More than 200,000 people are expected at the show

They said the dog ban - excepting guide dogs - was made on health and safety grounds as unleashed pets had caused "chaos" in animal sheds in the past.

"There have been cases when visitors have been bitten and we hope dog owners will appreciate the presence of uncontrolled dogs can be hazardous to animal health and to public safety," said show Chief Executive David Walters.

And he said the crèche had been discontinued because of the "onerous rules and regulations" which govern it.

Cardiff businessman Peter Cox is demanding compensation for the non-refundable deposit of his accommodation near the show.

He claimed the decision to ban dogs is irrational and said it was up to owners to be responsible for their animals.

Dogs can travel in Europe with passports

"How many people have been gnawed to death by unmuzzled Rottweilers on the ground?" he said.

"The tourism industry in Wales is worth £1.65bn a year and this sends out extraordinary dog-phobic signals.

"People can now travel about Europe freely with dog passports, but would they want to travel to Wales with this sort of attitude to dog owners."

Lisa and Andy Parry from Cwmbran, south east Wales have won awards for showing their spaniels at the Royal Welsh.

"They stopped having a dog show at the Royal Welsh last year and now they are stopping people taking their dogs on the showground," said Mr Parry.

"I am disgusted by this because if you can't take your dogs to shows, where can you take them?

Andy Parry will his spaniel not be at this year's show

"We regarded this show as the biggest dog show apart from Crufts, and I am surprised by this decision because we have never seen a loose dog on the showground."

As far as child care facilities were concerned, Mr Walters said there had been "abuse of the crèche facility with children being left at the crèche for longer than the stipulated period".

The crèche had been run by Welsh language-based playgroup association, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and Wales Pre-school Playgroup Association.

"It is a great pity this has happened but I fully understand that the show has to balance its books and the financial reasons why the crèche has been discontinued," said Hywel Jones, chief executive of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin.

The crèche had proved popular among parents, providing spaces for up to 50 children at a time attending two-hour sessions.

"Parents will definitely see the difference once they have lost this free service," said Mr Jones.