Michigan Family Pet Expo

Becky,
The indoor events are a lot different than the outdoor events. In addition to what you brought for the Labor Day event (crate, leash, water, etc) you will also want to make sure you bring towels to dry Sage off after jumping and I would also recommend bringing a sheet or blanket to cover her crate with. Not only does it help to keep some of the warmth in but it also helps keep people from walking up to the crate. I would also suggest bringing at least an extra pair of socks for you since your feet will get wet. The water is a lot colder than outdoors!!!!
Also - don't be discouraged if Sage doesn't jump. The indoor events are a lot harder on the dogs with all the noises and the lights.

I'm sure other people will have some more suggestions too!!!

Thank you for the information. Do you know if we should enter through the exhibitors entrance or the main entrance?
Becky

Becky,
I don't know. Milt or Brian will post all of the entrance info as soon as they know so I would keep checking the board today, tomorrow and Friday morning!!

Normally for Novi we enter at the rear of the building. You will have to pay for parking but there may be a list of registered people with the attendee at the rear exhibitor entrance and you shouldn't have to pay to enter. That part depends on what Milt has worked out with the promoter and who is working the entrance.

Bring towels for the dog - the water is cold so it's a good idea to dry them off after each splash. We use chamois because they are easy to wring out and work great without being used up like a towel can.

Bring a crate and something to cover it with. The indoor events are very crowded so it's a good idea to cover the crates to help keep the dog warm and to give them a feeling of being enclosed and safe instead of having people walking around them. The general public will often wander thru the crating area so the cover is also to protect them from sticking their fingers inside your crate and possibly having an incident.

Indoor events are often quite loud so don't be discouraged if your dog is not as comfortable with it as you think they will be. Some dogs have no issues, some have a really hard time and the only way to know is to attend an event and see.

Wear waterproof boots/shoes or bring a separate pair to use on the dock. When your feet get wet - and they will - they don't get a chance to dry at an indoor event. If you have a separate pair of dry shoes you can put on between splashes, you will be more comfortable. Also, bring a dry chang eof clothes - never know when YOU are the one who goes off the dock by accident and did I mention the water is cold... hopefully you won't need them but it's good insurance.

Don't be discouraged if your dog doesn't go off the dock like normal. The indoor lighting can cause them issues. Again, some dogs are fine with it, some not. You will know during practice how it's going to be. Most are pretty easy to work thru the lighting and are fine afterwards.

Most of all, have a good time and learn something new. Indoor events are fun once you get used to them.

Jason,
Thank you for the help, we're looking forward to being there.
Becky

besides the items for the dogs do we need to bring chairs? Can we bring cooler with lunch in them?

Yes, it's a good idea to bring your own chairs. There are usually concessions open but we've always brought in our own lunches and snacks in a small to medium cooler.

I know labs generally have stronger stomachs than GSDs, but you may want to be careful about which treats and snacks you choose to bring for your dog. Try to avoid anything new or too rich. Also, I recommend that you only give them water from home or bottled water from the store.

EAR PLUGS!!!!!