Showing a bitch in heat - Page 1

I have been approached by another novice owner who was enquiring about the etiquette surrounding showing a bitch in heat. I have never done this but wondered how anyone else felt. Are their any rules about this? Will a bitch be disadvantaged? Is it polite, in view of the number of male dogs at shows? Any comments?

If you give a female GSD 3 rolaids two times daily the "heat smell" is almost completely wiped away from inquiring noses. I have shown pekeingese for a breeder in Nevada that did this in smaller dosages as 2 of his females came in every 4 months so very hard to get good showing in, if you have to be off so much. I don't agree this should be done but it has been done by others. I don't recommend showing a female in season as I know how I feel "in season" and I don't feel so good. I think this girl should lie on the living room sofa in the air conditioning and sip beef gravy toddies for the month. LOL. Kari

Before "Rolaids" and in countries that don't have "Rolaids", what is the protocol, as it relates to ZernoGSD's question. I am also curious.

In the show ring males and females are shown separately. At SchH trials the bitches owner has to advise the trial secretary and the female in heat is trialed as the last dog.

Showing AKC or Sieger-style? You can show a bitch in heat in AKC conformation without a problem. It is considered polite to keep your bitch in her crate until she is ready to go into the ring and then discretely mention it to the handlers in front or behind you w/ intact males for BOB or Group. It is not considered an issue at Sieger shows either, as far as I know. I have never known a bitch to be at a disadvantage in showing (temperament-wise), but I'm sure it's up to the individual as with most things. Hormones effect different animals in different ways. However, my bitches blow their coats a month before they come into heat, so yeah, I guess they could be at a disadvantage. I used to show Rottweilers where coat was never an issue -- it just had to be clean, shiny & correct. Luckily, I got showing out of my system by the time I got a GSD!