$8.57 a Minute

Life during show weeks is hectic, at best. The dog that's going has to be bathed - in my tub -carried down 2 flights of stairs to the basement for drying and grooming, and then I have to clean up the trail of water and dog fur that I leave while trekking a sopping wet corgi around the house. Mind you, this is all done late into the night, because I work during the day and have two-legged beings to tend to when I arrive home.

Then there is trying to prevent the boys from playing so that my grooming efforts are not undone by slobber.

Show day usually starts before the sun is up on Sat morning. Prep whatever the husband needs to manage the kids for the day, pack the car, groom myself and hit the road....and drink plenty of coffee to prevent grumpiness.

Arrive, primp, get three and a half minutes in the ring - at $30 an entry, that's $8.57 a minute (plus gas, food, etc.) to show a class dog.