Level 3Experienced
I'm late: can I still show my dog?
The answer
A traffic jam, a queue at the entrance or a ring that's hard to find… and your turn is getting dangerously close.
The first thing to do: let the team know. A delay alone doesn't tell you whether you can still show your dog. You need to check the show's instructions and how far the judging has got.
Here are nine tips for reacting and for being better prepared next time.
Beginner — Reacting without rushing
1. Identify the delay that applies to you
Are you late for the requested arrival time, the announced judging time or the call for your class? These situations call for different checks.
The right instinct: check the event documents. The time of your run doesn't replace the access and arrival instructions.
2. Tell the right person
If you are still at the entrance, speak to reception. If you are on site, go to the right ring and speak to the steward without interrupting the examination in progress.
The useful phrase: “Hello, I'm showing number 125, in open class bitches. I've just arrived: has my class already been called?”
The steward is involved, among other things, in gathering the dogs by class and in checking for absentees within the FCI framework.
3. Wait for an instruction before going in
Even if you recognise the dogs in your class, don't join the ring on your own initiative. Ask whether showing is still possible and follow the instructions you're given.
Remember: explaining your delay doesn't guarantee an extra run. Problems with how the ring is organised are dealt with by the chief steward and the judge.
Intermediate — Keeping your presentation calm
1. Have the essential information ready
Keep your number and your entry confirmation to hand. Immediately give your dog's breed, sex and class.
The useful detail: a screenshot can save you hunting for an email in the middle of the hall.
2. Keep your dog comfortable
Move calmly, without pulling it along to gain a few seconds. If the team allows you to wait before a possible run, use that time to check its needs and let it settle.
Your benchmark: the dog's wellbeing remains the priority, even when the schedule gets complicated.
3. Get the next steps clarified
If your run is no longer possible, ask what the consequences are for your entry and whether another activity planned for that day is still open to you.
Example: a confirmation that may be held on site must be checked separately. Don't assume it is still possible, or that it is automatically cancelled.
Advanced — Reducing the risk of a repeat
1. Calculate a full arrival time
Add to the journey the parking, the entrance, any checks, finding the ring and your dog's break. Respect the margin requested by the organiser.
MyDogShow tip: some shows ask you to arrive no later than one hour before judging: check the requirement for your own event.
2. Prepare a plan for the unexpected
Save the contact details published by the organiser and get your documents ready the day before. If something unexpected happens, contact the team when you can do so safely.
Note: letting them know is useful for getting information; it doesn't reserve your place and doesn't suspend the judging.
3. Identify what made you lose time
After the show, note the real cause: leaving too late, wrong entrance, documents you couldn't find or confusion over the ring. Then change one specific point in how you organise things.
Example: if the car park caught you out, work out its location and the pedestrian access before the next outing.
The aim: arrive with enough margin to prepare your dog and enjoy your run together.
What the official texts say
Arrival conditions must be checked for each event.
MyDogShow tip: in your show’s rules, tell apart the opening of access, the latest entry time and the arrival requested before judging.
For FCI international CACIB shows, the judge is responsible for the ring; organisational problems are dealt with by the chief steward. This role is not a guarantee of admission after the call.
The organisational tips offered here are practical. They create neither a universal grace period nor a right to a second chance.