What you should expect at a show
We have all been there at one point, excited and eager to learn and win! Sometimes, we may do things in our eagerness that although unintentional are against show protocol. So to help you out as you start your adventure, or even to refresh your memory, here is a list of Do's and Don'ts for the show room.
Do's
- Be prepared. Before you submit your entries, look over each animal for possible illness or disqualification. Double check the sex and ear number of each animal, and trim those toe nails! Although we have all been there, but you do not want to be the person whose animal slices open a judges arm, or is disqualified and removed from the show room due to illness, or the buck you thought was a doe, disqualified for being in the wrong class (and possibly breaking the only leg available).
- Be on time! Prepare to come to the show with plenty of time before judging begins. Give yourself time to set up your animals, check in, and do quick grooming before the show. The show will not be held in your absence, and you will still be require to pay for your entries.
- Do look at the show schedules posts, and listen for your breed to be called. Manage your time properly at the show. Getting your animals to the table in a timely matter is vital to the show continues flowing. Pay attention & listen. If you must leave the show room area, even for a brief moment, be sure to have a back up plan in place! There is no guarantee how slow or fast a judge will move through breeds.
- Do ask questions! Expanding your knowledge and learning is encouraged in this hobby. Never interrupt a judge in the process of judging, always wait until after the entire breed is done being judged. There will always be a short window in between breeds to ask a quick question. Just keep in mind, a judge cannot, should not, and often times will not tell you which two rabbits you should or should not breed together, or if you should keep, sell or terminally cull an animal.These are choices you must make for yourself, or perhaps ask the advice of another breeder.
- Do Remove your animals from the show table as soon as possible. If your animal has placed lower than 2nd place, if your able to do so, without interrupting the judging process, remove your animal. You do not want to be the one who leaves their animal on the table, having the table writer call multiple times for its removal, holding up the judging of the next breed.
- Do keep your area clean and the walkways around you free of obstruction. Remember there are people around you. People who have to move rabbits back and forth in a timely matter to the judging table. Having your belongings or chairs spread out, may make it difficult for folks to get to the table. You do not want to be the person holding up the show, when its not even your breed, or preventing a person to get to the table.
- Do pay attention to your children. PLEASE! You, the parent or guardian will be held responsible for any loss or damage created by your child. Children are always welcome at shows, and it is a great experience for them! Children are curious by nature, that is understandable, most of us have children. But the show staff and other exhibitors are not your personal babysitters.
- Do always ensure that there is water available at all times for your animals. Come prepared, bring a gallon jug or two filled with water from home. And, most importantly make sure your animals have dishes or bottles, be prepared. Most shows do not have loaner dishes or bottles available. If you do not have enough, stop by your local dollar store before coming to the show and pick up some dishes there. Another cheap and easy idea is old coffee cups that can be purchased from your local thrift shop for a quater.
Don'ts
- Do Not go behind the judging table while judging is taking place, unless invited by the judge.
- Do Not in any way identify your rabbit to the judge. We understand it's difficult sometimes to be quiet when a judge is trying to read a tattoo, or to correct him or her. However, a judge is NOT supposed to know whose animal is what, this will avoid accusations of favoritism.
- Do not question the judge, or argue with him/her on the placement he/she gives your rabbit or cavy. A judge's placement is made based on his/her opinion of that animal on that day, compared to the other animals in competition. Just because your rabbit or cavy was Best In Show, last weekend, but now is placing second, does not mean the judge is wrong, or does not know what he/she is doing.
- Do not block other's view of the judging. Give space for others to walk by, collect their animals, and view the judging as it happens.
- Do not talk loudly to other observers, making it difficult for others to hear the comments made by the judge on their animals.
- Do not scratch rabbits form additional shows if in the first show it was disqualified for weight, white spots, etc. Often times, the next judge may not weigh your animal or find that white spot. And you do not want to be the person who ruins the opportunity for a leg in that class. Unless the animal is disqualified for illness or wrong sex, leave it be. You already paid for the entry, what do you have to loose?
- Do not enter or bring any animals that do not meet minimum weight, or animals that are younger than 8 weeks old. Regardless if you are trying to fill a class for a leg. These animals are first and foremost, not allowed in the show room, but also will be the ones most susceptible to stress out more so than older, healthier junior rabbits. In addition, if another exhibitor unknowingly brings an animal that is unhealthy, animals that are severely underweight, or young will be highly likely to also contract such illness.
- Do not create large camp like circles with chairs. Although you are welcome to bring your own chairs, however, creating these large circles take up space, which is often limited. While judging is taking place, people need to be able to move in and out of isles freely.
- Do not open carriers, poke at animals through cages or coops or touch any animal that does not belong to you, without permission from the owner! Rabbits and cavies bite, sticking your fingers in the cages or coops because you just have to touch and feel that adorable animal could result in some blood shed. In addition, the animal is already under stress from traveling, being in a new place, new sounds, new smells, and the judge will be handing said animal. Poking just makes more stress. Opening carriers could leave you liable for a lost animal should you not latch it correct and the animal escapes. Or you could be seen by another who accuses you of stealing the animal. Be safe, wait for the owner.