To Bench or Not to Bench

MandyPug

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#1
That is the question.

I received an email today letting me know for AAC Nationals, which I'm volunteering at, benching will be available for volunteer's dogs. They're giving us breaks throughout the day to potty the dogs, and the benching area is an indoor air conditioned barn. Most of me feels that Izzie would be much better off coming with me for the 3 day trip because we could do a lot of things after we're done for the day and going back to the apartment (she can no longer stay at the apartment alone as she scratched the **** out of the door because my brother insisted we not use the crate.


Here's my schedule:

· Friday August 6th, 2010
· 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM: WarmUp Ring (break approx halfway through)
· *Lunch*
· 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM: Steeplechase - Ring Crew+ -Leash Runner (break approx halfway through)
· Saturday August 7th, 2010
· 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM: Nationals - Ring Crew+ - Pole Setter/Leash runner (break approx halfway through)
· 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM: Nationals - Ring Crew+ - Pole Setter/Leash runner (break approx halfway through)
· *Lunch i guess would be here*
· 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM: Steeplechase - Ring Crew+ -Pole Setters

Personally i think she'll be fine, i just need reassurance from other members! Lol. So what do you guys think?

Also i've never had benching available for my dogs, what should i bring? Crate i figure, something comfortable for her to lay in, busy dog activities for the crate, water, leash, blanket for over the crate... So if we go with the benching idea i need some help lol!
 

Doberluv

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#2
If Izzie is comfortable in that kind of atmosphere, (she is use to that, right?) then I'd say, "go for it." It sounds nice....A.C....her comfy bed, crate, toys, treats. It sounds like you've got it covered. I can't think of anything else she'd need. Three days is a long time and this way she'd be with you and would likely have fun with you. I think you should follow your gut instinct. You know what's best for you and Izzie already. Have a fun time!
 

MandyPug

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#3
If Izzie is comfortable in that kind of atmosphere, (she is use to that, right?) then I'd say, "go for it." It sounds nice....A.C....her comfy bed, crate, toys, treats. It sounds like you've got it covered. I can't think of anything else she'd need. Three days is a long time and this way she'd be with you and would likely have fun with you. I think you should follow your gut instinct. You know what's best for you and Izzie already. Have a fun time!
She's used to other dogs for sure but this will be a relatively new experience for her. I'm going to see about a radio to attach to the crate bars.

I'm wondering if an ex-pen would be a better idea? I think i'd like her to be fully enclosed, but an ex-pen would be bigger and since i can't seem to find a spare crate pan for the crate i use i wonder if it'd be more comfortable for her... I wonder how much ex-pen covers are...
 

Doberluv

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#4
Has she ever been in an ex-pen? I'd be inclined to keep her in her own crate if she's use to that. But of course, take her out for little strolls and stuff. Is she use to having a radio on close to her crate? I would think keeping things as close to the way she's accustomed would make things more normal for her. If she's a generally accepting dog about new things and places, I bet she'll be fine. There's only one way to find out. LOL.
 

MandyPug

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#5
Has she ever been in an ex-pen? I'd be inclined to keep her in her own crate if she's use to that. But of course, take her out for little strolls and stuff. Is she use to having a radio on close to her crate? I would think keeping things as close to the way she's accustomed would make things more normal for her. If she's a generally accepting dog about new things and places, I bet she'll be fine. There's only one way to find out. LOL.
Well normally she doesn't use a crate, I have no space for one in my house. It's not even her own crate, it's a border collie sized one we borrow from a pair of bunnies lol. She's fine with confinement though because she had to be crated when she had her eye surgery. We leave the radio on for the dogs during the day though i thought it might drown out a bit of the barking. She used an ex-pen when she was just a wee thing, one actually came with her and i ended up donating it to the humane society because i couldn't see using it (and i'm kicking myself now since they're expensive to buy and we'll need something like it eventually for agility trials!). She's generally up for anything. I'm going to see if i can find an extra crate pan because i don't want her walking on wire, but petsmart doesn't seem to have them unless i order online which i can't do without a credit card. Grr.
 

corgipower

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#6
I'm assuming that your use of the term "bench" is different from what makes me cringe and that it just means there will be an area allotted for the volunteers' dogs and since you'd be there all day anyway it's actually a plus rather than that she would be on mandatory display whether you want it or not. :p
 

MandyPug

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#7
I'm assuming that your use of the term "bench" is different from what makes me cringe and that it just means there will be an area allotted for the volunteers' dogs and since you'd be there all day anyway it's actually a plus rather than that she would be on mandatory display whether you want it or not. :p
Yes it's going to be a barn (nationals is at a major equestrian facility) reserved for volunteers' dogs, not on display to public.

I'm new to all this and the coordinator used the term "benching". Sorry for the confusion!

I'm leaning towards using the expen instead of the crate and fixing up a cover to go on top, it'll give her more space and she won't have to be walking on the wires (since i have no time or credit card to order a new crate pan for a crate i don't own). I figure i should get the expen on kijiji while i still can, it'll come in handy in the future at least.
 

Doberluv

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#8
Well...it sounds like she'll be fine. She seems like a "anything goes" kind of dog, right? You guys will have fun.

Could you just put a couple of folded blankets to cover the wires that she lies or walks on?
 

MandyPug

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#9
Well...it sounds like she'll be fine. She seems like a "anything goes" kind of dog, right? You guys will have fun.

Could you just put a couple of folded blankets to cover the wires that she lies or walks on?
She's a nester so she'd probably end up digging at them and i'm afraid if she dug at them and got a nail caught on the bars and ripping a nail off or hurting herself. Even though i keep them VERY short, i'm still devising the plan. If the guy on kijiji won't go less than $60 and some dog treats/chews for the expen then i'll probably just figure something out with the crate i can borrow.
 

Doberluv

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#10
Oh, I see. Well, that wouldn't be good. Do you have access to a plastic crate? I never used a wire crate, myself....always those molded plastic Vari-kennels. Well, I'm sure you'll devise something. You'll have to let us know how everything went when you come back. I hope you have a fun time.
 

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