I dislike anything that supports animal cruelty and that causes dogs to be stressed and un-happy.

I don't understand showing but that's because the look of a dog has never bothered me.

In the gundogs we tend to wear flat boots, trousers...smart casual I would say...I was astonished when I went with a friend that shows Poms...they were all in high heels and flowing dresses

Good one Em...and You'll have to come to a show with me, I'll let you know the ones I've booked and we can meet up...you'll get an insight into it from our eyes..and then you can decide..you may still hate the idea but at least you had a look

Promise? I would genuinely love to go with you! xx

Personally HTM makes me cringe, but that is just a personal opinion. The dogs seem to enjoy it or they wouldn't do it right?
Obviously hate any kind of animal fighting or baiting.
Love watching flyball, shame Missy has little legs or i would have tried her with it.

I would not like to go into any kind of formal showing, dont think I could be that precise about the positions and haircuts etc, guess that is why we have working springers not show type.

I dont know much about other activities being new to dogs but will be looking at something maybe as they get older and we have done basic training, something to keep both of our minds working and in tune with each other. I dont think I will do anything formally though it will be for good amateur fun and time with the dogs.

I am watching this thread with great interest to see what others say about activities, will be looking at something that is a controlled but fun activity with some brain/energy needed, with the emphasis not quite on an absolutely perfect movement like a sit is a sit, but it doesnt matter if the legs are not quite in the right position iyswim.

Flyball is headache inducing.
Fun to watch though ..
Maybe i should get a pair of ear protectors ..

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.

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.

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,