VA hound Show

[Beverley]

Actually, I came across this year’s prize list while undertaking an archaeological dig in the family room…been perusing it for over 30 years but looking hard, it doesn’t say anything about non-competing dogs. I think it used to, but can’t be sure. Insufficient memory at this time…

But in any event, my opinion is, don’t. For reasons already stated. Plus, it’s all about the hounds that give us such good sport year in and year out- wander the rings, judge a class yourself and see how you stacked up against the judges, take a look at the breeding, it really is an all consuming day without one’s own dog in tow. My personal favorite, showing or watching, has always been the pack class- that is the true test of a hunt’s breeding program.

Sharing Kevin Bacon would be a true bonus, but alas, I’m not there this year. Next year, yes!

[MyGiantPony]

@Beverley;4105804

Even if anyone’s done it in the past and gotten away with it- please don’t. The participating hunts will surely appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Well, the only reason I had Pip with me that one time was because he’s not just a pet - he’s a service dog. If I’m alone, I prefer to have him with me…but with humans around who are aware of my issues, I don’t really need him.

[JSwan]

MGP - no one would ever question you bringing a service dog - please don’t stay away if you need him or her.

If folks want to find each other - look for Hunter’s Rest. She knows everyone. She’ll have a very impressive camera around her neck and a lovely smile. Ask her who you’re looking for and she’ll point us all out to each other.

Beverly - sorry you will miss the show - but no matter about the ham. His second cousin twice removed will be served next time. :winkgrin:

See y’all there.

[LexInVA]

I’ll be there too. Not that anyone wants to meet me but I thought I’d mention it all the same. :lol:

[wateryglen]

my 2 cents!

Yup, last year, we had to ask several people to remove their dogs from the grounds much to their great indignations I might add. How’d ya like to have THAT job! Mr Wateryglen did it for the show staff for awhile and got soundly verbally abused by those dog owners! Whatever!

If any of ya’ll wanna connect with a fellow cother you can also come find me at registration in the morning or the outside of the american ring in the afternoon. Would love to meet ya! Ask for Wateryglen! Another tall striking brunette babe…well…ahem…boomer!!!
JSwan, will KB be at the Casanova tailgate? You see Waterglen likes to make the tailgate rounds ALWAYS! and the CH folks put on a good spread for sure. Altho’, Fairfax/ODH does the best imho. M’burg really good too. Just walk up and help yourself! Or come get me and I’ll get you hooked up! Foxhunters gotta eat!!
Saturday, the seminar, lunch and hornblowing contest is looking like great fun! Can’t wait!

[Hunter_s_Rest]

I’ll be there - JSwan - not one big camera but two! Ya’ll look for me. I think hovering around the lunch tent area around lunchtime is the place to hook up.
To the person asking if its ok to bring a dog - please, for the love of humanity don’t do that. Matters not if it is ‘allowed.’ Non-showing dogs are most defnitely not welcome at a ‘regular’ dog show, and they should be/are not welcome at this one. If you need a service dog, please allow one of us helper-types to give you a hand doing whatever it is you need help with. I’m sure, as someone noted, there might be ‘other’ dogs at the show but it is innappropriate and judged accordingly. Sincerely, anything anyone can do for you, please say.
Weather looks if-fy - t’storms in the afternoon, maybe. Bring an umbrella!

[MyGiantPony]

@Hunter's Rest;4107605

If you need a service dog, please allow one of us helper-types to give you a hand doing whatever it is you need help with. I’m sure, as someone noted, there might be ‘other’ dogs at the show but it is innappropriate and judged accordingly. Sincerely, anything anyone can do for you, please say.

Unless you can sniff me for dangerous glucose levels, I’m not sure you can take Pip’s place. :lol: :lol: :lol:

But like I said, as long as I’m with people who know the danger signs, I’m fine without him - he’s much more of use when I’m sleeping and he’ll wake me up if I get too low or too high.

[Foxhound]

Well, since my husband is busy, it looks like my dogs and I will be staying home.
However, MGP has the law on her side when it comes to bringing her Pip. It’s been my experience that service dogs are so well-trained that they really won’t interact with other dogs (or people) if they have their service vest on and know they are in working mode.

[MyGiantPony]

@Foxhound;4107700

Well, since my husband is busy, it looks like my dogs and I will be staying home.
However, MGP has the law on her side when it comes to bringing her Pip. It’s been my experience that service dogs are so well-trained that they really won’t interact with other dogs (or people) if they have their service vest on and know they are in working mode.

That’s true. He’s so funny - he’s a very social dog, but when he has his vest on, he’s very aloof.

But the time he was with me at the hound show (2 or 3 years ago, I forget), one of the hounds bared his teeth at Pip. I was really surprised, but I think the hound just didn’t know what to make of him. Not a hound, not a fox…must be an enemy.

[LexInVA]

I think the hound certainly didn’t know what to make of him. The foxhounds I’ve worked with through local rescues are bewildered in the urban environments of Northern VA and often jump at their own reflections or things like shopping carts or anything else that is alien to them.

[LexInVA]

It’s not really an issue for me as I do not have a dog and I do grasp the validity of the reasons given here even if some of them seem like worst-case scenario thinking. My friend just wanted to bring her dog along because she’s a dog owner and dog owners around here love to take their dogs anywhere they can get away with it, especially if it’s someplace outside. She wanted to go because she is interested in trying Foxhunting as it is not something that is available where she grew up and rode competitively, she loves the dogs, and wants to understand the culture as well as network with local equestrians since she is new to the area and wants to get back into riding competitively. I’ll tell her that some would consider it “bad etiquette” to bring an outside dog and that it wouldn’t be a good idea to take her dog along to avoid potential problems, but I’m getting the distinct impression from the lack of information being made available about the event to the general public that those who are not members of the hunts in attendance or members of the hunt community are not expected at the event so we may not go if that is indeed the case.

[Tantivy1]

[QUOTE=LexInVA;4107981]
I’ll tell her that some would consider it “bad etiquette” to bring an outside dog and that it wouldn’t be a good idea to take her dog along to avoid potential problems[/QUOTE]

I think not only bad etiquette, but not the most sensible thing to do. It is the equivalent of taking your dog out for a hack with you (while riding over other people’s property). Something you just do not do (for a variety of reasons, a major one being the possibility of running into other landowner’s dogs) today in many developed places on the Eastern seaboard.

It is also sorta like taking a dog with you to stroll around a meet to watch the hunt off. Again, just not good common sense to go walking your pets around a pack of foxhounds (be it a hunt meet or a hound show).

@LexInVA;4107981

but I’m getting the distinct impression from the lack of information being made available about the event to the general public that those who are not members of the hunts in attendance or members of the hunt community are not expected at the event so we may not go if that is indeed the case.

You are only doing yourself a distinct disservice with this impression you are forming. The hound show has never, ever been heavily advertised.

Well attended, yes, but broadly advertised? No. Never. Don’t know why, but that is the way it has alsways been, and I think it may apply for other hounds shows too altho I am not certain on this point.

However, I have never gotten the feeling it is only to be enjoyed by the hunting fraternity. Sure, they are out in force, but never ever have I come away with the impression that only they are welcome.

(Maybe you might be substituting the discouraging-bringing-pets tone of the posts as more than what it is too?..)

Your idea of coming to meet some of the hunting folk is excellent, the hound show is absolutely one of the best places to do that and is a rare opportunity to see a lot of people from many places in one spot all enjoying the many attractions of the venue and the event.

It is a mecca for networking and meeting new friends, catching up with old ones etc.

You would be most wise to take advantage of the unique opportunity.

What’s more, I bet you would come away at the end of the day having had a blast and having made a few new friends!

Have a great time!

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Outside dogs? No.
Outside people? A BIG YES.
Lex Please please please come. And bring anyone you want. And their friends.
The hound show is not in the least bit closed. Just closed to outside dogs.
Promise ya’ll are coming.

[Beverley]

Lex, what Hunter’s Rest said!

It really isn’t so much ‘bad etiquette’ in terms of ‘hunting rules’ as simply general courtesy- AKC dog shows never want spectators to bring dogs, reasons are pretty much the same. I’m sure your friend would feel bad if for example a hound in an arena noticed and focused on her dog and thus lost a class it might have won. And the flip side is, your friend would really, really not want to be on the other end of a leash if, say, a whole kennel full of hounds escaped and was running around and came to her dog (of course that NEVER happens at a hound show…)

[JSwan]

Hey - you better be coming! I’d like to meet you and I know everyone else would like to as well.

One of the whips has a retired foxhound from our pack and she’d not bring that hound to the hound show - even though he’s an old hand at that stuff.

There will be tents with work from absolutely wonderful artists and artisans, the grounds and mansion are lovely, the museum will be open (and you cannot take a dog in there no way) and it’s just really a great place to be.

The hounds need to focus on their handler and it’s a pretty difficult thing to do with all the commotion. One more strange dog is just going to be that much more stress - and for your friends dog too.

We all love dogs and horses - but for this show they just need to stay at home and relax. It’s a very small area with a large concentration of hounds - and the handlers will be walking the hounds among the crowd and to and from their kennels.

You MUST see the PMD’s. And the English whips with their bowlers. Stand outside the ring and listen to these people - you’ll learn loads about hounds and hunting that way. (another reason not to bring the pet dog - you can stand and chat with masters, huntsmen and whips while they’re holding hounds and they’ll tell you all about the hounds. )

Please come!

[wateryglen]

just my humble opinion…

I also suspect the lack of advertising has something to do with the Va. Foxhound Clubs finances. A lot of their funds went to lobbying efforts this year. It’s a small club afterall with very reasonable membership fees. It’s a club show put on by volunteers; not a big organization at all. And the facilities couldn’t handle a large public attendance IMHO with limited parking/toilets and public food. They are completely dependent on the kindness of the Morven Park foundation board which lets them use the grounds for the show. I don’t even know if there WILL be a food stand this year. It’s a bit of a word of mouth kinda show for anyone interested in seeing foxhounds. They are kinda maxxed out with the crowds they already have. It IS a public show but maybe not advertised much to keep it under control or maybe to keep the “anti’s” from coming even? I really think it’s a lack of funds. Whatever!
See ya’ll there!

[LexInVA]

Well, I’m going at any rate. Even if it rains. I simply can’t pass on this event. I don’t know about the friend I was planning to bring with me. I told her in our last e-mail that it wouldn’t be possible to bring her dog because it could cause problems with the hounds during the classes and left it that. If she doesn’t get back to me by tonight, to finalize our plans for the weekend, I’ll likely write off my weekend plans with her and take one of the other ladies waiting in line if any of them want to go. If not, I’ll just go by myself. No biggie wiggie.

[Ravencrest_Camp]

[QUOTE=LexInVA;4105935]
I can’t find any information that says non-competing dogs are or are not allowed. I guess I’ll have to call the information number but I can see the logic in not having them be allowed when you already have a giant pack of them there anyway. :lol:[/QUOTE]

Why bother calling the info number? Just keep the darn dogs at home. :mad:

I just don’t understand people’s need to take Fido everywhere.

[LexInVA]

[QUOTE=Ravencrest_Camp;4113674]
Why bother calling the info number? Just keep the darn dogs at home. :mad:

I just don’t understand people’s need to take Fido everywhere. [/QUOTE]

It’s not my dog. I don’t even have a dog right now though I might get one soon if I can figure out how to fit it into my lifestyle. Many dog owners without children, here and elsewhere, feel that their dogs ARE their children so they don’t want to leave them at home if they can take them along. Most (if not all) of the equestrian dog owners I know are the same way with their dogs, especially the JRTs :eek::eek:, so go ask someone you know and see what they offer up as a response.

[Joy_Karr]

Petite Bassett Griffon Vondeen

The May 15 issue of the Chronicle showed the Spring Basset Trials. Does anyone know if the Petite Bassetts are ever hunted in meets or shown in hound shows. I have heard the dog show people refer to their dogs being retired to hunting rabbits. My grandaughter was given a Petite Basset last summer while she and her mother were showing their Welsh ponies across the country. She is a champion and they bred her and have 2 puppies left. That is the beginning of a small pack and there will be another litter jn the future to enlarge it. The next time Snow Mountain Welsh come back east to show they could bring the Hunt About Kennels pack of Petite Bassettes if there would be any hound competitions. If you are unfamiliar with this breed, go to www.snowmountainfarm.com