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Location: UK
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,122
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28-01-2011, 11:18 AM
Originally Posted by magpye 
Heelwork to Music has always been tempting to me.. Kismet already likes to perform and has quite a few HTM moves.. But I'm not sure I would be up for the performance element myself. I get stage fright at the best of times.. I would enjoy it in a small training group I think, but would hate to take it competitively.
We did agility for a while but it was so expensive. In the end we had to give up, also Kismet was becoming stressed at the excitement levels of the other dogs, particularly collies who seemed to get to a screaming state of excitement. I was also concerned at the people who were doing it with very unsuitable dogs who were clearly having no fun, one couple had whippets who seemed just miserable. Kismet was happy to do the course, but would take things at her own steady pace. She loved jumping but couldn't see the point of tunnels...
I don't like Shutzhund or protection work for dogs that aren't in the police or armed forces. I don't understand why anyone would want to teach their dog to attack a person as personal protection. I would never want to put my dog in that kind of danger and I'm sure you would still be charged with GBH or even assault with a deadly weapon for using your dog as a weapon in an attack. I'd love to hear from anyone who does it and can argue the positives.
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Location: Old Leake, UK
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12,080
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28-01-2011, 11:18 AM
Originally Posted by Fivedogpam
I don't get showing because it's so subjective. A lady in the village shows her pointers but told me once that she wouldn't go to a particular show because the judge was a certain person who wouldn't place her dogs, which I found a really difficult concept to get my head around. I am also not happy with the way some of the breeds are becoming deformed in order to conform to fashion trends.
Flyball I have tried briefly but can't stand the noise around the flyball rings. I also watched a competition standing right by the boxes and was horrified at the way the dogs hit the box at such speed.
HTM and obedience I have no real views on either way.
Agility I have participated in for several years now. I am competitive up to a point but my dogs are most definitely pets first and, if they didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't make them do it. My dogs visit a chiropractor regularly and are kept lean and fit to try and ensure their bodies are up to the strains that agility undoubtedly puts on them. The agility season is getting longer and longer and I will probably be attending weekend and week-long shows for six months during the summer. It's great to meet up with friends and acquaintances you only see at shows and catch up with their progress/puppies, etc. There is absolutely nothing like the buzz of a fantastic run when all the training comes together and your dog just seems to know where to go without you having to say anything.
I get a lot of comments away from agility about how laid back and well-behaved my dogs are and I am sure that is from the training and extreme socialisation they received from a very early age.
From a personal perspective, it got me through a divorce by giving me a social life and a hobby when I needed something else to focus on. It is very addictive and I know many people who start doing it just for fun and end up as committed as the rest of us.
It sounds as if agility is just as addictive as the showing is...and the social side sounds similar too.I do know what the lady with pointers is talking about..there are some judges to be avoided as they will only put up their friends or other judges that they think will do them a favour next time, they do get a reputation and will ultimately be the losers as people will refuse to enter under them, they will get less entries and the clubs won't ask them to judge again because they need the entry fees to keep going
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Location: Old Leake, UK
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12,080
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28-01-2011, 11:20 AM
Originally Posted by Jackbox
not all, there are a few who are a little eccentric in their dress , even in gun dogs,
Yes, I know what you mean in the toy breeds,
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Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,859
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28-01-2011, 01:08 PM
Originally Posted by scorpio
Clive finds it quite amusing when the ladies don't wear their sports bra's yet stillrun around the ring at speed...I think that's the only reason he keeps coming with us
Seriously we both enjoy showing and it gives us something to do together we also enjoy the social side and have made some very good friends.
Ross adores showing and it's hard to get out of the house without him as soon as the show lead appears he's like a whirling dervish trying to get to the car.
I agree with whats been said on other threads if a dog doesnt enjoy it you cant show, Spencer loathed it so we only showed him about 3 times and retired him.
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Location: Birmingham UK
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,414
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28-01-2011, 01:33 PM
Personally I no longer enjoy competetive obedience as I don't like the way the dogs are now expected to twist their heads & watch their owners. When I was competing the whole dog was expected to face the way they were walking during heelwork & this to me is more natural. However this doesn't stop me admiring a good obedience display, though I have to agree with my friend having seen some of these dogs when not in the ring I'd prefer an obedient dog to an obedience dog.
I also would not want to compete in flyball with my dogs, though I enjoy watching it, I know the dogs love it & obviously come to no harm but I would be too worried about them having an accident on the box or choking on the tennis ball to enjoy it, & just as I've never forced my dogs to pursue an activity they don't like, I don't want to take part in an activity which they may enjoy but I wouldn't.
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Location: UK
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,009
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28-01-2011, 01:43 PM
Not terribly keen on agility, due to seeing many accidents involving dogs. Although I know accidents can and do happen in any sport.
Flybal is something I would seriously like to do or take part in one day- even just for fun, provided I had the right dog. I think it is the 'thrill' for me of watching the dogs.
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Location: UK
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 9,065
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28-01-2011, 01:58 PM
I tend to reach a level with a dog and get bored.
Agility was great, but once your dogs has can do it it is all about speed, and you need to have some equipment if you are going to be serious, either that or have time to go a few times a week to a club.
Obedience I found far to rigid for my liking, it is too precise and intense. I hated the fact I had to get my feet exactly right and the dogs had to be in the exact position etc etc. Did a few comps (even went to Crufts with the Juniors!), but really did not enjoy it that much.
Flyball, was fun, but got waaay too competitive.
Showing I managed once, but I did find it very boring, it may have been more interesting with more breeds I was interested in. As it was, my first experience of a ring craft class was bad as well, with a lady telling her Sheltie off for lifting its tail as it walked, silly experiences like that when you are first starting are really enough to give you a bad taste.
HtM then really started and it seemed a good compromise, not too rigid, no set moves you have to do, you work with what you and your dog are comfy with and you do it all yourself. You do not need a large area to train or any equipment and the limit is your imagination and the dogs capabilities.
Herding - I LOVE - but time, money and lack of Sheep prevent me from really perusing it, possibly when I have 2 BCs who might like it I will be able to get into it a bit more........one day
Basically, I will try everything with my dog if I can, whatever we seem to get on with I will stick at if I can, but really, as I said....its the training I love, not the competing
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Location: Essex, UK
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14,147
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28-01-2011, 02:08 PM
Competition Obedience I don`t `get`. It doesn`t it matter to me if a dog is 10 cms out in heelwork or doesn`t sit perfectly straight. And I feel the dog should be worked on both sides or they become stiff. And I don`t like the way they twist when walking to look at the handler. I think a dog should be looking where he`s going and listening for the owner. (Can you tell I`m cr*p at proper obedience?)
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