The agility thread

[Clodagh]

Oh goodness it's no problem, there's nothing anyone could have done to help. The agility ring was almost easier as I abused club member privilege, went round the back and had them let me in and out the other side door (not the one you exit from). The sea of shelties soon parted at the other ring but the red mist had already descended.

I didn't know anyone had filmed her jumping run but I've just had it sent to me and she looks so good once she's in the ring.

I went to watch STR at agility once and it stressed me out, all those eyeballing and hysterical collies. It’s a shame that other peoples dogs impact your day, even in a sport where you’d hope they would be considerate.

 

[blackcob]

I mean, having dogs loitering in the walkways constantly gobbing off and also standing directly in the ring exit helps absolutely no-one and you'd wish people would have a shred more self awareness. However, her reaction even to neutral dogs at some distance was completely disproportionate and at a level that would impact unfairly on others. Unexpected, given how she's been doing recently, but that doesn't mean it was ok.

Training with Selena again today and she's done some awesome work, but that's with everyone's dogs away in cars in between turns.

I won't lie, and if I can't offload here where can I - this situation is everything I tried to avoid when researching and sourcing a dog like her and is my worst nightmare come true. Having a little wallow this afternoon while I look over the videos from today.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I mean, having dogs loitering in the walkways constantly gobbing off and also standing directly in the ring exit helps absolutely no-one and you'd wish people would have a shred more self awareness. However, her reaction even to neutral dogs at some distance was completely disproportionate and at a level that would impact unfairly on others. Unexpected, given how she's been doing recently, but that doesn't mean it was ok.

Training with Selena again today and she's done some awesome work, but that's with everyone's dogs away in cars in between turns.

I won't lie, and if I can't offload here where can I - this situation is everything I tried to avoid when researching and sourcing a dog like her and is my worst nightmare come true. Having a little wallow this afternoon while I look over the videos from today.

You did absolutely everything right researching her , and I’m gutted for you that you are having these issues .

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Sometimes however much we do research shit happens, and its so unfair when you've done all you can I much prefer the 2 day shows with Smalls and Mediums one day and the Intermediate and Large the second. It makes you realise how much noise the Collies make and it's such a different atmosphere and a calmer day.

 

[Spotherisk]

I was at a show today, Rew had a ball in the C1-2 jumping and then his G1-2 jumping and agility were both faults for weaves and time faults, but otherwise excellent - amazing driving on. My friend won up to G3 today after many years of doing agility, I think everyone in the car park heard her shrieks of joy!

Re other people and lack of awareness though, there were quite a few times today when I had to say ‘please can I come through?’ With people jabbering away and dogs blocking walkways. There was also an incident where a dog finished its run but left the ring and bit a dog waiting (in a really stupid place) at the exit. Reported to KC.

There was also an absolutely marvellous two minutes silence, the Secretary read For the fallen over over the tannoy. In all the chaos of hundreds of dogs and people there was just one slightly whingy dog, apart from that the whole place was silent. Very moving, so thankful.

 

[KEK]

I mean, having dogs loitering in the walkways constantly gobbing off and also standing directly in the ring exit helps absolutely no-one and you'd wish people would have a shred more self awareness. However, her reaction even to neutral dogs at some distance was completely disproportionate and at a level that would impact unfairly on others. Unexpected, given how she's been doing recently, but that doesn't mean it was ok.

Training with Selena again today and she's done some awesome work, but that's with everyone's dogs away in cars in between turns.

I won't lie, and if I can't offload here where can I - this situation is everything I tried to avoid when researching and sourcing a dog like her and is my worst nightmare come true. Having a little wallow this afternoon while I look over the videos from today.

Agility is so hard with dog reactive dogs and so stressful. Even harder when they are talented. Sorry to hear that Sounds even harder in the UK as you guys have sooooo many dogs.
My 1st homebred BC was super dog reactive (parents both fine all littermates fine). I trialled her, she got her AgCh but it was stressful, esp as a young dog (she improved with age then retired v early with a shoulder injury) . Now my puppy Border Whippet is also super reactive as she is terrified of other dogs. Also talented, of course :/ Not sure if she will be able to do it Its super hard!

 

[Jenko109]

I compete lightly with a reactive dog, although she only usually reacts in a show environment if another dog barks at her first.

It is a challenge though and I'll admit it takes some of the fun out. I can't just stand and have a chat with someone easily when I have my dog with me.

I have to constantly keep her busy. Sit, down, middle blah blah blah. Over and over. If I just stopped paying attention and working her, she would quickly begin paying too much attention to her environment and would soon fixate.

Of course this sounds nothing like what you're having to manage atm. I hope things improve. It stops being fun for them and us when they get so wound up.

 

[KEK]

I found LAT training (look at that ) very useful for my BC. We used to walk round the grounds playing it constantly.. finishing runs was stressful though and when she 1st started I was worried she would run out of the ring.

 

[blackcob]

Went to a show today - obviously entered long before last week's performance - fully acknowledging that I might be on my way back home ten minutes in. I think I was mentally kind of expecting that it would go dreadfully so I could use it to draw a line under KC competition and give myself permission to stop trying.

She was great. Not a single kick-off, lunge or bark all day. I had someone queue for me initially and whisked her in last minute but on the last run she damn well queued, ran, exited and walked back through the car park like a normal dog. Three Es as her actual ring performance involved a fair bit of hyperactive batshittery but there was still some good stuff - for example, she only had one pole down all day. On Galican!

I do wish I knew what was going on in her head.

 

[Clodagh]

Went to a show today - obviously entered long before last week's performance - fully acknowledging that I might be on my way back home ten minutes in. I think I was mentally kind of expecting that it would go dreadfully so I could use it to draw a line under KC competition and give myself permission to stop trying.

She was great. Not a single kick-off, lunge or bark all day. I had someone queue for me initially and whisked her in last minute but on the last run she damn well queued, ran, exited and walked back through the car park like a normal dog. Three Es as her actual ring performance involved a fair bit of hyperactive batshittery but there was still some good stuff - for example, she only had one pole down all day. On Galican!

I do wish I knew what was going on in her head.

Scout was so appalling out shooting last week I came home and swore I was never taking him again. I did, of course, and he has been absolutely foot perfect ever since.
So maybe you’ve bottomed out and it’s all uphill from here!!

 

[Jenko109]

Joined in on the harder courses at our local club league event today.

A nice enough agility round, just them pesky weaves giving us faults. All contacts hit nicely, a nice round the back and she listened nicely to avoid the possible traps.

The steeplechase course gave me brain ache with a front cross and lots of changes of direction, but she flew round and went clear, despite me being sure I would mess it up somehow

 

[sarah.oxford]

We had a change from Agility today, and attended a companion dog show to attempt the kn good citizens test. Well he passed and while we were there we entered the biggest pedigree class of the day, the AV sporting which he won.
Then went on to get Best pedigree in show.
Very happy with how well he showed after no prep and now showing for over a year.
Back to agility on Fri at the A4A Grand Finals, and again on Sunday for another final.

 

[Spotherisk]

Nothing for me this weekend but training outdoors on Tuesday, training (more course running tbh) on Thursday indoors, then a lovely Club show next Sunday, small venue, lots of fun, I’m really looking forward to it.

I’ve signed up with my trainer to do her online courses through the winter - awesome value at £25 per month and at least six separate training videos each week, however I haven’t even started it due to work pressure at the mo

 

[Spotherisk]

Beggars belief.

Dynamic duo revolutionises dog training industry from Devon base

South West Family Business Entrepreneurs of the Year 2024

www.themoorlander.co.uk

 

[blackcob]

Saw her get another round of stick on FB recently for breeding again (and threatening the person who shared the completely publicly available information with legal action, as is her way ).

Not relevant but ‘Crufts Champion’ is a nonsensical title that annoys me every time I see it.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Beggars belief.

Dynamic duo revolutionises dog training industry from Devon base

South West Family Business Entrepreneurs of the Year 2024

www.themoorlander.co.uk

Just how ? I saw the bashing on fb recently, and people trotting out how many of her breeding were at Crufts. Producing that many puppies the odds have to increase of getting good ones don't they, never mind all the discards along the way.

 

[Jenko109]

Eugh it boils my piss.

Of course there will be plenty of dogs she bred competing at Crufts. She bred an absurd amount and they will have been marketed strongly at the Agility community.

I find it rancid that people still allow her to compete. Surely it is completely legal for a show organiser to reject her entry?

If someone had treated toddlers the way that she treated dogs, they sure as heck wouldn't still be working in a child focused role. She is an absolute grub.

 

[blackcob]

I find it rancid that people still allow her to compete. Surely it is completely legal for a show organiser to reject her entry?

Sadly not an option unless her presence causes disruption or anti-social behaviour, and if a protest was going to happen you’d think it would have by now, she was out all summer (and plenty of people toadying along).

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Seen her out and about too and I doubt anything will change sadly!

 

[CorvusCorax]

'What you allow is what will continue' is an old dog training adage but it applies to humans too. Talk about styling it out. I guess there are too many at the top of the tree doing similar things, to be in a position to judge. Or is it the entries? And I guess if you're popular and successful and in the groovy gang, it's easy for things to be overlooked.

There was a guy done for breaching his breeding licence and while he wasn't prosecuted for it, keeping the dogs in really stinky conditions, the breed clubs banned him from their shows but the kennel club did not, and I see he's back handling again and sponsoring things and all has been forgotten.

 

[druid]

You only have to read the Clarges Street Cat page on facebook to see just what one can get away with and still be welcomed by the kennel club!

 

[Clodagh]

I look at Red who I think had a decent life compared to that woman’s breeding bitches and I am just in despair.

 

[KEK]

People over here with her dogs supporting too, she has "franchised " her dogs into Australia To think she has made millions is just horrible.

 

[blackcob]

I'm enjoying catching up on the hoo-ha over the proposal for a new grading system. Must admit I don't understand the rationale - if anything champ entries are already down on previous years, and there's also already been changes to the progression rules within the lifetime of my currently competing dog. I don't think they can possibly assess the effectiveness of the latter until the current cohort of G7/champ dogs has retired out.

The proposal literally states that the issue has come about due to the increased number of show licences being issued - any guesses as to why the KC won't simply restrict these instead.

Noped out of walking the dogs this morning due to the dreadful weather and got a last minute indoor hire instead. Talk about playing whack-a-mole - seesaw good, A-frame good (!), dog walk completely gone. As if any prior knowledge of this piece of equipment has dropped out of her head. At one point she was rocketing off it then spinning around to throw herself at the target facing the other way, which made me have to walk away and take a deep breath.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I really don’t understand the new proposals , or why . As far as I can see Zig would be intro 2, but that states it’s for beginner dogs , and he’s not really a beginner he’s just a t**t with contacts , and has done very few kc shows to be fair .

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Sounds complicated to me! I do like the less time in limbo though as it's so annoying being beaten by dogs that have already graded up. Mine would be level A. I think for the normal hobby competitors, especially with non spanners/collies, large classes with little chance of getting a win is quite demoralising. We struggle to win as it is as we are a very small (micro) small.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Another micro small here , so I agree about trying to beat the super fast cockers . When I first did agility back in 80s classes of 200+ were the norm , and a 20th plsce rosette was much treasured , but I did manage to get my GSD to senior .

 

[Spotherisk]

I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for an indoor hire for agility in southern Devon, I’d like to find somewhere though.

The new proposals have bypassed me, I doubt I’ll ever have a win in G1 agility anyway.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Another micro small here , so I agree about trying to beat the super fast cockers . When I first did agility back in 80s classes of 200+ were the norm , and a 20th plsce rosette was much treasured , but I did manage to get my GSD to senior .

Small used to be a lovely mix of breeds whereas now there is a domination of these super small and speedy WCS. I see YKC now excludes cockers as well. I only win on the more old fashioned tighter courses where the cockers tend to go wrong. Not that we win often as only do weekends rather than midweek.

 

[Jenko109]

We were on the forest by 3.50am this morning and just missed the bad weather. It started hammering down as we got back to the car.

I don't run my dog KC as I run her a height class lower so only do A4A and independents, so haven't really paid any attention.