Is it easy for a dog to pick up a canine disease at a dog show

"Just wanted to clarify something from my original post . I had originally said :

I plan to show my TT and it really scares me that he could come into contact with another dog carrying any of the canine diseases .If you can't trust breeders to keep their dogs free of disease and out of shows , who can you trust ?

What I probably should have said is :

If you can't trust owners , breeders or exhibitors to keep their dogs free of disease or out of shows , then who can you trust ?

Does any one know if there are rules in place that require proof of health , vaccination or adequate titres prior to entering a show in the US, Canada or Europe ?"

Response

In Europe I know that a female won't be allowed entry to a show while in season (this is OK in conformation in North America) and there are vets checking at the shows (at least in Germany) for obvious health problems. As Steve said it is impossible other than where obvious signs (kennel cough for example) exist to know who might have what.

Your best bet is to keep your dog crated or in an X-pen in your area, stay away from the communal 'toilets' for dogs, and keep your shots up to date (regardless of what the current trends are with immunity - consult with your vet) and give shots or nasal spray for Kennel cough prevention well in advance of your first shows and on a yearly basis.

Maybe put a mat under your setup area, and set-up away from handlers with large numbers of dogs, or setup with people you know and trust.

You are not likely to run into any rabid dogs at a show (just rabid owners and handlers :-))

If you are really paranoid, don't let your dog sniff other dogs, play etc. (although I think this is going a little bit too far).

You are just as likely to have a problem resulting from contact with a dog in a park as you are at a show. Most owners at shows spend a lot of time and money on their dogs and are generally responsible health wise. In the years I have been showing other than maybe a case of kennel cough that a friend's dog got, we have never had any problems. If you have other dogs at home, it is a good idea to bath your dog or keep him separated from the others for a few days just to be sure nothing obvious has happened health wise.

You could always put boots on your dog, and one of those little surgical masks....come to think of it, that would be a good way to get your own set-up area as I am sure no one else would go near a dog with a mask on.....hmmmm!