Show Site

The show will be held outdoors on the lawn.

What do I bring?

• It might be a good idea to bring some shade for both you and your dog(s). We can double up and share with the people that will be traveling.
• Folding chairs
• Crate or x-pen for your dog(s)

What do I wear?

• Business attire is standard. -- Large graphic logo shirts
  are not appropriate.
• Comfortable shoes that are safe for the environment.
• Having a pocket in the outfit will give you some place for treats. -- Treat bags are not to worn in the ring.
• You need sleeves as your armband is actually a clip-on that is
  worn on your left sleeve. -- You have to ware your armband in the
  ring.
• Remember to pack your Armband. ARBA only issues one. If this is your first show you will get your armband at check in.

What should I do to prepare for the show?

• You will need to have a show lead. Your dog must show without a collar or harness.
• Practice looking at your dogs teeth; it is good to have other people look at your dog's teeth as well. The judge will be checking teeth. Check the teeth with your dog on a waist high table, make it fun. Practice with treats, praise, and joy. The table should be a happy place.
• If you have a chance, some trainers do teach conformation.
• Try to have all vaccines administered at least month ahead of show, administering just before you travel can cause trauma. 

Read more about traveling with your dogs...

- Flying with Dogs in Cargo and in Carry-on
- On-the-Road-Again; Traveling with dogs
- Traveling with Farmdogs
- Travel Testomonial

What do I do at the show?

• Get there early to set up your camp.  Please arrive by 7:30 to check in.
• When you are in the ring be polite, keep the spacing don’t crowd the dog ahead of you.
• If you are using treats in the ring please try not to spill on the ground.
• Be sure to walk your dog before the ring, but just in case have a bag tucked away.
• For those with males, there will be females in heat at a show. Keep your dog away, it is your responsibility. Some will tell you their dog is hot, that is not a comment on their looks but that they are in heat.
• As we have a judge giving us written critiques please stay quit at ring side so we all can hear or at least the transcriber can hear the judge.

Show Location Map

With location of near-by places to purchase food

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Directions from the Hotel

Start from: 700 Courtyard Dr, St Charles, IL 60174
Arrive at: 370 Dean St, IL 60175
(Distance 4.4 mi)

• Head southeast on Courtyard Dr toward Foxfield Rd - 167 ft
• Turn right at Foxfield Rd - 0.2 mi
• Turn left at Dunham Rd - 0.2 mi
• Turn right at IL-64/E Main St - 2.9 mi
• Turn right at N Randall Rd - 0.4 mi
• Turn left at Dean St. Destination will be on the right - 0.7 mi

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Hotel and Transportation

Courtyard® by Marriott®
Chicago/ St. Charles

700 Courtyard Drive
St. Charles, Illinois 60174 USA
Phone: 1-630-377-6370
Fax : 1-630-377-6709

Web site

Special DSFCA Rate:

• $92.00 / night Plus Tax (Thurs - Sunday nights)
• King and 2 Double bed rooms
• One time Pet fee $25.00 (Charged at the desk)
• 2 complementry Breakfast vouchers per day (additional vouchers may be purchased for $6.95 ea.)
  
  Note: Special rate Reservation cut-offdate is Sept. 21, 2009. reservattions may Cancel up to 2 days prior to first night.

When making reservation ask for the Danish/Swedish Farmdog special pricing. -- Price code: "Danish".

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RV Parking

Complimentary private road parking at the hotel. No hook-ups

Breakfast $6.95 ea.

Area Airports

Chicago/Ajar - ORD
Phone: 1 312 555 5555

Hotel direction: 35 miles W
Driving Directions: Exit airport and follow directions to 90 West. Take for 15 miles. Exit Route 59 and turn left heading south for 7 miles. Turn right on Route 64 (North Ave) take for 3 miles. Turn right on Kirk Road for one block. Turn left on Foxfield. Hotel is on the right.

Note: This hotel does not provide shuttle service.

• Alternate transportation: American Limo; fee: 65 USD (one way) , reservation required

• Estimated taxi fare: 60.00 USD (one way)

Chicago/Midway - MDW
Phone: 1 312 555 5555

Hotel direction: 45 miles SE
Driving Directions: I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) South to 294(Tri-State Toll way) North to I-88 (East-West Toll way) Westto Farnsworth Avenue North. Farnsworth Avenue will become Kirk Road. Follow Kirk Road north and cross over North Avenue (Route 64) to Foxfield Drive. Left on Foxfield to Courtyard Drive.

Note: This hotel does not provide shuttle service.

• Alternate transportation: American Limo; fee: 80 USD (one way) , reservation required

• Estimated taxi fare: 75.00 USD (one way)

Dupage - DPA
Phone: 1 630 377 6370

Hotel direction: 1.5 miles W
Driving Directions: Head West on Rt. 64 to Kirk Rd go right and head North to 1st Stop light Foxfield and go left, hotel will be on right hand side.

• Alternate transportation: American Limo; fee: 25 USD (one way) , reservation required

• Airport shuttle service, reservation required, complimentary
  Estimated taxi fare: 5.00 USD (one way)

Other Transportation

Bus Station
Greyhound (15 miles S)

Train Station
Geneva Train Station (5 miles SW)

Near by Restaurants at the Hotel

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The Hotel recommends the following Restaurants

Erik & Me Riverside Restaurant (2 miles)
Offering authentic Danish and American cuisine in a casual riverside setting. Open for lunch and dinner. Dress code: Casual
Phone: 1-630-377-9222

Bennigan's (0.5 miles)
American food served with Irish hospitality in a fun neighborhood tavern setting. Open for lunch and dinner. Dress code: Casual
Phone: 1-630-513-7552

Chili's (0.5 miles)
Featuring baby back ribs, sizzling fajitas, burghers and Chili's Margarita bar. Open for lunch and dinner. Dress code: Casual
Phone: 1-630-574-8013

Francesca's by the River (2 miles)
A great choice for a St. Charles restaurant, featuring the zesty, earthy cuisine of Italy. Open for lunch and dinner. Dress code: No Jeans
Phone: 1-630-587-8221

El Puente (1 miles)
Authentic Mexican cuisine served in a colorful, vibrant atmosphere with a tasty variety of dishes. Open for lunch and dinner. Dress code: Casual
Phone: 1-630-377-8884

Boston Market (0.5 miles)
Open for lunch and dinner. Dress code: Casual
Phone: 1-630-443-9711

Dimitri's (1 miles)
Mediterranean. Open for lunch and dinner. Dress code: Casual
Phone: 1-630-584-0600

Friday October 9th

Hotel check-in is at 3:00 pm. The hotel lobby has a very nice place to meet up with other Farmdog families.

Some time around 4:00 pm we will have a casual meet and greet outside in the Hotel parking lot area on the greenbelt off Courtyard Rd. If we have rain then we go right to the Meeting room in the Hotel.

This is the time to meet all the dogs and the people that they own. We will have a mini conformation training class to help those who are new to the ring. This has always been a great way to start the weekend activities.

This year we have a special treat for our Meet and Greet. Jan Conradt with her poodle Dickens will be available to teach us the basics of Canine Freestyle. The class fee is $15.00 per dog/handler team. We will start at 5:00 pm.

The times of the Friday events are for estimate only. This is a casual day and pretty much is determined by the people attending on that day.

You are on your own for dinner. Some may want to go together to a local restaurant after the activities. There are some local restaurants listed as well as a map in the Accommodation and Transportation section. The Sage Bistro has been recommended - 160 S. 1st Street, St. Charles, IL 60174 (630) 444-3555 - Dinner Menu.

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Saturday October 10th

Show check-in

Please arrive by 8:00AM to set up camp and check in with ARBA. The first show starts at 9:00AM. There will be two shows on Saturday. The DSFCA Specialty is show #2. Everyone is encouraged to enter show #1. All show results go towards your dog's overall ARBA standings.

Show #1

Please enter this show to practice for our Specialty show. The dogs will be judged by an ARBA judge so you may have a different outcome form the Specialty show.

Show #2 - the DSFCA Specialty Show

This show starts after the completion of Show 1. The guest judge is Bengt-Åke Borgren from Sweden. He will be evaluating each dog during the competition. A written critique of how he evaluates your dog will be issued to all participants. This critique will be displayed on the Members Only section of the DSFCA Web site along with the past three Specialty critiques. Bengt-Ake Borgren will be speaking later that night at the no-host dinner and presentation.

Special Fundraising Classes

Like last year we have added four extra show categories to our specialty. Entries are open to ALL Danish/Swedish Farmdogs, intact or altered. We are doing this as a DSFCA Fund raising event. There is a $12 entry for each of the added categories (or $40 for all four categories), most of these fees will be rebated to the DSFCA as a fund raiser. For this privilege ARBA asked that all qualified dogs participate in all the conformation shows on Saturday. Altered dogs can only enter Show #2 fundraising classes.

The Special Classes are:

Best Angulation (Over-all front and rear)
Best Head
Best Gait
Happiest Farmdog

Show #3

The dogs will be judged by an ARBA judge so you may have a different outcome form the Specialty show.

Evening presentation by our guest judge, Bengt-Åke Borgren from Sweden.

Mr. Bengt-Åke Borgren will have a presentation at our no-host dinner Saturday night at 7:00 pm. You will be responsible for your meals and beverages. the cost of the presentation is $15.00 and $10.00 for any DSFCA member's guests. Children are free.

The dinner will be at the St. Charles Place (www.st-charlesplace.com phone: 630-377-3333). It is conveniently located right next to the Marriott St. Charles hotel so you can walk to it and they have a large parking lot also. The food is great - large selection from steak and lobster to specialty salads...etc.

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Sunday October 11th

ARBA will be having two shows this day (Show 4, 5 and Show 6).