One dog, several shows: planning your calendar well

The right instinct: treat each show as a new appointment. Entering the first one does not count as entering the next. On SCC Expo (the online platform of the French Société Centrale Canine), you select the event, the dog and its class, then pay the entry fee before the closing date.

Engagement (“commitment”) is simply the word used at French shows for the entry.

Several dates, several checks

For each show, check the day your breed is judged, the entry closing date, the class chosen and the documents required.

Beware of a common confusion: taking part in several shows and entering a dog in two individual classes within the same show are two different things. The FCI regulations prohibit the second. They separately provide for group competitions, such as pairs or breeders' groups.

And an event announced as “over two days” does not automatically mean your dog will be judged twice: check whether it is one show spread over two days or two separate shows.

Beginner — your first three instincts

1. Choose an outing that's easy to organise first. A show nearby lets you discover the atmosphere without adding a long journey to this first experience. Before filling in the form, check that your breed is admitted: a national breed show, for example, is for the breeds of the organising club.
2. Make a small information sheet for each show. Note the venue, the day you're judged, the closing date and the payment status. On SCC Expo, an entry whose payment has not been confirmed is not finalised. Keep the receipt sent by email.
3. Keep some flexibility in your calendar. After the first outing, watch your companion: does it settle easily? Does it seem comfortable in this atmosphere? Plan the next ones according to its reactions. This is organisational advice; the regulatory principle is that its health and wellbeing come first.

Intermediate — avoiding mistakes when the dates pile up

1. Recalculate the age for each date. At an FCI international show, what counts is the dog's age on the day it is shown. So don't automatically copy the class from the previous show.

Example: Oslo is 17 months old at a first show, then 18 months completed at the next. Since the FCI Junior class is reserved for dogs from 9 months to under 18 months, another eligible class will have to be chosen for the second show.

1. See whether a combined rate is offered.

   MyDogShow tip: when two shows follow each other, check before paying whether a combined rate exists and how to get it, for example by entering your dog in the first show first.

2. Work out the cost of the whole outing. Add travel, parking, any accommodation and meals to the entry fee. Two shows close together can make organisation easier, but also plan a quiet place where your dog can rest.

Advanced — building a useful programme

1. Give every trip a goal. Working on a more relaxed presentation, discovering a national breed show, collecting a new assessment: choose what you want to learn. After each outing, note one thing that went well and one thing to prepare for the next.
2. Anticipate the documents for special classes. At an FCI international show, the Working class requires an appropriate WCC certificate. For the Champion class, an eligible title must be confirmed no later than the official closing date, with a supporting copy. A recent award is therefore not necessarily enough to change class.
3. Reassess the programme before each departure. A paid entry should not dictate your decision if the dog is not fit to take part. The FCI regulations exclude sick dogs, among others. Leave a margin for the unexpected and adapt the pace to your companion.

Illustration caption: “We prepare for the appointments, we enjoy the ring… and we keep time to catch our breath!”

Sources

• SCC Expo (Société Centrale Canine): online entry help (in French)
• FCI: Dog Show Regulations (PDF)