Zero Aggression

Seeing stressed dogs at shows shouldn't be the norm...

Dawn Weaver created the current FAB venue with dogs' mental welfare and their physical safety as a top priority. She was concerned that the current sport of agility can be toxic for dogs. Aggression abounds around shows. She recognised that often there is no choice in the shows that we attend in our areas and was determined that her new venue would be different so she carefully put together Freewways Meadow showground with agility in mind.

Freeways meadow came into being when Tim Merry, the man who does who does all the maintenance and grass cutting, found that venue for me amongst the many fields he takes care of for local landowners.  Originally it had been a ploughed field for crops.

I’m very blessed to know Tim. While I designed the layout, he prepared a grass mix specifically with agility in mind. Tim did all the hard work, levelling, seeding, maintenance and putting the stock fencing and water supply in.

Freeway's Meadow is FAB's bespoke agility showground;  consisting of19 acres it's a beautiful and peaceful spot in the heart of Dorset.

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  • Large 40x40m rings
  • Fully fenced and covered ring sides (with the ability to fence ring entrance and exit as well as needed)
  • Galican contacts and tunnels
  • 5mins to Dorchester town centre
  • 15mins from the Dorset coast
  • Nature reserve, including dog swimming area 5mins drive

Ultimately there should be ZERO aggression at any dog sport event. That includes.....

1. Walking through the camping areas
Trying to find a safe route to the rings is a nightmare. I once had a dog completely shut down at agility because of dogs lunging and barking at him in camping gardens. If your dog reacts in this way, then there are plenty of solid fencing options available.

2. Whilst queuing
Just give other dogs space. It isn't difficult.

3. In the ring
The dog shouldn't have to worry about other dogs staring and lunging at them whilst they are als trying to listen to their handler and tackle complex obstacles. Judges could really help with this by not putting obstacles, particularly the weaves, very close to the ring ropes or going straight towards them. Dogs really dislike going towards pressure so why do we want to demand this of them?

 4. When finishing
The dog should always have a clear space to finish! One of my biggest pet hates. Why put a finish bucket behind a scrime tent where multiple other people and dogs are milling? It ends up as a free for all and completely unnecessary. Have a protected finish line with lead and toy inside it. Dog then leaves the ring under control and dogs walking around the rings won't have loose dogs running around looking to see where their reward has been put THIS time. Dogs need consistency and safety.

5. Walking around the rings
There's a large majority of people who have their dogs on long leads way in front of them around the rings. There is simply not enough space for everyone to do this and being considerate to other dogs approaching costs nothing.

You can see the amount of room around our rings. Putting them together and blocking visibility means there are no narrow walkways. Solid stock fencing is also in place. Even the wide entries and exits can have fencing pulled across for added safety. FAB has a 2m back from the rings in place and nowadays rarely needs enforcing as it is the norm which it should be everywhere.

I've also sited the rings so that nobody is too far away from them whether day parking or camping.

6. In the exercise area
If you don't have an instant recall please don't let your dog off the lead. You don't have control of your dog full stop. Everyone including nervous dogs have to use that excercise area at a show. All they need is a dog running up to them they don't know. A long line can be used without any detriment and will help your dog toward a better recall in the future.

 All this sounds great but unfortunately at lots of our big shows both the ground conditions and available space mean they are often not really fit for purpose with the amount of rings required. In fact, at at least one Champ show if not more it would be impossible to be 2m back from the rings on both sides of the walkway unless everyone walked single file!

I am pleased to say that there is no aggression and very little noise at FAB shows around the rings and dogs are so much calmer and less stressed for their runs. It really is a completely different atmosphere from all other shows. I've had lots of positive feedback from handlers who couldn't compete with their dogs after something had happened and are now happily competing again having regained their confidence and trust.

I don't know all the answers...
I've tried really hard  to create a venue where dogs can not only be safe but feel safe. I admit that I don't know all the answers. Maybe there is someone cleverer than me who can think about a better overall answer to what we have now. Seeing stressed dogs at shows shouldn't be the norm and I'm sure we could do better if we tried. Putting the cat among the pigeons isn't what I normally do but, if it gets show organisers thinking about layout and finish lines and 2m spacing, it will be worth it.

Author credit...
Dawn Weaver

 

 

First published 23rd June 2026

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