Cross Country Skiing with Papillons

Structure and Performance Dogs - What is a Soundness?

What is a "sound" dog? rufflyspeaking.net Take a look at the article on the link above for a really nice look at the basics of evaluating sound structure in dogs.  Balanced structure is really important if you want a dog that can run fast and turn and jump efficiently for years. Badly built dogs will break down in just a few years of work and will have problems running and jumping. The early part of this article is a little difficult to understand, but the point comes through in the pictures at the end. Once you get a feel for deceiphering structure, it will blow you away how much correlation there is between the fastest, best moving performance dogs and those who just can't do. My only point of difference with the article is the photo of the chihuahua rescue. The angles are balanced, but I would want to see a little more angulation (especially in front) to absorb the shock of landing and allow the shoulder and arm to fully extend. The pointer below is fantastic. http://rufflyspeaking.net/what-is-a-sound-dog/

Nominated for 2014 Dog Writers Association of America Award!

Just heard that an article I wrote for the USDAA is among the top 3 nominees in the category,Online Article - Behavior and Training for the Dog Writers of America awards. 

Winners will be announced at a banquet hosted at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York in February. 

The article is one of three nominated in the category of Online Articles: Behavior and Training

Here's a link to the article: "Canicross: The New Secret Sauce of Dog Agility Training."

Part 2:  Training, Safety Considerations, recommended breeds, introduction to other dog powered sports

Samurai Qualifies for AKC 2014 National Agility Championships

Better late than never. We actually thought we would have to squeak out the last three points in our last two days of trialing for the 2013 qualification period.

But the night before we left, I checked the AKC website and found out Samurai had actually earned 10 points over the 500 we needed at our last trial.

So far this weekend, we've already picked up 22 points at from our Standard run this morning.

The Chinese medicine approach to treating his IBD, a raw diet and resolving (I hope) some of our weave issues have helped.

His time was 10 seconds under a similar run about a month ago. We're so glad he's feeling better.

We don't know if we'll actually go to Nationals. If we do, it will be for fun. It's just nice to know that after all of the issues that we've worked through that we were able to meet this goal in our first year of trialing in AKC Masters.

Power Eating @Taste of India, Merillville, IN

Vegetable Biriani and Naan. Very good.

Michael Ellis Teaches the Food Chasing Game

This is little seminar snippet shows a great way to build drive for the dog to move into the handler. The next step will be to turn this into a recall, but it would also be a great first step for training startline so stays and "follow the hand" in agility. 

It could also be used as a performance warm up for a non-toy motivated dog. 

The trainer gives a good clarification on the proper technique. Be sure to pay attention at the end where the trainer talks about lessons learned in over building drive. He makes the point that it's more important to be able to offer an appropriate channel for drive early on in foundations, rather than over building without a behavior to channel it to. With a drivey dog, this can cause problems later on with the dog throwing a lot of random energy that might result in a need for a correction which might be in conflict with the overall objectives of the training. 

The video is shot live at a seminar, so it can be a little murky at times, but hang in and it will be worth it. 

http://youtu.be/CciIIMXJ2_M

Missing Home

Come Home, Daddy!

Samurai gets a little anxious when his dad doesn't come home at the expected time.

He waits and waits until he hears those car wheels in the driveway. He's a daddy's boy for sure.

Cruisin' Around In My Automobile

Samurai test drives an antique sports car (probably from an amusement park ride) at Antique Archaeology, home of the TV show, American Pickers, in LeClaire, IA.

Taylor @ Antique Archaeology

Taylor tools off in a tiny antique racer at the Antique Archaeology main store in LeClaire, Iowa.

The shop is featured in the History Channel show, American Pickers.

As a vintage Preferred National Agility Champion and all around quirky character, Taylor was nearly picked by the "in rust we trust" emporium to be the store's shop dog.

Though his grizzled steam punk style and all-business demeanor would have fit the place well, we'll keep this little treasure in our personal collection.

Office Mates

Samurai was there first, but look who's taken over the bed.

That Jiggle in Your Jaakko - Raising the Bar for "Vintage" Agility Handlers

This post is part of a Dog Agility Blog Event Day on the topic of "Aging".

A wild mix of ages and abilities. It's the way agility is played today. But is it time for a more mature approach?
Video credit: Bad Dog Agility

It's the NBA finals and the team runs out onto the court. Starting for the team are a few top pro players. You recognize their names. You've seen them in all the sports press and on TV.

Around them, the rest of the team is warming up. You spot the stars' moms, grandmothers and even a few of their kids. They're suited up in team uniforms, getting ready for the big game. 

Chances are, this wide mix of ages and abilities, all competing for top stakes, is something you wouldn't see in most sports today.

But the "all for one" style of dog agility is definitely part of the way agility is played today.

It's always been this way. But is it time to consider a more mature approach?

Gen X, Boomers and Wild Old Women (WOW).

'Nuff said.

All it takes is a look around at almost any trial, and it's clear that US dog agility is mostly a sport for as the French would say, "women of a certain age." According to a demographic breakdown published by Agility Nerd, Steve Schwarz, and based on "Likes" to his Agility Nerd Facebook Page in 2011, the largest demographic group participating on his site is women ages 35-54.

About 50 percent of his followers fall into this age group. This is a percentage similar to what most of us see in practice at our local agility trials.

So in the interest of good, customer-focused marketing, it might seem to follow that US dog agility organizations would focus their regulations, course designs and judging on the needs and preferences of their core demographic.

Wouldn't it?

But wait. There's another -- and very vocal and visible -- core demo to consider here. And that is the group of leading agility competitors.

They're the same as us. Just a little more...well..super.

I don't have figures on this, but it's a relatively small group, percentage-wise -- probably no more than 10-15% of the total group of agility participants.

These are participants whose main goal is to train and compete at a very high level, with goals that include winning or placing strongly in national and international events. Many earn all, or at least part of their income as agility professionals or have agility as a primary life focus.

Is it "bad" to have a group like this in the mix? On the contrary, it's great!

These are the people leading our sport. They are often innovators and content creators, people who raise the bar of agility training and competition.

Without them, we'd still be here.

This influential and vocal group of people usually have the ear of dog agility organizations. Very often,
their aim is is to bring the standard of handling, training and competition in the US more on par with trends they are seeing in Europe and other parts of the world.

But here's the catch:  Most of us just aren't feeling that super (anymore)! 

Yes, we try. We go to seminars and we practice. We go to the start line with Winning in Mind. But try as we might, there's a catch in our Ketschker. A little too much jiggle in our Jaakko.

Agility these days seems to be running in sleek, tech fabrics and terrifying, clawed feet on its way toward an internationalized future.

Too often, we women of a certain age are stuck huffing behind in our cotton blend, breed-specific T-shirts as we try to keep up with both our genetically high-tuned dogs and our own fevered aspirations.

It's ok. Mama's just got a little too much jiggle in her Jaakko.

Time for agility to Just. Grow. Up.

It's maybe a little too much to expect that agility can remain a "sport for everyone". Sure, it should be a sport that everyone can play. 

Especially for people in their middle or later years. Those little sprints around the course are motivation to do the harder, long term things that keep us healthy. Dreaming up training plans and memorizing courses is the stuff that keeps a person young.

Not to mention all the gossiping social opportunities that help build new, life-enhancing connections at a time of life too often marked these days by empty nests and early retirements.

But it's really a little much to think that the valiantly aging contingent can compete on purely equal footing with the young and nimble.

Perhaps it's time to re-think things just a bit.

It's not to say that elders among us don't enjoy learning new things (we do) or that we can't appreciate a challenging course design (we do!).

Today's girl is smart to ask for what she wants.

Just as our dogs have the option of accommodated jump heights to help them as they age, perhaps older handlers should receive some consideration, too. Here are some ideas:

• Veteran handler classes at existing trials - Veterans would have the option to run the same courses as regular trialers but compete against other veterans. Age could be based on the human version of currently accepted Veterans age for dogs at 7 years. Equivalent age for people would be approximately age 50.
• Veterans-only tournaments - Similar to the Senior Pro Golf Tournaments, senior agility handlers would have access to their own regional and national competitions. Course designs would be challenging, but with a focus on experience and skill rather than handler speed and mobility. Senior National Agility Championships could be offered.
• Simplified competition options - Competitions open to any age, but with a focus on simplified course designs that offer moderate and fun challenges for handlers and dogs. Goal would be to open agility to a wider spectrum of handlers and dogs, recognizing that all handlers and teams do not have a desire for strong physical tests or widely varying challenges. Overall goals are geared less toward winning and more toward accomplishment.
• Develop Championship-level venues that feature international-style challenges - Make peace with the fact that agility continues to evolve and that US competition should not be artificially bound to handling and course design traditions of the past. Competition and winning high stakes is encouraged to take center stage. Offering competition options that allow US competitors to lead the world ends up helping us all in many ways. Training and handling efficiencies will result and we can all share pride in the achievements of our country's leading trainers and competitors.

A wider variety of competition options allows for development of participation options that better suit participant groups within our sport (that's called, "customer focus"). 

Agility becomes less subject to being pulled in two separate directions motivated by two entirely different aims. It's also less likely to take the course of least resistance and develop as a compromise solution that makes neither group very happy.

Working to stay in the game means communicating our value.

Women in the middle to older age group are the majority in US agility. But as in so many facets of American life, greater numbers and experience for aging women does not equate with greater power. 

Heck, most of the time, we're lucky if we're modestly appreciated!

For those faced with aching joints and recalcitrant body parts that just won't join the party, we need to step up and make sure our voices are represented in the planning of agility's future.

But gee, I've never contacted an advisory committee before!

What will the neighbors think?

Contact your organization advisory committee and describe your experience and viewpoint. Tell them in specific terms what you love about agility you'd like to see in competition as a mature exhibitor. 

If you're an AKC participant, you can contact the AKC Agility Advisory Committee.

Promise it won't hurt and you'll probably be surprised that they actually listen. 

Don't stop there: Write articles. Make videos. Join social media. Keep in touch with proposed changes. State your opinions.

Perhaps most of all, support your own. We girls don't do a good enough job of that overall. Mentor and support not just the young newcomers to the sport, but the older ones as well.

Older girls are willing and able to learn.

We just need the right kind of instruction.

If you are an instructor or an innovative trainer, give some thought to developing methods that are effective for handlers who are less quick and mobile. There is a great need for people who can develop and teach insightful, sound, workable solutions for this group of handlers. 

Stuart Mah is a great example of a leading instructor who is innovative and able to teach effective techniques to both ends of the spectrum.

Finally, we older girls we know how important it is to find ways to work smarter. No matter our age, there's one way our numbers and our networks will always make an impact. And that's with our pocketbooks.

Samurai

The most beautiful and most challenging part of Samurai is his wildness.

Chasing Sunset Pt. 3

Chasing Sunset

Celebrating "National Drink Like a Pirate Day" @Lakeside Inn, Montague. MI

No, it's not really a holiday. Whatever. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Seriously, the historic Tony's Rum Yum Yum are a tradition worth keeping. "Tony" does not skimp on rum. Yum!

Westminster Kennel Club Announces Masters Agility Championship Event

Samurai's father, Dylan (GRCH Wingssong Rock Star) at Westminster

The Westminster Kennel Club announced today that it will be hosting a Masters Agility Championship at the 2014 event. It's a historic move for two reasons:

- it's the first time agility has ever been offered as part of a Westminster event
- mixed breeds will be welcomed, also a first for Westminster

This announcement is further recognition of agility's rise in prominence on the national and international show scene. It's a bright spot for AKC and one of the few areas that is experiencing rapid growth. 

The event will also feature an English judge and that combined with the Masters name suggests that the courses might have International features. 

The Time 2 Beat style formatting will no doubt put more of an emphasis on all out speed than the AKC National Agility Championships, where speed is to some degree balanced by consistency. 

Participating dogs need to be running in Excellent or Master's level and no other qualification standards have been announced at this time.

It is also unclear whether it will be televised along with the traditional conformation proceedings.

Bottom line, it is definitely an exciting announcement and it will be interesting to see how this unfolds.

Tired Little Cowpoke

Shaun Asleep

At 16, he is too old now to even chase rabbits in his dreams. But he is safe. And warm. And happy.

Water Intoxication in Dogs: A Rising Tide of Concern

This is an amazing shot of a dog diving after a ball from Little Friends' Photo.

But it also shows how a dog can accidentally take in dangerous amounts of water, even if it doesn't "drink".

Dedicated to Stoli, Agility Border Collie, 2011-2013. 

Can a dog die from swimming?  Can a dog drink too much? Yes, and the cause to watch out for is water intoxication. It happens quickly and often, once it starts, it's hard to stop. Too often the dog dies or has to be put down when the condition becomes irreversible. 

Swimming for conditioning and fun has become a more popular pastime for dogs and their owners. And as the numbers of enthusiastic dog swimmers rise, so has the incidence of water intoxication. 

Some well publicized losses of prominent agility dogs due to water intoxication, as well a tendency for the problem not to be diagnosed until it's too late, has brought on a cry for increased awareness of water intoxication safety precautions and symptoms.  

Remember, dogs don't have to "drink" water to get water intoxication. Repeated diving into water, chasing balls in the water and biting at waves are just a few of the behaviors that have caused dogs to get sick.

Dogs have even gotten water intoxication from playing in sprinklers. 

Prevention includes avoiding prolonged water play and enforcing frequent breaks. Check for early symptoms, such as a swollen or distended belly, disorientation, throwing up water and staggering. 

The article below has more information.

Valley Vet: Dehydration vs. Water Toxicity

Remember, this awareness doesn't mean don't play in the water. Just play it safe.

Mike Across America @ Wooden Nickel in Glen Carbon, Illinois

Sami didn't Q today but raspberry feta salad, a craft beer and Pinot Grigio did wonders to refresh the spirits.

In truth, we were actually feeling pretty good, since Samurai was feeling well and ran happier and faster than he has for awhile.

It was fun to be out there with him. He was raring to run and followed most cues like a little pro.

Specifically for faults, he popped a weave in JWW and ran by the teeter in Standard, but the rest was pretty ok

Papillon Kayak Captain

Captain Jack Sparrow has nothing on Taylor the Papillon Kayak Captain, 

seen here rocking his Doggles.

He would have gritted his teeth, if he had any left, as he climbed from the back of the tandem kayak to his captain's post at the bow. 

Taylor has always believed there is one number regarding his place in the universe, and that number is 1.

So whether it's claiming the 4" AKC Preferred National Agility Championship in 2011, or commanding a one-boat fleet, he demands to be top dog.

So he wasn't exactly happy at being assigned second mate status in the back of the boat as we paddled out onto Lake Michigan for a kayak outing at my family's cottage retreat.

So he hitched up his culottes and climbed around to the front, his grin getting bigger as he climbed along.

He had on his Outward Hound life jacket, of course, and we steadied his way so he wouldn't tip into the drink. Plus, the water was calm so we could have a little fun with the ride.

Taylor settled down once he was up front with a clear and unobstructed view of the way ahead. He squinted with determination through his Doggles as he monitored activity on the passing shoreline.

Taylor is convinced he looks cool in his doggie shades so after a few minutes of adjustment, he seems proud to have them on.

Sunset at the cottage

Although our busy schedules keeps us from getting out on our little boat as often as we like, it's a great way for us to have relax, keep in shape and also have fun with our dogs.

We had Samurai out for his maiden voyage on this trip. He was nervous at first, but by his second trip out, he had settled in for a good ride.

The life jackets made it convenient for us to dip the dogs in the water if they got a little too warm. We also let them swim the rest of the way in when we got near the shore.

I love agility, but it's nice to have some variety, especially in the summer. Best of all, with Captain Taylor at the helm, it's sure to be smooth sailing.

Shaun at the Beach

Shaun made it through to one more outing at the cottage over the 4th of July.

At 16, his sight has faded, but he still enjoys the pleasures of warm sunshine and cool lake breezes.

Here he heads out to find his place in the sun.

Intro to CaniCross - Your Next Fun Dog Sport?

What Happens When You Add Dogs to a Cross-Country race? Canicross!

You may have heard of skijoring. It's a human/canine team sport that's a step down from dogsledding and involves a dog pulling a human on cross country skis.

Canicross takes it one step simpler. It's just a human with a special belt and a dog equipped with a harness and a bungee-sprung connector.

All you have to do is run. And well, train the dog -- just a bit.

The dog has to learn to run while keeping the connecting leash tight. Canicross enthusiasts also teach their dogs directional commands for left, right and forward.

Doesn't sound like a lot for those of us already conditioned to teaching our dogs complex cues. And it fits right in to today's interest in performance-supporting, human and canine conditioning.

The video in this post was taken at a canicross event in Czechoslovakia. It would be a fun (and healthy)  trend if it catches on in the United States.

Cost of entry to the sport is pretty inexpensive. The entire cost of equipment is pretty similar to entry fees for one agility trial. An online source called Canadog appears to have everything you'll need.

The sport would also be great for people not involved in agility, such as owners of high energy dogs who need lots of exercise.

Now, I wonder how this would all work with a Papillon? If you've tried canicross with a toy breed dog, please share your experience in the comments!

Samurai On the Porch

It was a difficult few weeks for Samurai, which you can see from his cute, but worried little face in this picture taken a couple of weeks ago. He's feeling better now, not totally 100%, but definitely much better.

A Bumper Crop of Berries

Every year, the blackberries in our yard are a highlight of the summer. This year it's a bumper crop like we haven't seen in years. Next, making pies!

Teaching Teeter "Bang It" to a Small Dog

Christina Sander's Papillon, Quasimodo, learns to bang the teeter

One of the toughest tasks in training a toy breed in agility is teaching a fast, safe and reliable teeter performance. 

As was recently illustrated in Bad Dog Agility's comparison of the 26" and 8" winners of the 2013 AKC National Agility Championships, the naturally slower drop of a lightweight toy breed as compared to a larger dog is a matter of sheer physics. 

In agility competition, how fast a little dog is able to drop the teeter can shave or add seconds and can make the difference in who wins or places or possibly even makes time.

Bad Dog Agility shows that teeter drop 

for a little dog can make a big difference.

The best thing we as toy breed handlers can do is to teach the dog to move quickly and confidently to the very end of the teeter and to "stick it" until the teeter hits the ground.

A low body position is essential to help lower the center of gravity and support the drop with downward movement.

Outdated methods that involved having the dog find the teeter's pivot points are fairly useless in training toy breeds since a very light toy dog, such as my barely 5 pound Papillon, Samurai, are so light that the pivot point varies substantially from teeter to teeter. This can be a set up for big problems at trials.

Most light toy breed dogs will need to move right to the end of the teeter to assure that the plank will tip -- and the dog will not be stuck airborne -- even on a properly calibrated teeter.

It's popular to train the "bang it" method to get the dog to energetically move and hold the end position on the teeter. 

I haven't seen many video examples of how to train this process with a toy breed. It's pretty much the same process as training a larger dog, but it requires a little more finesse.

In the video up top, Canada's Christina Sanders does an excellent job demonstrating the "Bang Game" process with her 11-month-old Papillon, "Quasi". 

Teaching the dog to interact with a clicker and target, as well as getting the puppy familiar with various kinds of movement and surfaces would be prerequisites to having a puppy take to the teeter this quickly.

Do you have other ideas or resources for training the teeter? Leave a comment below!

Samurai @Starlight Cabin

Porch @Starlight Cabin

AKC Canine Partner Program: From Morkies to Making a Better Future for AKC?

A Morkie Puppy:

Will AKC "Papers" from Pet Shops Help AKC's Future?

NOTE: This post is part of the Dog Agility Blog Action Day event on Improving Agility Organizations. Once you're done reading, please visit the other posts!

Last week, I posted a discovery that AKC Canine Partnership enrollments can be used by pet shops to to sell puppy mill dogs with "AKC papers". The only condition is an unenforced "promise" to neuter the puppy once it reaches an appropriate age. 

It's not just about mixed breeds: The enrollment can be applied to both unregistered "purebreds" and mixed breeds alike.

The problem? Uninformed buyers easily can mistake the term "enrollment" or "listing" for full AKC "registration". 

The incident that brought to this to light was a relative who described a second hand puppy she had purchased as an "AKC registered Morkie".

On inspection, the papers actually were from the American Kennel Club, not some off brand registry. The certificate came in the same AKC-logo emblazoned envelope that your dog's title certificates arrive in.

At the time I was writing the post, I also made a phone call to the AKC Inspections and Investigations Department. I received a phone call back the next day from one of their representatives explaining the rationale for the AKC Canine Partners Program.

Some of the reasons seemed worthy and valid:

• The program exposes new puppy buyers to all the activities available to them as an AKC participant.
• The program supports their development as responsible pet owners through a variety of communications.
• It offers a coupon for low cost spay or neuter (which is not required or enforced).

But there are some portions of the program that could result in some potentially negative outcomes for both the AKC and its communities:

• The "enrollment could be intentionally presented as "AKC papers" by unscrupulous puppy merchants to gain a price that is often in the $1,000 range.
• The uninformed, impulse buyer could misinterpret the enrollment as an "AKC registration"
• No enforceable neutering requirement could result in litters from these dogs being sold intentionally or unintentionally as from "AKC registered parents".
• Puppies could be intentionally sold or resold as "AKC registered" by the uninformed or unscrupulous buyer/sellers.
• The enrollment does nothing to support or protect the quality or origin standards of the puppies.
• No barrier currently exists for unneutered Canine Partner dogs to participate in AKC Companion events such as agility and obedience. As long as the dog is not "caught," it can potentially participate and even earn titles and championships. AKC participants should not be put in the position of being default "neuter police" for this program.

I was told that the main reason for the Canine Partners program was to help shore up the sagging registration numbers for AKC registered breeds and entries in AKC conformation shows. 

The 2010 AKC National Agility Championship begins:

Agility is the bright spot in AKC growth today.

I understand the dilemma, and as an active participant in AKC agility, I don't wish to see the AKC fail. Instead, I would prefer to see future plans that strengthen both the AKC mission and its real support for the dogs it represents.

For this reason, I made the following recommendations to the AKC representative:

• Provide a limited enrollment to all unneutered dogs. Provide full enrollment (including ability to participate in AKC events) upon proof of spay or neuter.
• Shore up the language on the AKC Canine Partner online enrollment form to include language that states that an enrollment does not constitute an AKC registration.
• Put penalties in place for sellers who are found to be misconstruing AKC Canine Partner enrollments as "AKC papers" or "AKC registration."
• Include clarification of Canine Partner rights and privileges with owner communications including what the AKC Canine Partner program means and does NOT mean.

I requested these be forwarded to the Advisory Board for the Canine Pet Partnerships program. If you share concerns, I was advised that the best course for agility participants to pursue was to contact the AKC Agility Advisory Committee or AKC Director of Agility, Carrie DeYoung.

To be honest, AKC registration is not a super big issue for most agility trainers and competitors. Being a part of an organization that supports the true well being and future of dogs is. After all, there are other valid and established venues will happily accept our entry fees.

As a growing power within the AKC, the agility community needs to let their voice be heard on how we want this organization to grow. 

If you have further ideas that might improve this program or the future for AKC, leave a comment below.

AKC Canine Partners Program Can Be Used by Pet Shops to Sell Puppy Mill Dogs as High Priced "AKC Registered" Dogs

What a shame. We believed in you, AKC!

The AKC Canine Partners Program can easily be co-opted by Pet Shops and their puppy mill cohorts to mislead puppy buyers that their mixed breed and randomly bred "purebred" puppies are "AKC registered" and thus worth asking prices of close to $1,000.

Here is a letter of complaint I sent to the AKC today on this poorly monitored program. Please share this information with your show contacts, public pet owners and AKC reps. Stop in pet stores yourself to check to see if puppies are being offered as "AKC registered" when in fact the seller merely submitted an online Canine Partnership enrollment. Report any misrepresentations to the AKC Investigations and Inspections Department. The AKC will not take action to tighten standards on this program unless they receive reports. 

Letter text:

A relative recently bought a second hand dog that was originally sold from a retail chain pet shop in St. Louis for $900. The seller led the buyers to believe it was an "AKC registered Morkie". On inspection of the certificate, this was found to be a Canine Partnership enrollment. 

I believe this program is seriously faulty in that it allows dogs to be "registered" with no spay or neutering or any other requirements other than a blind sign up through an online form with no proof of identity or enforcement of enrollment requirements. For example, there is no timeline stated for the neutering to be completed and no stated enforcement or penalties (such as revocation of the enrollment) if the dog is not neutered.

Pet stores can use this easy method to sell puppy mill mixed breed and randomly bred purebred dogs as "AKC registered" allowing pet shops to charge hundreds of dollars for dogs that would be worth much less without the implied "AKC Papers".

The AKC should seriously examine its motives in running such a program that is in effect aiding and abetting both profit earning potential of pet shops and puppy mills and also opening a channel for the easy confusion and scamming of puppy buyers who are easily led to believe they are buying an "AKC registered puppy."

It is too easy for an uninformed impulse driven puppy buyer to misconstrue the difference between and "enrollment" and a "registration."

I will be letting everyone in my dog training community and show circles know about this hugely ill considered program and its consequences for the dogs AKC organization supposedly supports.

I believe this program should be immediately brought up for serious review to prevent the misuse of Pet Partnerships as a vehicle that opens the door to potential fraud against uninformed pet shop puppy buyers. 

Mike Across America Arrived @Starlight Cabin

Time to Raise the Titling Requirement for New AKC Judges

This post is a copy of my request is in reference to the 2013 AKC Judging Requirements and Approval Process.

Request: To raise the titling requirement from AX/AXJ to MACH/PACH for new judges.

Reason:  The current titling requirement has been in effect since the early days of AKC agility when the Agility Excellent title was the highest agility title and before there existed the Masters level class or an agility championship (MACH).

We did not have the training methods we have today and attaining an AX or AXJ was a significant achievement. 

By today's standards, it is possible to earn an Agility Excellent title without having an in depth understanding of agility training, handling strategies or course design to the extent that today's competitors expect. 

Even with the 5 -year experience requirement, to have only earned an AX/AXJ in that amount of time does not reflect well on the individual's ability and knowledge of agility training, or possibly, their commitment level to the sport. 

A basic level of individual training ability and commitment is important to uphold the stature, relevance and experience base of our judges.

A person acquiring only an AX/AXJ could potentially never have competed -- or to any great degree, or even successfully -- at the Masters Level. They could become a judge without having to have to run for points and double Q's. They might never hae worked to qualify for the Nationals or Invitational. All of these things definitely change the way a team trains and competes, as well as their expectation of courses and judging. 

Most of all, it is fair to expect that our AKC judges to have earned a MACH or PACH  title. With today's training, a MACH/PACH title is considered a high, but attainable goal. It should not be unreasonable to expect that our judges achieve what is generally considered to be the standard for a "made" trainer/competitor in this day and age.  

BREED EXEMPTION 

The only concern I can see with this change is that it could discourage or exclude trainers of certain breeds that do not generally achieve high titles in agility. This is a positive, since it is an advantage to all participants to have trainer/handlers of "non performance" breeds as judges in our sport.

To cover this, I would suggest an exception for any handler:

-  whose SOLE agility competition record has been with breeds that have never achieved a MACH/PACH title, 
-  have XX number of years of continuous agility competition (at least 6 trial days per year)
-  AND have earned an invitation to the AKC agility invitational.

For many non performance breed handlers, a spot at the Invitational is the "Gold Standard" goal and requires focus, training and intention to achieve. 

Limiting this exemption to breeds that have NEVER achieved a MACH/PACH title applies a specific filter for breeds that will or will not be considered (I.e., if someone, somewhere, sometime has earned a MACH/PACH on a certain breed it shows it is a possibility). 

Requiring at least a decade in the sport implies a long experience with training and competing, even if a MACH is not achieved. It also discourages giving exemption to new or uncommon AKC breeds that may be MACH/PACH-capable, but just haven't had enough time for a dog or interested handler to earn a MACH/PACH.  

Requiring that the breed be the SOLE breed that the person has shown rules out those who would "game the system" by running a certain breed for a short time just to qualify for judging when a person has not been able to achieve a MACH/PACH on a MACH/PACH-titled breed.

It might also be allowed that a person receive an exemption if he or she has competed with multiple breeds so long as all of the breeds have never achieved a MACH/PACH.

NOTE:  This should be a difficult exemption to qualify for since many breeds considered by some to be "non-performance" regularly can and do achieve MACHs/PACHS with knowledgeable training and management. (I just saw a Norwegian Elkhound earn a MACH2 at a trial this past weekend!)

Thanks for opening the door to change requests to AKC agility participants and thank you for considering this request. 


Barbara Scanlan
Taylor - 10 yo Papillon -- PNAC PACH2 U-CD (HIT) Wingssong Sweet Baby James CD RE AX AXJ MXP5 MJP7 OFP 
Samurai - 4 yo Papillon -- Wingssong The Seventh Samurai AX AXJ
Shaun - 16 yo Toy Fox Terrier Rescue -- White Pines Little Shaunee CD AX AXJ RE

Fox and Friend

How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love International

In the eery way that cold, cybernetic eye of YouTube has once it gets to know you, it sent me this oddly appropriate video -- just at the time I was preparing to write my post for the Dog Agility Blog Event - "Internationalization". It's called 10 Jahre Agility (1989-1999) - Teil 1 .

A look at the way we were (and might still be if agility never changed)

Ok, so there is something to be said for the laid back ways (potato sack races in clown suits anyone?) and old time fun and comparative civility of the way agility was many years ago.

What wasn't so great? Non-standardized homemade obstacles, unreasonably high jump heights and fuzzy, unclear handling to name a few.

All of these made the "fun" sport of agility a lot harder on dogs. In the early days it was much more common to see lack of connection and communication between dogs and handlers. It was much more common for careers to waste away before they even had a chance to bloom due to dogs checking out and becoming lost to stress related behaviors such as sniffing, zoomies and just plain refusing to run.

My career with my first agility dog, a rescued Toy Fox Terrier named, Shaunie, never jelled because -- at the time -- I really didn't know how to handle, at least in the smooth, consistent and supportive ways we have available to us today.

And that leads to the point of this particular blogging exercise.

That is, change isn't always bad. It is pretty much guaranteed to be uncomfortable, but usually, if you take the time and patience to adjust to it, you'll soon be very grateful of the lessons it allows you to learn.

Take my early days with Shaunie, for example. I really, really struggled to learn front crosses. I hardly ever did them and in the rare times I did, Shaunie acted as if I was a pedestrian popping up unexpectedly in the middle of the Interstate.

I later got better at them with my next dog, Taylor, and it helped open the door to a more liberated and proactive form of handling.

I first caught a glimpse of International style handling when I came across this jaw dropping slow motion video shot at the splendid horror that was the European Open 2010.

Mud, guts and the splendid horror of EO 2010

I mean, what the #%#$? 

In total, it's a view of what can happen when handlers drive for a prize regardless of cost, obviously. The blunt force of the slow motion makes the point in a way that is impossible to ignore.

But also wrapped within the frames are some moments of brilliant handling, the likes of which I'd never seen before. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of a more fluid way of moving. 

I've come to consider this video a pearl that exemplifies the best and worst of this thing we're uncertainly embracing as agility's future.

End of story? Hardly. 

I started shelling out money for seminars, reading blogs and cruising the net for videos that might carry clues to this whole "International' thing. I started doing flagrant blind crosses (even though I really never stopped doing them after they were "banned' years ago).

I asked questions on this blog about a move I uncovered in a Clean Run post by Mary Ellen Barry on something called the "blended cross". I got an answer in a characteristically crystal clear video produced by Linda Mecklenburg. I found and re-posted videos on all kinds of new training techniques.

But here's the rub: I'm not spandex- wearing youngster. And I don't run a big, fleet-footed dog. So what did all of this mean for me?

My current dog is an elegantly moving, yet reactive and not very drivey Papillon named Samurai. He's quick, but not really, really fast. Would knowledge of International handling be beneficial to our little team?

Samurai's happy (and hard earned) running dogwalk. YOLO!

My response is, "Yes."

Please be reminded that this post appears on a blog called View from 4 Inch and the opinions represented here are those of a toy breed handler.

From my grass-blades-high viewpoint, the main difference between how toy breeds run is that they must run more strides (with advantages AND disadvantages), and most significantly, many more strides in extension. I think that's why so many small breed dogs run out of gas halfway through their runs. And why so many big dog training and handling techniques -- with their greater need for training collection -- tend to cause many toy breed dogs to check out, run slow or poop out.

Because of the tight angles of International courses, many of the International tactics are heavily focused on cuing collection. That means I had to adapt the theories I learned to the way my dogs like to run.

So here's some thoughts I've considered in making the transition, and some ideas on how you might start on the journey yourself:

DOs

• Do try it even if you don't plan on running International style courses. Many techniques, such as the Ketscher turn and blended cross can help you offer clearer collection cues for tight wraps. This gives your dog a better chance to collect in advance of takeoff resulting in a safer landing and turn. Much preferable to shouting "STEP!!" as a dog is landing and it's too late for them to set up a safe and efficient landing.
• Do use the International trends as an excuse to get yourself and your dog in better shape. It's not just to be stylish, it's better for your health and your dog's safety --  even if you never set a foot on an International course.
• Do find knowledgeable instruction. Already newbies (at least to International handling) are rushing onto the scenes and into classes offering uninformed instruction. Without understanding the mechanics of something like blind cross handling, students come away with misinformation such as:  a blind cross is an equal substitution for a front cross. Or they might teach "running contacts" without a full exploration of the techniques and effort needed to really build and maintain them. 

DON'TS

• Don't be a lemming. You know those little furry creatures that jump off a cliff because all their friends did? Yes, try International style, but realize that everyone and every dog is different. For big or fast obstacle focused dogs, a really definite stop gives the best turning cue for the Ketschker or blended cross. However, this didn't work well for my little guys, so after searching out examples of some great little dogs running these turns on YouTube, I discovered that many times, the handlers often continued to show motion while approaching the jump...only backward. I'm not coordinated enough to be a competent backward runner, but I did find that "throwing" the dog backward did make for a nice collected turn -- while still giving him enough of a motion cue to scoot behind the wing.
• Don't be afraid to experiment. Here's the thing. Many of these "new" handling moves were born spontaneously by great handlers trying to adapt to a situation on course. That the move hadn't been "invented" yet didn't stop them. They did what came naturally and it worked. I've found lately that I've gotten more adventurous about how I communicate with my dog. I'm less likely not to try something because it's not an "official" move. If I feel I have the tools to safely communicate it and it looks like a workable solution, what the heck. YOLO! (Translation: You Only Live Once)
• Don't stress out. International style handling puts you in close contact with your dog. It's like going on a long car ride with a co-worker. If there's any friction, you're both going to feel it. Be patient with yourself and your team mate during the learning process -- or be prepared for an uncomfortable ride. Once again, don't feel it has to be this or it has to be that. The true beauty of International handling is that it gives you the freedom to improvise in a calculated way. It's kind of like the joy of playing in a jazz band after spending time learning your scales. 

In other words? Damn the torpedoes and bombs away!

So that's my story. Bottom line? Samurai actually prefers and works more consistently with the newer methods than the ones I relied on before. Is our story over? No, I'm not an expert, just an avid learner! 

Let me know how International style is working for you. Especially those with dogs running at 4, 8 and 12 inches. Please share this post if you liked it. If you've got a thought, suggestion or a great video example, leave a comment below!