Planning your show calendar

The right dates… and everything to plan around them

You have spotted a show you like. You note its date, then move on to something else. A few weeks later, you discover that entries have already closed…

To avoid that nasty surprise, your calendar needs to hold more than the ring days: entry deadlines, preparations, travel and recovery time.

A notebook, a digital diary or a table can be enough. Above all, choose a tool you will check regularly.

1. Finding dates from the right sources

For French events, the Société Centrale Canine (SCC, France) states that shows with entries open or coming up can be found on SCCExpo. Its general calendar can be reached from the “Manifestations” tab. [1]

The FCI calendar also lets you find international CACIB shows, in France and abroad. It does not list all national or club events.

When you settle on a date, keep the link to the organiser’s page: you can check the terms there before you enter.

2. Telling a wish from a confirmed entry

A show you have spotted is not yet an organised outing.

Give each event a simple status:

On SCCExpo, a pre-entry that has not been completed is not enough: payment must be made and validated to confirm the entry. Pre-entries that have not been completed are not accepted after the closing date. [2]

3. Noting the closing date before the day of the show

The date of the event tells you when to leave. The closing date tells you how long you have to act.

Also note any fee deadlines given by the organiser.

You can plan a first reminder a week before the closing date, then a second a few days before if the entry is still to be made. These timings are organisational suggestions, not official rules.

Avoid counting on an extension: prepare your entry according to the announced date.

4. Organising preparations backwards

Start from the day of the show and work back through the calendar.

Detailed timetables can arrive late. Write “to check” when a piece of information is not yet available, rather than turning an estimate into a certainty.

5. Counting the whole outing

A show on Sunday may take up your Saturday for the journey and call for special arrangements on Monday.

So also write down departures, returns and family or work commitments.

Keep periods without shows. How long they last depends on your dog, the journey and how it recovers. At FCI international CACIB shows, health and welfare must remain the priority. [3]

Beginner: three tips to get your bearings

1. Centralise all the information. Choose one main diary. You will avoid hunting for a closing date in a message, an address in a screenshot and your confirmation somewhere else.
2. Prepare a small reusable list. Documents required, confirmation, lead, water, bowl, treats and rest equipment: adapt it to the conditions of each event.
3. Check the entry through to the end. Do not stop at the completed form. Check the payment and the confirmation status on the platform used.

Intermediate: three tips to anticipate better

1. Note the class to check for each date. Your dog may change age category during the season. Check the conditions that apply rather than automatically copying the previous entry. The FCI regulations specify the classes at its shows. [3]
2. Compare the planned budget with the real one. After the outing, add up travel, accommodation and entry costs. You will estimate the next ones better.
3. Set aside time for the review. Note one improvement, one difficulty and one point to work on. Your next training session will then have a clear goal.

Advanced: three tips to keep a reliable calendar

1. Separate priority events from possibilities. Identify the events that directly serve your goal, then keep the others in reserve.
2. Keep the date of your last check. Along with the official link, note when you checked the information. It will help you spot what deserves a fresh read.
3. Examine chains of journeys. Two dates that fit on paper can mean a lot of road and little recovery. Assess the whole programme before confirming both outings.

Your calendar sheet

To fill in for each show:

• Name, date and place: …
• Official link and contact: …
• Goal of the outing: …
• Class and conditions checked: …
• Closing date and reminders: …
• Entry status: …
• Departure, return and accommodation: …
• Estimated budget: …
• Preparation and recovery: …
• Last check: …
• Review after the outing: …

The handy little reflex: when you look at your diary, pay as much attention to the next closing dates as to the next shows.

Sources

• Centrale Canine (France): How to find a show near you (in French)
• Centrale Canine (France): Am I entered if I have not paid? (in French)
• FCI: Regulations for FCI Dog Shows (PDF)