Kennel name and agility?

[celloyogi]

Bingo. That whole regression to the mean thing.

I am a statistics nerd (seriously - I have a t-shirt and was thinking vanity plates for my car; it's sad). This dog website you guys are talking about is EVIL. A major time-suck. Too much data to absorb all at once...

But at the same time, truly fascinating and educational.

 

[ortegah]

I agree. Granted, I've never seen them in person, just the odd video here or there - some nice runs, but nothing extra-ordinary or impressive to wow me.

You have to consider agility is a team sport - everything isn't and shouldn't be attributed to just the dog or just the handler: putting together a great dog & a great handler at random doesn't guarantee a great team.

I've seen some unbelievably great runs from teams that have never sought out or afforded the limelight of being considered at the top of our sport.

I've been to many shows with them. Rush is a great dog, but like you said, there are so many awesome teams out there that aren't in a clique so you'd never know about them. Some agility competitors have seriously gotten so caught up in guru worship and some competitors think that they are the superstar and are too good to socialize with us no names.

My dog is just as good if not better than a lot of these dogs out there, but because I have 3 kids, a job and I'm not wealthy enough to go to every 4 day show across the country, well you'll just never see my name in lights...and that's just fine by me

 

[Silaria]

I've been to many shows with them. Rush is a great dog, but like you said, there are so many awesome teams out there that aren't in a clique so you'd never know about them. Some agility competitors have seriously gotten so caught up in guru worship and some competitors think that they are the superstar and are too good to socialize with us no names.

Agreed. We get some of the big names at our USDAA trials - Donna Rohaus, Linda Mecklenberg, and a few others.

One of the biggest complaints those of us hosting the shows have regarding these big names is that they believe they are too good to help out at the show to keep it running smoothly (because we paid to be here) yet they are among the first to complain when the show is running slowly because we are short handed on Ring Crew. To make it worse, some of them have been over heard teaching their students NOT to volunteer at trials because they paid an entry fee. (Seriously, I'm NOT making this up. One of my friends/member of my agility club who teaches at the same facility one of the big names does over heard this.)

My dog is just as good if not better than a lot of these dogs out there, but because I have 3 kids, a job and I'm not wealthy enough to go to every 4 day show across the country, well you'll just never see my name in lights...and that's just fine by me

My dog may not be the fastest dog on the course but I can promise you that we are out there having fun!

 

[ortegah]

Agreed. We get some of the big names at our USDAA trials - Donna Rohaus, Linda Mecklenberg, and a few others.

One of the biggest complaints those of us hosting the shows have regarding these big names is that they believe they are too good to help out at the show to keep it running smoothly (because we paid to be here) yet they are among the first to complain when the show is running slowly because we are short handed on Ring Crew. To make it worse, some of them have been over heard teaching their students NOT to volunteer at trials because they paid an entry fee. (Seriously, I'm NOT making this up. One of my friends/member of my agility club who teaches at the same facility one of the big names does over heard this.)



My dog may not be the fastest dog on the course but I can promise you that we are out there having fun!

My favorite was when one local woman that thought she was all that and a bag of chips was upset because we were in her way and started screaming, "Coming through, get out of my way! Make a path for me!!"

Yeah I know a lot of the big names think they don't need to help out. I guess their ambiance is enough right?

And last time I checked, agility wasn't an olympic sport, nor one that makes anyone a superstar, so those who think they are famous really aren't, with the exception of Greg Louganis(olympic diver) that now does agility. But he was already an olympic star before he started agility

And agility is supposed to be fun! We tend to forget that sometimes.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I am a statistics nerd (seriously - I have a t-shirt and was thinking vanity plates for my car; it's sad). This dog website you guys are talking about is EVIL. A major time-suck. Too much data to absorb all at once...

But at the same time, truly fascinating and educational.

Tell me about it!! I sent the link to my mother, and 20 minutes later I get a chat: "stepping away now"

 

[Silaria]

with the exception of Greg Louganis(olympic diver) that now does agility. But he was already an olympic star before he started agility

I've seen Greg Louganis and his JRT (I believe I'm remembering that right) run on TV before I got started in agility. They were/are an amazing team.

And agility is supposed to be fun! We tend to forget that sometimes.

I need a FB like button for that quote.

 

[Calliesmom]

Agreed. We get some of the big names at our USDAA trials - Donna Rohaus, Linda Mecklenberg, and a few others.

One of the biggest complaints those of us hosting the shows have regarding these big names is that they believe they are too good to help out at the show to keep it running smoothly (because we paid to be here) yet they are among the first to complain when the show is running slowly because we are short handed on Ring Crew. To make it worse, some of them have been over heard teaching their students NOT to volunteer at trials because they paid an entry fee. (Seriously, I'm NOT making this up. One of my friends/member of my agility club who teaches at the same facility one of the big names does over heard this.)



My dog may not be the fastest dog on the course but I can promise you that we are out there having fun!

pretty much all our local trials are relatively small so helping out just goes with being there.
when I sent in the entries for Sheltie Nationals last year, I filled out the little volunteer form. when I got an email later on about the volunteer schedule, it was only sent to maybe 11 people. out of the hundreds of people who entered and showed, only 11 volunteered? I thought that was pretty crazy myself...........
and we certainly didn't Q but we did have fun

 

[Calliesmom]

forgot about the whole kennel thing- my two are probably the only two doing performance sports out of the maybe 9 dogs produced so far.

 

[HopeShelties]

While you may not like it, keep in mind, volunteering is on a VOLUNTARY BASIS. No one is required to volunteer. And, it's stupid to single out the big name handlers. There are plenty average people who choose not to volunteer for one reason or another. At a 660 run trial, that is a lot of people. A very small fraction are made up of people who choose to volunteer. While it might be nice for everyone to volunteer, it just doesn't happen. I'd bet maybe only a quarter of those entered choose to. Despite it not being a popular opinion, they are right. They have paid to be there, and if they choose to spend their time in a way different than you, that is their right. Until working at a trial is required, you can't make them do it, and can't be upset that they choose not to do something that is voluntary. I have also seen my fair share of big names helping out at the trials.
Also, in my experience, there is no larger number of elitist acting big names than in any sampling of people. The majority I have dealt with are nice people who are like you and me. There to enjoy their dogs, and the sport of agility. There will be the few in any crowd who are elitist acting.

 

[Margit]

Steven

Hello!

In Germany we do not ave such different qualifying classes like in USA and GB.
There was one of Stevens Kennel Shamrocks qualified for World Championship, also some for European Open and German Chamionship.
My Sheltie Steven is great but he has a very big handicap - me.
He is fast and I am slow, but we have always fun at the competition.
He is in the second agility level at Germany.
One kennel I watched and adore is the Obay shelties where World Championship candidates descendend from.
I think the genetic is a base but the biggest factors are good breeder which give distinction to the further development and an owner which improves the skills without giving to much pressure to the dog.


Greetings!

Margit