Packing List

Burrell Handling Packing List

Dolly

Having a flat dolly to haul your crates, tack, grooming tables, etc., is especially important at indoor shows. We find it helpful in hotels as well, especially if you're not staying on the first floor.

Crates

For each dog we pack one crate for the show, one for the hotel room, and have one setup in the van.

Grooming Table and Grooming arm

We usually pack one grooming table, two if it's a busy weekend. If we have dogs trained to a grooming arm, we'll pack one of those too.

Ex-pen and covers

Some show sites don't allow you to set up personal expens, however we always pack one. They can be used as a crating area in a hotel room, or to let your dog stretch their legs (while supervised) at the hotel. We also pack our metal expen covers so dogs can't jump out of them

Microwave

You won't always catch us packing our spare microwave, but if it's the Thanksgiving cluster we usually have ours for reheating leftovers! If we're not staying in a room that has one, sometimes we'll bring one just for convenience.

Bungees

We pack a variety of lengths. Bungees have been extremely useful- anchoring crates to the dolly, hanging tarps for shade, lashing crates together in the van, etc.

towels and blankets

We pack two large towels, one hand towel, and two washcloths per day. The large towels make good grooming table covers, hand towels are great for small messes or cleaning up your dog with self-rinse, and washcloths are great for slop rags. The blankets are used for dog bedding, and we pack two per dog per day.

If you're camping at a show, remember to pack towels and blankets (and pillows) for yourself.

Tarps

Shade tarps are essential, especially at outdoor shows. We prefer the silver mesh style, as the reflection of the sun and the ability for the breeze to pass through has made them the coolest we've used. We also pack collapsible window/windshield shades for the van which lower the temperature significantly.

Dryer and Extension cord

We always have our dryer, even at outdoor shows. If you don't use a dryer, you may find it useful to have an extension cord just in case.

Tack

The grooming products and tools you'll bring are unique to you. A few things we recommend everyone carry: vanilla extract, to cover up the smell of bitches in season, dryer sheets, to eliminate static frizz in coats or static cling in clothes, and dawn dish soap which can be used as a dog shampoo or to make a cleaning solution when needed. If you're not sure what else might be helpful, reach out to us!

Leashes and collars

We bring a show leash for every dog, as well as a show collar that fits them. We also bring a couple of long lines to walk the dogs on after the show.

Photo albums, business cards, and paperwork

It's important to always carry a copy of your dog's rabies vaccine and license. We recommend making a binder with that paperwork in it. It's also important to bring your show entries, in case there's any error with your entry- it's rare, but it happens. To fill out the rest of that binder, you can add your dog's pedigree, any new title certificates, win/show photos, and plenty of cute candids. This gives you something to show people who are curious about the breed, as well as those who might want to use your dog in their breeding program. If possible, tuck in some business cards for you, your breeder, and your handler (if you have one) to hand out if asked.

Chairs

Some shows are crowded enough that chairs aren't allowed, but most of the time a folding chair is a must. We always have two with us.

Makeup, jewelry, Hair

It can be easy to focus solely on the dog, but remember to pack your accessories too! Things like hair ties, lotion, armband holders- whatever items work best for you.

food and water

We take a gallon of water per dog per day, up to 7 gallons (as that's all our van can hold, and we just refill as needed). For dog food, pack at least one extra meal for your dog, just in case.

Supplements and Medications

Any supplements or medications get packed for each dog. We also bring additional things like happy belly paste and rescue remedy, but we'll talk about that in our first aid kit section.

Water buckets and food dishes

We pack one food dish per dog, and then one water bucket per crate, plus one for an expen if we'll have it set up at the show. This saves us from having to move water buckets all the time. **Always empty and clean out water buckets that have been left unattended at a show.**

bait

Having a variety of bait at a show is important- sometimes dogs don't respond the way you expect them to and having options can save your ring performance. We keep a squeaker in with our grooming stuff just in case. We also try to bring a variety of food- cheese sticks, hot dogs, chicken strips, and liver are often in our rotation. You want big pieces that can be easily broken up and chewed quickly. We stay away from jerky and freeze-dried meat because it takes the dogs too long to chew in the ring.

Cooler and ice

We pack a larger cooler with drinks and snacks for the humans. We also will often have a small cooler just for bait, and then (usually at outdoor shows) a ringside cooler that's full of ice water, a spray bottle of just water, and a cool coat. During the winter ice is less of a concern, but in the summer months always bring as much as you can fit.

paper towels

We usually have a roll that stays in the van and a roll that stays in the setup.

Utensils

We bring disposable cutlery, plates, bowls and cups with us to every show. Vendor food is often very expensive, so we'll pack lunch in the cooler.

Show clothes, Show shoes, toiletries, and regular clothes

We pack one show outfit per day, plus an extra. For show shoes, we usually pick shoes that go with most of our outfits, and pack two pairs. If it's going to be rainy all weekend, you might bring waterproof shoes or pack more pairs. Remember to pack for the weather- layers are great. For outdoor shows especially, it can be cold in the mornings, hot in the afternoons, and rainy off and on.

Cones

Not all show sights allow you to cone off your parking spot, but we bring cones for those that do.

Poop bags/trash bags

Always bring more poop bags than you think you need. We also bring old plastic grocery bags to use as trash bags in our van and setup, and large trash bags for storing dirty laundry.

Devices and chargers

We always make sure we have our phones, charging cords, wall ports, and car ports.

Weather gear

Shows are rarely cancelled for weather. It happens more frequently than it used to, but expect to have to show rain, snow, or shine. Rain gear, umbrellas, warm coats, hand warmers, snow brushes, etc.- check the weather before you go and pack accordingly.

First aid kit

Most of these are self-explanatory but reach out if you have questions. We keep on hand: cough medicine, Imodium, ibuprofen, aspirin, tums, Midol, ace bandage, vet wrap, Band-Aids, Kleenex, Visine, thermometer, Q-Tips, bobby pins, safety pins, sewing kit, diaper wipes, sure grip shoe bottoms, cushion inserts for shoes, scissors, extra pantyhose, happy belly paste, rescue remedy, Vetricyn, Vaseline, paw balm

Toolkit

Multitool, duct tape, WD-40, zip ties, extra batteries, sewing kit, glasses kit.

Cleaning supplies

We pack an all-purpose spray for accidents, and a Dollar Tree broom to sweep out our hotel room before we checkout. We used to keep a dollar tree mop for quick clean ups as well.

Fans

We pack a few battery powered fans to keep air circulating in the van.

generator and gas can

For outdoor shows where power isn't available, we bring our generator. It powers our dryer and can charge our devices. We also bring a small gas can to top it up if needed.

EZ UPS

EZ Ups are incredibly useful for outdoor shows. We bring at least one, but often two if space permits. Having instant shade and a place to keep dogs and equipment out of the rain makes shows much more enjoyable.

Tents

Occasionally we'll camp at a show site. Bringing a tent saves us a cramped night in the van. A camp cot is another useful luxury, when we have the space to bring it.

Tent stakes

Of course these get packed while camping, but we also use them to stake down our EZ Ups and our expens.

Hose

We don't bring this every time, but it can be useful for dog baths or other cleaning when a hookup is available.

What to Bring