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23 September - Okay - bit of a grumpy post here - really sorry as I like to keep things up
beat.
During a run today - a G4-7 class - we came to an abrupt halt because someone earlier in the class must have had a pocket stuffed with treats and hadn't secured it properly. So my dog thought it was Christmas and started munching her way through it as I tried to pick all the bits up. Who could blame her?
I really don't care whether you are running with treats on your person or not - but if you choose to do so - please, please make sure they are securely locked away so that you don't inadvertently ruin someone else's run. This was a class for Grade 4's upwards, so not really competitors who are new to competing - not that I am casting any aspirations on the G1-3 handlers. The thing is that not only did it muck up that run, but having found treats in one ring, when we went into our next class she had half her attention on the ground in case she struck it lucky again!
I don't blame her. I'm just a bit miffed that a moment of thoughtlessness by someone else spoilt my run. I suspect I'd have been even more cross if it was during a run Soraya Porter
18 September - This is a PERSONAL opinion.
After reading Penny Garner-Carpenter's comments on equipment, it is a bugbear of mine as well. There is very little in the rules and regs that is applicable to equipment other than heights etc. So when did equipment suppliers dictate to the majority of competitors and the KC what the equipment would be made of?
We used to have wood wings and wood poles for jumps - quite heavy and not easy to drop either of them. Then we got plastic poles with some sort of weight in them. They were okay. Then we got plastic with no weight in them - easy to knock off. The cups have now gone from some sort of substantial cup - various although not easy to displace - to pipe that gripped the pole. Then came a T-timer type cup. Not bad, to some thimble.
Now we have plastic wings which fall over if you run quick past them, never mind in any sort of wind. Saw a wishing well a couple of month ago the width of a small door frame and height not much better. Then it was put on an angle! As for contacts, Aluminium seems an okay medium, but the stuff that's getting on as non-slip, well who knows where its going to end.
At the Semi finals, I felt sorry watching dogs from all regions having some problems with the surface of the contacts. Thats not to criticise that equipment supplier. It does not matter who it was. My point is all equipment manufactures are doing what 'they' think is best because of weight.
Before anyone starts in on the way you train a dog, my point is that the equipment manufactures are dictating what we as competitors can use in our shows and not the other way round.
I back Penny for our representative on the Liaison Committee to have some sort of equipment panel. Or does it go to the Activities Sub-committee, where there are 15 members of which two are from Agility. How on earth is agility going to get anything passed there? Jim Gregson
17 September - Question: Do we wait for the KC to decide on what surface we have at our shows or do we as an agility community make the decision?
Should shows still use sand/paint contacts or should they all change over to rubber surface? .... And would it stop you from entering a show if you knew it was sand / paint finish?
Am not after the debate of which hirer has better equipment etc. but was just wondering, after posts on here of shows having one or the other, the general feeling of what is best. Allison Harris
14 September - Here is a modest proposal for a solution to the 'help at shows' problem...
Here is a modest proposal for a solution to the 'help at shows' problem: - what about every handler tipping the ring party whenever they have a run. 10% of the entry fee sounds fair, doesn't it?
Naturally you couldn't discriminate against individual workers so better tip them all. Say 10% (28p) for the caller, 28p for the pads person, 28p for the scribe, 28p for the scorer, 28p for the scribe sheet runner, 28p for pole picker, 28p for the leads mover. Of course ring managers and judges will be on salaries, not wages, so they don't get tips. And show secretaries line their pockets anyway so they wouldn't need anything either.
Mind you the jingling of coins in handlers' pockets could be a bit of a distraction. John Leslie
11 September 2012 - Are calling boards ever used at agility shows anymore
Yes, I know they are there. But you know, the boards in the corner with the magnetic numbers. I know they often tell us what is in the ring during the day. But it was whilst I was updating the one on the ring I was working on on Sunday that I thought hmmm, not sure these get updated as much anymore?
Does anyone look at them? Are they used? Should they be used? I find them quite helpful if I can be sure they are up to date. Might save some of my bugbears - long q's with people in them that shouldn't be there. Amanda Pigg
9 September - Helping at shows.
If there was an annual show helpers league with prizes at the end of the year would you consider helping out more or helping if you presently do not help? Sue Culmer
28 August - I have a bit of a thing about abuse of judges as you may have seen in The Agility Club mag.
But, at the summer show which was a lovely show, in ring 4 I had the misfortune to hear a Grade 1 person f and blind at the judge. I was staggered at the language. This can not carry on. There was nothing wrong with the jumps. If you do not like the run, just walk away. Please don't be rude to people who give up there free time to give the majority a bloody good time - 99 out of 100 of us only have respect for what you do.
22 August -Just out of curiosity - generators or solar panels?
Which one do you have and if you have a generator do you use it to run electrical appliances off, e.g. laptop, hairdryer etc., or just to keep your caravan battery topped up. Also if you were to buy one which one would you get. Just wondered if most generator people have a generator because of specific needs or do not trust solar panels. This is not a dig at anyone or anything - just curious that all. Glenda Cutler
20 August -Trying to get an opinion on re-coating contact equipment with rubber coating
If you have used it can you answer the following questions please: 1) Which product did you use 2) How long ago did you apply it 3) Is the equipment left outside all the time 4) Or put away 5) What condition is it in after several months/years wear and tear 6) Are you happy with the results? Wendy Rose Clay
19 August- How far are you prepared to drive for an agility show?
Can I ask a question? Out of curiosity... Would you drive further for a KC or UKA show than an unaffiliated show? Lyn Storey
16 August - Can any one tell me why...
When we are at a show, at training or just out and about my dog is really good and quiet in the car but when she is in the car at my friend's stables she barks ALL the time! It's really getting on my nerves and I'm thinking of not taking her anymore, but the good thing about taking her is that afterwards we can have a really good run in the fields. I can't have her out of the car around the stables as one of the horses hates dogs and will attack them if he can, plus they have got cats and chickens and, although I have trained my dogs to ignore sheep, cattle & horses, for the life of me I can't get them to ignore cats or chickens and they will chase them. Any suggestions on keeping her quiet? Amanda Smith
16 August - Am I Too Laid Back?
This may be a long posting so apologies. In regards to the question above, I am beginning to wonder if I am too laid back at shows...
1) Late comers to shows - do not bother me at all. Will help them set up if am around or, if in bed, just lay thinking 'poor things I bet they have had a long journey or had to work late.' They don’t do it on purpose and I bet they would love to have arrived early afternoon like a lot of people do.
2) Late night parties or get-togethers - same again. Do not bother me, usually fall asleep with the window open, smiling and listening to their banter and them having fun. Just because some people prefer an early night doesn't mean everyone does. For some people shows are a bit of a holiday and a chance to get together with friends and to chill in an evening.
3) Noisy things happening at the same venue - The last show I was at there was a very large rock festival that went on until the early hours. Didn't bother me. That's someone else's weekend too, doing what they like doing. Who am I to say they are annoying me. They prob aren't keen on barking dogs either... Hahaaa
4) Barking dogs - unless its a constant bark bark bark bark with no one saying anything , then this doesn't bother me either! If they wake me up before my alarm then fair enough. Always set my alarm for 6am anyway to feed mine and never been woken before that and, if I do, then I have a longer day.
5) Generators – not bothered either way. If you have to have one on, then fair enough so long as off by 10pm. If you're camped next to me, then really not a prob.
6) Can't camp with friends for any reason – yeah not ideal but thankfully a very rare occurrence. Would still rather be at a show than sat at home.
The only things that bother me are... Pitches that are too small to get everything on plus leave enough room for a decent size garden, cars that drive too fast around the camping are and rings and people who let their dogs pee up my netting or run at my dogs who are loose in the garden. Other than that, I suppose pretty much anything goes! Is anyone else as laid back as me? Allison Harris
15 August - When things go wrong...
When things go wrong in the ring, I am out of time, or was eliminated etc. I look inwardly, and ask myself what was good, what was bad, where can we improve, what do we need to work on? Etc... I am beginning to feel a bit sad that some comments on here are pointing blame elsewhere, the judge, the course, the course time, etc. Does no one analyse their performance anymore.. then strive to improve. Hannah Grantham
12 August - I need some advice.
I have a mad merle who just will not wait on the start line and now I'm running out ideas of what to try. Away from the start line I can wind him up, run away from him, call his name etc and he just sits there and waits. On the start line I can barely get a step away from him without him taking off. I've tried putting him back and trying again buy nothing is working. Any advice would be welcome. Catherine Emery
9 August - With trophies how many of you keep them? Serious replies only please.
When you are 'done' with them do you A: throw them away or B: donate them elsewhere. The reason I ask is because I'm toying with ideas / styles and wondered if lasered trophies are most likely to be binned because you can't change the little sticky bits. A lot of thought goes into what we buy in as awards and just wondered what people liked / found easier to recycle. Tracy Davidson
7 August - Fenced in rings
Great to see fenced in rings at a show this weekend, worked well for new dogs and those who get somewhat distracted or reactive, I know it's hard work but well worth it, well done those implementing them, thank you. Donna Lewis
4 August - With all these negative comments and requests for clarification of rules how about this for a change?
We accept that we if once we have got hooked by the agility bug and we want to compete at KC shows we have to accept a few things.
1. First your dog has to be registered and measured. It is our responsibility to find out how and where. We have to plan ahead and if [we] didn’t, we don’t blame others for our lack of planning. We accept that most people who provide services such as measuring are volunteers with their own lives and dogs. They are not employed to provide these services and therefore can’t always be available or respond immediately where and when we want.
2. When competing we accept how things are done we act in a sportsmanship way and don’t try and stretch the rules to suit us, we accept that we have to train our dogs well enough to enable us to complete the test set for us without any other assistance then our own handling skills, we can have treats, toys in our pockets, attached to the lead etc. but not use them as aids to complete the test while in the ring they are there so we can reward our dog at the end outside the ring.
3. We accept that some dogs are slow, some will knock poles, some will get a bit wild and we may make mistakes and yes we may correct them but please show respect to the judge and fellow competitors and accept it wasn’t your day and you need to train harder on a particular obstacle, sequence but the ring is not the place to do so.
4. Last but not least, life is not fair. Never has been; never will be. Accept it and try and enjoy each day with your best friend/s. You don’t know how long you have with them or them with you so make the best of the time you have and allow others to do the same.
If, by the end of the day, there is a rule or practice you feel very strongly about and you feel agility would be even better if a certain change was made, then take the time to write a proposal, speak to your rep and other experienced people about it and submit it to the ALC for consideration. Katarina Ullsten
3 August - Has measuring killed agility for new people?
Since measuring came in the lower grades have shrunk and it's not hard to see why, and it's now much more hassle to do agility competition for a new person. In 1999 at Bronsgrove, Starters had 110 people in it. Now Grade 1-2 Combined has about 30-80 competitors. Thoughts? Gerry Ronson
23 July - Is agilty for fun or a sport?