I’ve gone to the wrong ring: how do I find my way?

To avoid this little adventure, here are nine organisational tips. They are practical tricks; the official rules cited are set out at the end.

Beginner — Finding the right place

1. Check the details of your class

Look at the documents sent by the organiser: entry confirmation, exhibitor pass, programme or ring allocation. Note the date, breed, class, ring and announced time where given.

The trap to avoid: mixing up your exhibitor number with the ring number!

2. Find your ring before settling in

On arrival, look at the plan and go and check the number displayed on site. Set up your equipment after this reconnaissance: moving a chair, a bag and a dog around a crowded hall is rarely worth a second trip.

Your first goal: know where to go before you start preparing.

3. Ask for confirmation if in doubt

Go to the information desk or the ring steward with your exhibitor number and your dog’s details.

The useful phrase: “Hello, I’m showing number 125, in junior class dogs. Am I at the right ring?”

The steward is involved, among other things, in gathering the dogs by class and checking for absentees at FCI international CACIB shows. [1]

Intermediate — Avoiding mix-ups

1. Prepare an easy-to-consult sheet

On your phone or on paper, put together the information for the day: dog, class, exhibitor number, hall, ring and expected time.

The practical detail: a screenshot stays available even if the connection is poor.

2. Check the information on the day

Before settling on your bearings for good, look at the notice boards and any announcements from the organiser. If two documents give different information, ask the team to confirm.

Remember: an old screenshot must be checked against the information available on site.

3. Arrive with a suitable margin

Allow for parking, the entrance, the walk to the ring and your dog’s break. Above all, follow the arrival instructions specific to the show.

Concrete example: the rules for the 2025 French Championship (Championnat de France) required arrival at least one hour before judging time. This instruction applied to that event; it is not a universal rule. [2]

Advanced — Managing busier days

1. Organise the turns of several dogs

Prepare one line per dog in your schedule. If the times may overlap, contact the organiser beforehand and flag the problem on site.

The right habit: ask what solutions are possible, without counting on a change of time.

2. Check separately for a possible appearance in the ring of honour

After a result that gives access to a final, find out the place, time and assembly arrangements. Your first ring isn’t enough to guide you for the whole day.

Note straight away: the competition concerned and the instructions you were given.

3. If you discover the mistake, report in quickly

Calmly make your way to the right ring and explain the situation to the steward, giving your exhibitor number. If your class has already been called, ask whether it is still possible to be shown.

Note: don’t walk in on your own during judging and don’t assume a late appearance is guaranteed. Under the FCI framework, problems with ring organisation are dealt with by the chief steward and the judge. [1]

The point to keep in mind: check the place, then confirm your turn. Two small checks can spare you a long trek round the hall!

What the official texts say

For FCI international CACIB shows, chapter 11, section “Ring management and assistants”, sets out the role of the judge and the stewards in organising the ring. It provides, among other things, for the gathering of the dogs by class and the checking for absentees. [1]

Arrival instructions must be checked for each show. The 2025 French Championship document illustrates an organisation with times communicated to exhibitors and a required arrival time. It is cited as a historical example, not as an instruction for a current show. [2]