Hidden dangers of the chute

[Lanie]

THE UK has followed SUIT! The BRITISH KENNEL CLUB JUST ANNOUNCED SUSPENSION OF THE CHUTE! COLLAPSIBLE TUNNEL SUSPENDED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
The Kennel Club has temporarily suspended the use of the collapsible tunnel in agility, following concerns expressed by the Agility Liaison Council via the Activities Sub Committee.
The suspension comes into place with immediate effect, and therefore judges must not use the collapsible tunnel as part of their courses until further notice, including in all Championship classes. The General Committee will ratify the suspension of the collapsible tunnel next week at its September meeting.
The regulation changes proposed by the Agility Liaison Council, and as minuted from the July meeting, will be discussed by the Activities Sub-Committee as scheduled.
ENDS
[290.16]

 

[PonyForever]

The issues with the chute are a combination of things, and if you watch the video Cheryl posted you can get a good idea of the issues that have developed over the years with the chute. The video actually shows a Sheltie who ended up experiencing siezures after an incident with the chute and it took a long time to determine they were being caused by something humans are well aquainted with, whiplash. Honestly, just because people haven't personally witnessed or experienced an issue doesn't mean it's not there. Agility competitors have been petitioning for the removal of the chute for a number of years now.

I've personally witnessed a large Bernese Mountain Dog, who was not moving very quickly, get entangled in the chute during practice with straight on approaches. My club has rubber flooring and the dog still got tangled up.

All that said, what you state is true, the contacts are dangerous also. My Edan fell off the peak of a 6-foot (USDAA height) a-frame in practice once. Thank goodness for well padded floors, he was able to get up and actually went back over the a-frame like nothing happened. However, there HAVE been safety improvements to the contacts in the form of rubberizing them. Rubber gives the dogs more grip than sand did. Does it solve the problem completely, no, but it is a great improvement over sand. The break away tire, 24 inch weaves, and platic jump cups were also improvements in the name of safety.

Part of the onus for safety is on the handler to set a good approach line for their dog to ALL obstacles. Sometimes, in the intrest of shaving those fractions of a second we neglect to do that. It's also on the handler to ensure their dog is physically fit and understands their job (how to perform the obstacle) before entering any competition. There are many who rush young dogs into competition before they are completely ready which increases the possibility of injury.

No sport is without risk and agility is no exception. It's up to us to make it as safe as possible and to speak up when we see something wrong.

I only asked whether people have personally experienced the issue because I wanted to learn more about what was going on in the sport. I didn't mean to imply that the issue wasn't there, and I hope no one took it that way. That's why I brought up the other obstacles as well, because looking through google gives the impression that they are the "biggest" problems. But I realize that google is not a match for the true life experiences of actual agility competitors and trainers! Which is why I brought my google observations to you guys

I like to question the reasoning behind things. It helps me learn! Thank you for taking the time to type such a clear and detailed answer. That is very much appreciated <3

 

[Lanie]

Canada! It's official - AAC just announced that the chute IS SUSPENDED from COMPETITION! http://www.aac.ca/en/news/main/


AAC NEWS
The Agility Association of Canada has been researching and considering the attributes, safety, and use of the chute in courses at Agility Association of Canada events for some time.
aac.ca

 

[Lanie]

I only asked whether people have personally experienced the issue because I wanted to learn more about what was going on in the sport. I didn't mean to imply that the issue wasn't there, and I hope no one took it that way. That's why I brought up the other obstacles as well, because looking through google gives the impression that they are the "biggest" problems. But I realize that google is not a match for the true life experiences of actual agility competitors and trainers! Which is why I brought my google observations to you guys

I like to question the reasoning behind things. It helps me learn! Thank you for taking the time to type such a clear and detailed answer. That is very much appreciated <3

I have seen the chute detach from the barrel resulting in the dog being completely wrapped up in the chute and struggling to get out of it many, many, many times in training. If I had to guess, I would have to say more than 10 times. I know of 2 dogs that would not go through it after. There are possible dangers with all agility obstacles, but I can train my dog to run carefully across the dog walk and to stay in the middle of the A-Frame and to stop at the bottom, never dive off, etc. I can (and have trained her to go through the chute with her head and nose down, but if there's a small tear in the fabric that happened during a trial and escaped notice, she can get her toe caught in the hole, causing a face-plant, twisting of neck, back, or limbs and serious injury. This has happened numerous times. At trials, ring crew straightens the chute between dogs if needed, but no one is examining the fabric for damage. There isn't sufficient time for that. These are the reasons I've been signing petitions and sharing videos to have it phased out.

 

[Silaria]

I like to question the reasoning behind things. It helps me learn! Thank you for taking the time to type such a clear and detailed answer. That is very much appreciated <3

I actually had a conversation about this with one of my trainers yesterday. His big question was is it the obstacle or is it training that is the cause of injury. As he explained his point of view, it basically broke into a 50/50 split between handler and obstacle causing the issue. Handler by not setting a straight approach into or straight enough exit out of the chute (in a push to shave fractions of a second). It's not an obstacle you can really train a dog to make a proper apporach on like you can weave poles. As the dog wraps into the cute, they are going to run up the side making entaglement in the chute a near certainty, especially at speed. The chute itself, by it very design, can cause the dog to bank up the side if they don't hit it exactly right. Max 200 attempted to fix this by changing their chute's barrell design to a flat bottom and arched top with flat sides. Personally, I'm not sure if the flat sides make it better or worse if the dog hits it at an angle.

You also have to give some 'blame' to judges and their course design. There was a point and time, until recently, where you would see a 90 degree turn out of the chute to the next obstacle. This encourgages the handler to drift that way and the dog CAN hear the footsteps and begin to turn also. The same with a less than straight approach to the chute. Over the years I've seen some pretty ugly approaches causing me to really shape a line to make it safer and easier on my dog. Recently this has decreased but it does play a part in the chute's history.

Just thought I would share this infographic from Clean Run. I honestly didn't care for the chute. Missy would probably be one of those dogs that would injure herself just because she's crazy and runs fast into it. Luckily she does keep her head down so hasn't gotten tangled in it.

https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm/...occuring-in-dogs-participating-in-agility.htm

Very interesting that the chute shows up as such a "small" number of injuries but the a-frame and dog walk the highest. I think we all know the inherant danges with the contacts (and why many agility dogs visit chiropractors regularly). What the article doesn't say is the sort of injury the occurs on those obstacles in comparison to obstalces like the chute where we can see video and photographic proof of the physical damage. I'd be interested that information alongside what's already presented. I know the charts show 'body part' but not what or how severe the injury was.

Three years ago Edan injured himself on the weave poles and I didn't know it. It was a soft tissue injury/bruise near the ribs. He didn't collect enough approaching the waves and managed to wrap himself around the first pole. I may actually have it on video somewhere. He didn't act hurt and I had no clue until he wouldn't weave AT ALL at the national event we attended the following week. Cold laser and massage therapy while at the event helped him and we haven't seen a problem since; we were lucky.

As I said earlier, sports are inherantly dangerous and agility is no exception. How many handlers do you know that where knee or ankle braces for support? I have a friend who blew her knee out while running a course earlier this year and needed surgery. The best we can do if we choose to participate is make it as safe as possible through training and conditioning. (And yes, that includes canine conditioning - look up "get on the ball".)

 

[Jess041]

I'd be interested that information alongside what's already presented. I know the charts show 'body part' but not what or how severe the injury was.

This is exactly what I said to my friend. I would be interested to see the injuries broken out by severity. So yes, the most injuries happen on the A frame and dog walk, but are 90% of those injuries very minor? And within the small percentage of chute injuries, are they more severe injuries?

 

[seashel]

It's always good to question something PonyForever I must be honest that until recently the chute never really struck me as being especially dangerous, anymore so than other pieces of equipment - at least for my own small shelties. (Having run a large BC for a while for my friend, it gave me an entirely different perspective on how size, structure and attitude can really impact upon the 'risks' of agility. He's less likely to be blown off the DW but it's far more of a balance exercise for him crossing it at speed, he has to remember to crouch into tunnels and cannot turn on a sixpence the way the shelties can.)

I'm thrilled the KC has suspended the use of the chute though. In my opinion, it adds nothing to the sport. I've heard the original intention was to test 'courage', but I think you get that aspect sufficiently tested by putting the dog over the contact equipment. Agility does come with risk of injury, but I'm not sure that agility dogs are at any greater risk than the average pet because they are generally fitter, have greater core strength and stability and there is arguably more owner awareness of injury potential.

What especially concerns me about the chute is that recently I've seen incidents occurring repeatedly, with one dog after another having problems, whereas with all the other equipment it seems to be more isolated. Also with the question of training, a great many of these affected dogs are in the very top level of agility. They are experienced and have highly experienced handlers and are running over courses designed by the most experienced of judges. If problems can occur here, then that suggests to me the problem is with the chute.

What I find particularly worrying though as someone who is still really a novice, is that less experienced competitors and their dogs rely 100% on the judge, show organisers and overseeing organisation to provide a situation which is as safe for them and their dogs as possible. Certainly during my first year or two of competing it never occurred to me to question whether the approach to an obstacle was 'safe' or whether the obstacles themselves presented any dangers. My only concern was getting my dog round and remembering the course! I trusted those running the competition to ensure the safety of all participants as far as possible. Perhaps I'm naïve but it's come as something of a shock to discover that even at the highest level, judges have been designing courses that are potentially dangerous - such as a turn out of a chute - presumably in the full knowledge that this is (was!) not as recommended in the guidelines.

I think that fundamentally, agility should be as safe as possible for all concerned, no matter what their level of experience, size or speed or dog and irrespective of the variability posed by different surfaces, materials or weather conditions. A particular piece of equipment that requires correct positioning, handling, adjustment, weather, material etc to be deemed 'safe' doesn't really have any place in a 'fun' sport which we participate in with our beloved dogs. Dogs can take other agility equipment by mistake without handler assistance and without incident, but running into a chute 'off course' could potentially carry enormous risks. Both my shelties have fallen from dog walks, crashed A frames, leapt from see saws, knocked into jumps and thankfully come away unscathed but it seems that if a chute is performed 'incorrectly' the likelihood of damage is much higher.

Just hoping now that the 'fun' agility chutes quickly disappear from the market. I've got one and in fact trained both boys using it, but it had about 12 feet of material (I cut mine down) and unless properly pegged carried a huge danger of the dog getting tangled, particularly with inexperienced owners playing with a tunnel for fun. At the very least they should carry serious warning notices.

To end this essay on a lighter note, Epic's running a course with a water jump in a couple of weeks time! Should be interesting! I didn't see any dogs bothered by it last year (I haven't entered it before myself but was helping on the ring) but I wonder should I try and train it and if so, any thoughts?

 

[Lanie]

To end this essay on a lighter note, Epic's running a course with a water jump in a couple of weeks time! Should be interesting! I didn't see any dogs bothered by it last year (I haven't entered it before myself but was helping on the ring) but I wonder should I try and train it and if so, any thoughts?

I would love to see a water jump. I've never seen one. Do you have any pictures? Echo hates water. she'd probably run away from that as fast as she could go

 

[seashel]

Here's a couple of photos (scroll down for a better one).
http://agilitynet.co.uk/Qualifiers/animalhealthcompany.htm
I believe that last year there were some (plastic) ducks in it LOL!

On the subject of 'alternative' agility obstacles, this year I've also see a Wishing Well!! It livens things up a bit as our jumps are all a generic design. Until recently Epic was deeply suspicious of the wall because it wasn't something he ever trained over.

I wonder if anything will be brought in to replace the chute? Some people have suggested a sort of free standing cat flap...

 

[Cara Sandler]

I would love to see a water jump. I've never seen one. Do you have any pictures? Echo hates water. she'd probably run away from that as fast as she could go

LOL, if they put in water jumps that would be the end of Spirit's career. She won't even walk near a puddle. There's no way she'll voluntarily go near anything that could get those dainty little paws wet.