Mumble mumble...

Rather than grumble or complain to your friends and family about an agility-related topic, here's your chance to speak quietly amongst friends. You may not be alone. It may be possible that other people were unaware of the situation and something can be changed.

Help Yourself
From Lisa Taylor on FB

After helping out at a few shows this year, I would like all the 'moaners' out there to read and digest this post.

Please remember that helpers do their jobs voluntarily. While you are shouting, moaning, tutting or other rude behaviour with your dog by your side,  ours are in a van/car/caravan waiting for us to return.

Without us you would not be able to collect your ticket, have your lead where YOU want it or even run your dog. Again the poles that YOUR dog knocks down would not be picked up for the next run. While someone is scoring for the whole class which can run into the 100's it IS acceptable to wait a couple of minutes to get YOUR time without grabbing the tickets and sometimes dropping them and then expecting us to sort it out!

Finally if you are moaning that we are not doing the job to YOUR satisfaction, then do it yourself!

A Judge's Good Bye and Last Words
From Tamara Holland

After 20 years of judging I hung up my judging hat at The Agility Club show. I had a really enjoyable day judging my favourite classes (G6-7 Small, Medium & Large) with a fab ring manager. I was really pleased with my course which was challenging but flowing, and I know many competitors enjoyed running it. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my judging career!

I just wish to end this message on a cautionary note to those individuals who feel that it is their right to publicly slate judges on a public forum, and those individuals who complained about me to the organisers of the Easter Celebration show. In 23 years of competing I have never complained about a judge. I spoke privately to one judge when I thought their course was dangerous, but that is it.

I have competed in classes where once you were eliminated the judges told you to leave the ring! I may not have (privately) agreed with every judge's decision but I equally know that I have 'got away' with other things that I would have marked. You take the rough with the smooth.

Until you have stood in the ring and judged getting on for 450 dogs in the pouring rain or the blazing sun, you have absolutely no idea how mentally exhausting it is and how difficult it is to maintain your concentration. Many of us also take the day's judging home (or caravan) with us. Did I make the right decisions, did I miss any faults, should I have marked... whatever! We are human beings who have to make split second decisions. Couple that with judging animals which can always do the unexpected often makes for an interesting day's judging.

So, thank you to all the fabulous competitors in the Small, Medium and Large G6-7 agility on Saturday who were an absolute joy to judge!

A slight aside...
As a result of the complaints against me at Easter, I had started to put a note on the ring, usually under the ring board and on the 1st jump when walking the course,  stating what I would allow regarding 'training in the ring' i.e I would allow handlers to re-do/put back on 1 x touchpoint, or one small jumping sequence, and then continue around the course.  If they did any more than that, they would be asked to leave the ring. I had a number of people from G7 to G1 saying that they appreciated the clear instructions and, therefore, knew what they would be allowed to do. Something for other judges to consider in the future?

Another Show Secretary's Moans
From Pam Ellwood

 These are sore points every year for me...

When I have put on the schedule in blue capital letters PLEASE READ RULES OF ALLSORTS AND VETERAN CLASSES BEFORE ENTERING - yes I am shouting -  just before those classes in the table, how come that people still arrive at the ring complaining bitterly - and aggressively - to the judge and ring party that their dog can't jump the height in the class they have entered even though it is clearly stated in the schedule?

And how come when it clearly states in purple bold in the fees part of the entry form Please add 80p if you want your running orders etc posted.  If not, your running orders will be available to download as stated in the schedule. with PLEASE READ and an arrow in red pointing to it and the web site to download running orders in blue bold on the front page of the schedule, I still get people ringing/emailing to say that they haven't got their running orders when they haven't paid the postage?

And why when it says what the maximum number of runs is for each day above the box for each day on the entry forms do some people still enter more?

And where it is clear from the entry form that certain classes need another page to be filled in with the details, why do so many not do it?

Plus questions like...

• Q. Where are the shops?
  A. Look at the Information Sheet
  Reply: I didn't print it off."

• Q. What is the radio frequency?
  A. Ditto

• Q. Where is the Elsan point?
  A. Ditto.

And...

• Q. I have trouble walking and am camped a long way from the rings.
  A. Did you say so in the relevant part of your camping form?
  Reply: No

• Q. I am in a tent and a long way from a toilet.
  A. Are you camped with the group you asked to be with?
  Reply: Yes

Funnily enough it's rarely newcomers to the sport who ask such questions and, if they do, I will take as long as I need to explain everything to them. After all, we were all new once. I don't want to put people off asking me things, but it would be appreciated if those who should know their way around would see if what they need has already been provided first.

What more can we do? Should we have a check list? But some competitors wouldn't read that either.

If any one is guilty of any of the above is reading this, it is not a dig at you personally. I will have forgotten who you were as you won't have been anything like the only one - and it happens every year. And I'm not talking about genuine mistakes; we all make them.

On the plus side though, this year the number of people who turned up at the show without their running orders could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Normally we have a queue of people needing the master catalogue on the first day.

I really don't want to make it sound as if we get a huge number of such situations. The vast majority of competitors don't seem to need to ask us much at all, if anything, and just get on with it.

Thank you. Your messages of appreciation for all the hard work that goes into are very welcome. I'm sure I speak for all show organisers.

Moan over - and on to planning next year. You think I'm joking?

A Show Secretary's Moan
From Rosemary Stowers

I do find it strange that we get queries before and at our shows about information that is written clearly on the schedule and, when I ask the competitors did they read the schedule through thoroughly, they usually reply no they haven't! 

Why do we show organisers write schedules and entry forms - not just for our benefit but for everyone's. It does make show secretaries lives easier if we have the competitor's full address, telephone number, email address, etc.

Hey ho - strange old world.

Calling All Callers
From Sarah Bauer

After a two day show this weekend, I would like to ask ring managers to please think about where their callers are placed when booking people in. Sadly I had to walk through the front of the queue to where the caller has been standing inside all the dogs for four out of my six runs this weekend. On a couple of occasions, the caller has almost been on the start line!

It is tricky enough when you have so many hyped up dogs in such a confined area, but now we are back outside, there is the room for this situation not to happen. I may not have worded this as well as some but as a regular 'staff reporting for duty' myself I do feel that it needed to be said.

Olympia Coverage on British Europsport
From Caroline Rasen

I'm fed up with agility not getting the coverage it should on British Eurosport. Did they really not realise they cut away from the World Champion's winning round on their live coverage tonight to repeat something they'd shown earlier.

Don't know if people realise it but on their website there is a link for viewer's feedback. I have left my comments about how disappointed I was and told them how popular agility is. If they did some research, they would realise there are as many potential viewers for agility as there is for Equestrian.

I wonder if we should show them by giving them feedback about how disappointed we are. It might not make any difference but, as it only takes a couple of minutes to complete, it's worth a try. We've nothing to loose, Just Google British Eurosport and the site comes up. Then get typing. If we could just stir them up a bit, well you never know.

There's also a Survey on the Horse and Hound web site to vote what you like about Olympia. We need to get agility higher on that, too.

April 2013

This Could Happen to Anyone!
From Alan & Chrissy Mitchell

We've had a dreadful agility season this year, through no fault of our own and we feel it would be appropriate to tell our story to this community.

2012 was to be an exciting year. Our two year old Border Collie was starting her first full agility season. We had worked hard to train her and she was going well. Alan was to be competing with Stone, our Grade 7 ten year old red tri collie. We had trained both dogs enthusiastically through the winter and were really looking forward to the full agility season with a good smattering of judging commitments (11 to be precise) for Alan.

We got as far as June. What happened then can best be described as an unfortunate interpretation of a competitive dog's excited behaviour waiting in the queue which led to a member of the ring party reporting what they considered to be a dog bite incident, with no injury and no evidence to support this. Added to this, we were completely unaware that an incident involving our dog had been reported or indeed that there was really any incident to report. Stone is a delightful gentle giant, known and loved by many in agility and in the family.

So, a couple of weeks later we were shocked - and dismayed - to find that Stone now had a temporary ban from attending all KC Shows which would stand until the KC Activities Sub Committee met on 20 September and then another 2-weeks added to that, waiting for the minutes to be approved... unbelievable but true!

Only our fellow competitors can fully understand the enormity of this ban. If you can't take one of your 'pack' to a show then you can't, effectively go to a show. Very few shows are close enough to leave a dog home alone and through this main part of the season many of these shows are long weekends and holidays with the dogs. But the die was cast, and we would have to wait to have our say in the matter - and then only in writing. We got through the season. Some shows we just couldn't do. Others we found alternative camping off venue and left Stone in the caravan. Wwhen Alan was judging, he would go alone and Chrissy would stay home with the dogs. This also meant we had to let clubs down because Chrissy was not there to scribe

It goes without saying that, apart from causing considerable stress and disappointment, it proved to be very expensive. Many shows were already booked and paid for at this stage, so a considerable amount of cash was lost in entry fees. It certainly makes you appreciate the low cost of camping at an agility show because the alternative is very expensive with many sites charging, in addition to pitch fees, up to £5 a dog per night and that's if they accept multiple dogs in the first place!

The loss of a whole season's competition for a 10 year old dog, especially at Grade 7, is no small consideration. We have certainly lost a vital year of competitive agility and never going to get that back.

Stone's case was dropped by the Kennel Club for lack of evidence - no doubt in our minds - but we had to wait three painful months to hear it.

I wonder how many of you are shocked to realise how easy it is for another individual to make a judgement on your dogs behaviour that can lead to them being banned, without you even being given the opportunity to defend them or yourself. There is a massive lack of clear and transparent policy to be found regarding any incident and this needs to be considered by the KC. We would, therefore, like to suggest the following procedure should follow any alleged incident BEFORE it is considered to be a reportable incident:

• Any incident on the ring should immediately reported to the Ring Manager

• All parties involved must be made fully aware of the nature of the incident

• All parties must be given an opportunity to put forward their version of the incident

• Any witnesses should be found to verify accusations

• Evidence must be verified were appropriate

• The incident book should be signed by all involved

If any such policy or guidance already exists, we have been unable to find it and, therefore, intend to propose the above recommendations to the KC via our liaison council representative.

On a more positive note, we know from our discussions that many shows already conduct any incidents in a responsible manner but we feel that the KC needs to revise and publish a clearer policy.

Finally, we would like to thank our friends and family who have encouraged and supported us throughout this year. It has meant a lot.

Moving Up Question

If somebody were to register that they have won out of a grade and move up to the next grade, is their progression checked in any way? I ask because someone we know has miraculously appeared in a higher grade without an apparent win. I don't wish to cause any trouble but it raises doubt among the hard working competitors who have struggled to achieve their progression - in some cases over many years!

Answer...
The Kennel Club doesn't keep a general record of dogs' grades or when they move up to another grade. The info should be recorded in the dogs' Agility Record Book, of course. The system, however, relies primarily on the honesty of competitors and the fact that in the agility environment most handlers and their dogs are known to many other competitors who are likely to query any unfair practices, for instance if a dog wins classes or places while competing at an incorrect grade.

---

Down the Pan
From Tina

At an otherwise fantastic agility show recently, I was disappointed to observe a steady deterioration of the well presented shower and  toilet facilities over the weekend. I fail to understand why anyone should feel it necessary to spread the paper towels all over the floor, tip water all over the place and pull the toilet paper out of the rolls to be left in a soggy heap! I was dismayed to see that a toilet seat got broken and was left half way across the toilet cubical!

Surely the people who frequent these events are mature and sensible individuals?  They would not behave in this manner at home so why do it at a show? It demonstrates a complete disregard for other users and lack of respect for the show organisers who have to pay for these facilities and keep them clean.

So come on everyone. Leave the place tidy. There really is no excuse for such a terrible mess.

Course Times
Open letter to the Kennel Club Agility Liaison Council

Following a meeting of approximately 30-40 people at Catton Hall during Adams show, Anne Copley drafted this letter - soon to be sent to KC - regarding proposed guidelines over course times and the damage the group felt would be done to the sport of agility for all and to the welfare of the dogs.

We write with reference to the recent proposal and re-issue of guidance to judges regarding the measuring of courses and setting of challenging course times.

At a recent show, use of the new guidance resulted in considerable unrest and welfare concerns by both competitors and judges. It became clear that course times set using the guidance were unrealistic and resulted in only a very small number of competitors achieving the course time within all grades therefore drastically reducing the 'clear' places and almost eliminating any clear rounds.

As a consequence we held an open meeting to collectively share these concerns and how they may impact both on the sport of agility and welfare of the competing dogs.

The points outlined below summarise the issues raised by a group of 30-40 handlers and judges, the majority of who were experienced upper grade handlers concerned for the continuing growth and development of our 'sport for all.' We expect the Kennel Club to listen and respond to the concerns as part of its consultation over proposed changes to measuring courses and setting course times.

• Unrealistic challenging course times applied across the board will demoralise and demotivate new handlers who will lose the sense of achievement at having gained a clear round

• New handlers will be marginalised by failure to achieve the 'speed' and lose heart, leaving the sport

• Maturing handlers will give up sooner when their 'speed' declines and course times preclude a sense of achievement

• Future welfare concerns relating to maturing dogs which may be retired from the sport as they fail to achieve course times

• Handlers with rescue or pet dogs will no longer be attracted to the sport if they can’t beat the times

• Disabled handlers will be discriminated against and marginalised

• Certain breeds seen as 'too slow' will be lost from the sport – what is the point if you can’t 'go clear'

• Judges are volunteers and amateurs and have always relied successfully on their experience and local knowledge to set challenging but achievable course times and do not want to judge all day and watch the majority of competitors go away with nothing

• Judges do not want to study complicated formulas that ensure only the elite competitor is rewarded

• Published matrix data is completely out of date with regards to current standard of dogs, handling, range of competitor age and ability and course design

• The collection of new data only looks at the top 10% of dogs achieving the course time in any one grade not the whole range of dogs that completed the course without faults which represent the majority of competitors who wish to gain a clear round rosette and a few agility warrant points

Over challenging course times will challenge the health and welfare  of the dog whose handlers will push too hard to beat the clock whilst we understand there are apparent quality control issues at grades 6 and 7 amending course times will not solve the problem but will deter new entrants to the sport and de-motivate current handlers leading to a loss of many individuals who enjoy the sport as a way of keeping their dogs fit, healthy and happy even if they are not consistently placed within the top 10% of their grade.

Clearly it is significant that such a large and experienced group of handlers and judges spontaneously came together at this meeting simply because of serious concerns as to the welfare of competing dogs and of our sport remaining 'a sport for all'. The group felt there was a need to insist that the Kennel Club consult far more widely than it tends to over proposed changes to the sport of dog agility.

Dog agility is a precious sport with dog welfare at its heart and to that end we expect the Kennel Club to listen carefully to our concerns and ensure that any proposal for change pays careful attention to both the welfare of the dogs and to the sport as a whole.

A copy of this letter will be made available for all attendees at the meeting as will your considered early response in order that individuals may voice their own concerns and opinions if they so wish.

The Inbetweeners
From Elizabeth Saggers

I would like to call people's attention to something that happened to me recently. My first reaction was to throw down the gauntlet to other handlers doing agility but, as I wrote, it became something different. This is what happened...

My sheltie Ziga (Obay Tiz Magic) was measured into Small at the Thames show in 2009 at age 15 months. We had a really wonderful first year, going to Grade 5 at Mid Downs (March 2010) to Grade 7 at the RVA show (July 2010.) Ziga qualified for the Olympia Semi finals. It was my bad handling which cost him a place. He qualified for Crufts 2011 in the DFS Agility Challenge and DFS Agility Knockout which he won. It was a wonderful day and experience.

Then it was the time to think about his second measurement. There was to be a session near my home so I booked in. After several tries, he was pronounced Medium.  I would need a third measurement.

It was one of those strange experiences which suddenly turns everything upside down. What do I do now? I had booked into a lot of shows with my two Small dogs. I didn't know if I should start to train Ziga to jump Medium hurdles or wait until the height was confirmed. I had up to two months to obtain a third measurement, but I felt very uncomfortable - almost guilty - at having been competing in Smalls.

We went to Shuttleworth show after our second measuring session where I was told there would be measuring at the show. Now all I needed to know was who the measurers were as they had to be different from any of the previous ones. They were. I could have waited, but it no longer felt right to run in Small and yet I couldn't start to train for the new height because I wasn't sure about that either.

I had to have it sorted. Ziga did his two Small runs in the morning and got a place. At lunchtime, he was confirmed as being medium. He had two Medium runs in the afternoon and managed a place in the Medium agility.

With hindsight, I wish he had always been in Medium as I now have a three year old Grade 7 dog that has to change everything that he has been doing for nearly two years. Anyone who owns a dog that is very near the top height limit will have to go through the anxiety of the second measure. The sport that we enjoy probably added to his fitness and may have even been responsible for that little extra height.

This year will be spent regaining his confidence, enjoying what we have and teaching him the new job. This is just another game for us to learn. Whatever we achieve is a bonus, and I love him to bits. I am lucky to have a lot to look back on.

I don't really know what the answer is except to wonder if it would be possible for dogs near the maximum height to get another measurement within the first 12 months of the first measurement. This would give the dog the chance of going to a new height category earlier in it's agility life. I feel sure there would be opposition to this suggestion but maybe it could be opened for debate.

I realise that we are not alone. Most of us just go quietly to our new categories and get on with it. But I wanted reassurance. I needed to know there were others in my position. I suddenly felt wrong everywhere. I no longer belong with Ziga in Smalls and yet we had not won anything in mediums so I don't really feel we belong in Grade 7 Mediums either - although officially, we do.

So to all you silent people who have been in the same situation, I offer you reassurance, a verbal cuddle, and look forward to meeting you around the rings. Please come and chat to me. (22/04/11)

From Jo Fraser - Crazymaesy Agility
Something is going wrong with measuring. The hoop is obviously not a foolproof way to measure. I have a Medium collie who has been measured three times with the hoop. She is on the measure but definitely keeping the hoop firmly on the ground. At UKA, she has been measured four times as I wanted to make sure that she definitely was in the right height. She is also Medium at UKA.

Now I have a club member with a young collie who has been measured Standard at UKA and only competed at UKA for the last year. Two weeks ago she was measured for KC shows and she was measured as Medium. As there isn't much difference between my collie and hers, I suggested she have her measured again at UKA to see if they had got it wrong. Greg measured her again this weekend and confirmed that she really is bigger and that, in his opinion, she would be measured out on her second measure with the KC as he couldn't see how she could have measured in the first time.

I have since used my Medium hoop measure on her and also on my collie. Mine fits underneath easily but hers doesn't keep the feet nicely on the floor and I can actually put my hand underneath one of the feet.

Now we don't care what height she is. She will have to train on both heights now, as she would if she was Standard and full but then, in a year, she might be back to full height in KC again, just when we have made a good transition to Medium. If that's how it happens, that's how it happens. We will deal with it. By then we will  also have had a good collie going up the grades in Medium, transferring to a high grade at full height. She has already won her first Medium at her first KC show last weekend. We are very happy with this. To be honest though is it very fair on dog or handler to have such a confusion and surely there shouldn't be a doubt if measuring is working properly. (29/04/11)

For the Record Books
From Tina Longland

I recently lost my dogs' record books when they were stolen from my bag at a Kennel Club show. I was assured that the measuring information would be held by the Kennel Club and that all I had to do was to contact the KC and ask for it.  I currently compete with three dogs, so I asked for the information.  Unfortunately this information could not be found on the KC database. I was given reasons various reasons why this had happened but, as I had three dogs measured between 2006 to 2008 by different measurers at different venues, I am concerned that others may find themselves in the same position.

I strongly advise that you copy or scan the measuring details in the Record Books and hold that information separately as it is possible that the Kennel Club may not have have your records on their database. 

I am currently in the position of having to wait while they look for my measuring details to see if they can find them. The Activities department is a small, very busy team without the resources of the Breed section, and I have no idea how long I am to wait nor what will happen if they cannot locate them. Luckily my dogs are Border Collies and have measured Large so there probably won't be a problem, but I think everyone should be aware of the situation.

From Kim Bailey, Jade, Opal and Pearl...
I would just like to say a Big Thank You to the Kennel Club in Particular Joanna Nosalik and Debbie Deuchar, I had lost both Jade's and Opal's books and within 24 hrs they had replied with details of both my girls measurements, thank you ladies for being the angels that you are, such a fast response was brilliant and much appreciated. (28/04/11)

From Brenda Tenten...
A message to Tina Longland and anyone else whose measuring details go missing. Most measurers keep their own records. If you can remember who measured your dog or dogs, you  should be able to resolve it via those records. (12/10/10)