Not at all (but maybe that's because i can see a point to agility, whereas the point of flyball just eludes me totally). Rarely have I seen agility competitors acting in the inane manner of fly ball handlers, screaming like banshees and encouraging a similar response from their dogs. Yes, some dogs do get excited naturally by undertaking activities, I've seen otherwise well behaved gundogs loose it completely when given a water retrieve or a strong runner to follow. While it may be argued that the dog picks up a level of excitement from the handler, most in the working gundog world will actively discourage rather than encourage this behaviour.
Quote:
walking past the benches at a champ' show is not exactly with out risk
I take you point about shows Eddie. Should we now get into a discussion on the poor temprement of some of the supposedly good dogs that are on the show circuit and their suitability as breeding stock? _________________ My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.
If you set aside the experiences (or reality) of flyball and agility isn't the point of both quite similar? I could see something losing it's appeal if it's done badly but not necessarily losing its point.
To draw a comparison with human events flyball being the 4 x 100m relay and agility being an obstacle course?
IMHO there is no similarity between the two events. I can appreciate agility as it requires a bond of trust to be developed between dog and handler. This may involve the use of treats in the early stages to encourage the dog into strange experiences. Flyball, on the other hand, is, again IMHO, based solely on the provision of reward.
While I could envisage a working gundog taking part in agility I would be concerned about trying one out in the flyball arena for fear of encouraging running in and/or unsteadiness. Just my opinion, which you are of course free to ignore. _________________ My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.
I have never found the Brittany to be that ball minded!!! Chasing and balls sticks is for Springers!
I agree, none of mine are the slightest bit interested in balls, in fact I've always been told to use the ball as a distraction item. (bolting rabbit type thing) _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
Well if it means anything the Mabeleen hates chasing after a ball but my welsh springers love it to a point.
The only time she will chase a stick is when I throw it into the river then she only brings it to the waters edge and then spits it out.
ps has anyone got any idea when the callender is out, last year they were being sold at Birmingham champ show?
It is out now Gill - will be on sale at the weekend or drop Paul a line ... I have had a sneaky peek of Barbara's copy and a certain lady looks very MUCKY . _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
That lady is like that all the time, she loves to wollow in mud mostly on her back with her legs in the air. The mud is full of oil and she looks like the multie coloured swop shop dog.
It takes me for ever to get it out for the weekends shows, sometimes I think I will never get rid of the mud, but she loves it. When I let her out of the van with the others she runs about a quarter of a mile on her own to get in her little mud hole. By the time the rest of us are there she is on her way back covered with mud. She then goes in it again with the others. We then go to the river to try to wash it off, not always possible.
She is horrible and the photo I sent was her on her way back and I was telling her "look what you look like you bad Brit".
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