shows from 100 years ago, you'd see dogs sitting unattended on tables.

As for cramming several tiny dogs in a crate, most of the time it's because space is limited, and when you have to transport a bunch of dogs from one place to another, it can be a daunting task if every one of them is in it's own crate.

Dogs left in crates or cars in the hot sun? Yep, it happens. I remember one show, back in the 80s where a handler was passing a car with a crated dog inside. The dog was obviously in distress. He yelled one word "ICE", and several of his many assistants came running, carrying bags of ice and wet towels. By the time they got there, he had the dog out on the ground, and the assistants went to work with the towels and ice. I guess they'd seen it often enough that they were prepared.

When the dog's owner came running, demanding to know what they were doing with the dog, she got a royal dressing down, let me tell you. The dog was fine after he cooled off, and those of us who observed the whole thing learned a few new ways to combine expletives.

[rapuzzled]

It's going to be a sad day when one of those dogs that are left unattended decides to jump off the table or someone comes by and just takes it. I'd hate to be the one that has to answer for that!

Exactly what I was thinking!

[Bearmtn]

Not only do they get stolen, but they could get poisoned.

[blue]

I did notice that the crates in the backs of vehicles sported locks, and I supposed the crates themselves were somehow locked to the interiors.

[Helly]

It's going to be a sad day when one of those dogs that are left unattended decides to jump off the table or someone comes by and just takes it. I'd hate to be the one that has to answer for that!

Oh, that's already happened. Dogs left unattended have jumped off tables and gone running around the show grounds until someone manages to corner them. And I remember a Chow that was stolen from a table at a show I was attending.

I also remember a male Bull Terrier, one of the big guns, back in the day, that was stolen from a car at a show in Michigan. He ended up in Detroit, used in pit fighting. He was eventually returned to his rightfull owner, but not before he was torn up pretty badly.

[Poodlefluff]

All you have to do is report to the show chairman that there is a dog left unattended the dogs handler will get in a lot of trouble. we leave dogs on tables with the handler I work for but we always leave someone in the set- up we never leave the dog unattended. If we know the dog will jump or may not be fully trained not to jump we put a leash on the dog attached to the table so if they jump they can not run loose and get away. But after spending numerous hours days and weeks with the dogs we know them better than their owners most of the time. The reason dogs have to stay on the table is because they are being groomed or have been groomed for the days shows. Most are full of products like hairspray, chalk,etc.. so if the dog gets crated it will ruin all of the work. After we brush a poodle it has to stay out of its crate because if it gets put up it will curl again. So it is wrong to leave your set up and not leave any one there at all and you can get in trouble for it. If someone reports it to the chairman or AKC rep. As for stealing dogs, every show I have been to has had security guards and passes on the big shows you have to wear.

[luckydog]

And as far as the hot cars are concerned--if you read in the back of a show dog mag like Dogs in Review--it will list people that have been put on probation, or fined, or not allowed to compete anymore--for varying reasons, but I did read one last summer that was no longer allowed to show because of a dog left in a hot car