While there is no such thing as a "normal" dog show, there is what could be called typical.  Such is that which follows

     Getting to the show is the first task.  Since we live far into the Northwoods, all shows are many hours away.  This particular show was in Wilmot, WI in Kenosha County. We travel in a van that is packed with 2 dog crates, an "X" pen (or exercise pen  that sets up to about a 7 or 8 foot circle), grooming table, grooming tools (clippers, combs, brushes, shears along with sprays and secret things to put the best foot - opps - paw, forward.

	When we get there, we look for a shady spot and even then we rig this screen that actually keeps the inside about 15 degrees warmer than the outside.  Battery operated fans attached to the crate doors also help with the heat.      This day wasn't particularity hot, but it was sunny.       Traveling with two dogs has been compared to traveling with small children, except with dogs, there more to cart
Here's the routine - travel, find a spot to park and to groom - brush, clip, preen, fluff and fold.  The best spots are near electricity. (We carry 2 - 50ft cords)
	After grooming we don our "show clothes", load the pockets with treats and head off to the show ring.      (Amanda practices her preferred ring style)
Most summer show are outside adding slippery grass, tent stakes uneven ground and pot holes to the list of things to be watched.      This day, both Amanda and Natcho (shown in a decent stack) chose to investigate every dog that had been in the ring since the morning, also called "hoovering" or more diplomatically (or mercifully) referred to as "hunting".
	A view of "Camp Fieldie"  One of the nicer traditions amongst the owners of field spaniels is that they tend to park in the same area and socialize.  At most dog shows you are likely to see all the fieldies shown that weekend as well as new pups, veterans and any other "LBD" that slips into the van/truck/car.
We stay at motels overnight since camping no longer suits our bones.  Amanda and Natcho are comfortable staying in the van overnight, but of course they are feed and exercised.      If you look at the parking lot (this is Sunday morning) you see the weather we had in store.
	It rained cats and dogs - how do I know - I just stepped in a poodle.

Apologies for the above
 

	More grooming.  Field Spaniels don't get a lot of grooming, about and hour to an hour and a half - that's compared to six or seven hours for a standard poodle.
And here's what the show is all about - waiting for ring time and trying to keep the dogs and handlers near some state of calm.
	This is the Winner's ring.  There were 13 Fields entered, an unusually high number, so this sight is rare.
This is Amanda going through her paces with Missy, a Junior Handler that volunteered to show Amanda.  Amanda just loves junior handlers and does just about anything they ask of her, including being a lot showier than with her owners.  But then again kids always behave better for others too.
	Amanda, Missy and the judge - because Amanda was "Best of Winners" and the dogs had a "major" going for them, she got a 3 point major (win).  To get her championship, Amanda needed 15 points, and some of those points had to come in 2 majors.      As of this show, Amanda has 13 point and two majors, only two more points to be listed by the AKC as "Ch, Crystal Rose Born to Bloom."
End of the day, who cares if she gets wet and bedraggled, she won!!  and got a treat of real people food from an admirer at the food stand.      It's back into the van for the 6 hour trip back north, unpack the van and store the doggie stuff until the next show -  in three weeks, in Freeport in Illinois, 9 hours away.
This story came from our second year of showing and traveling with two dogs.Since we have acquired more show dogs we decided to seek an alternative to the packing and unpacking, moving and trying to find places who take dogs. Our solution:

A 31 foot, 1994 Damon Challenger. We experimented by renting a pop-up trailer (way too much work) and a smaller class C motorhome (a 1978 23 footer) but found that without a "basement" it was not much better than packing and unpacking a van. With the storage under the floor area (our basement) we take everything we need, we can get to it from the outside and we can be independent, without hooking to electricity, water or sewer for up to three days. The one thing we have noticed, anyone who uses a motor home to haul their dogs almost never have a dining area. The area, which in most units converts into a bed, converts into a platform to hold dog crates.