Responses to suggested changes to Group Exercises

Following is a copy/paste of a suggested change followed immediately by comments received:

A-1-1  DOGS THAT FAIL IN THE INDIVIDUAL EXERCISES SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE GROUP EXERCISES AND DOGS THAT FAIL THE FIRST HALF OF THE GROUP EXERCISES SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE GROUP EXERCISES

“An extra ring steward to do this – keep scoring in timely manner.  Agree with suggestion that many dogs have already created issues and demonstrated a lack of training and control. This would save time in the ring.” AB-M-3

“Yes, I agree” AB-C-1

“I liked this idea” AB-D-1

From AB-M-3:  “I think this is a good idea, perhaps people would train harder, it would also save time in the ring.  The only thing is that there would need to be a ring steward who can do the math really quickly so that the scores are ready in a timely manner.

A-3-1  THE DOG SHALL BE ON A SIX FOOT LEASH AT ALL TIMES DURING THE STAY EXERCISES

“If leashes were kept on for stays, then dogs would be on leash going for stays and leaving, this in my opinion would prevent problems.” AB-C-1

From AB-D-1:  “I also like the idea of having dogs on a 6’ leash during the stays.  The leash could be either stretched out in front or left beside the dog. 

From AB-M-3:  “My comment to this is that dogs are smart and it would be easy to shape a dog’s behaviour by it noting the leash on the floor and this could very well be a way to condition a dog to stay based on this behaviour by the handler.

A-4      THE ORDER OF THE EXERCISES SHALL VARY, AS INDICATED BY THE JUDGE.  THE POSITION WILL REVERSE DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE STAY.

“This would be alright many dogs anticipate the drop.  I don’t agree with changing the order of all the exercises, though.  Pattern training is helpful to some dogs.” AB-C-1

“Dogs should be allowed to move slightly out of position between exercises.  If leashes stay on – handler would pick it up before releasing dog and thus they’d be more under control.” AB-D-1

From AB-M-3:   “I like this idea as it makes it more interesting.  I am aware that some handlers condition their dogs to do the exercises based on sequence.  My comment was that either the dog knows it or doesn’t.”

A-4-2  REVERSE THE ORDER OF THE STAYS SO THE DOWN STAY IS PERFORMED FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE SIT STAY.  (AB-C-2)

A-5      NOVICE DOGS WILL DO TWO-MINUTE STAYS IN EACH POSITION.  (AB-M-1)

From AB-M-3:  “I do agree, however, I think that it is ok for the handler to, between exercises, in a controlled manner do minimal playing with the dog to maintain a bit of animation."

A-6      OPEN DOGS WILL DO THREE-MINUTE STAYS IN EACH POSITION, HANDLERS OUT OF SIGHT

            Description:

            Open dogs may be petted or praised between exercises, but the dog most not move from the stay position (sit or down).  When the judge gives the commands for the second half of the stay, the dog must move into the other stay position from the one he/she is already doing (i.e. down from the sit, or sit from the down)

 “Holding between stays would be alright also.” AB-C-1

A-7      THE OBEDIENCE RING MUST HAVE THREE RING STEWARDS (A TABLE STEWARD AND TWO FLOOR STEWARDS)

Each ring to have 3 stewards would be good as well.  (Note are their enough stewards available at most trials?) Stewards helping to watch stays would be okay as well.  with Open handlers returning to the ring.  AB-C-1

“I liked this idea” AB-D-1

A-8      CLEARLY NUMBERED TRAFFIC CONES OR HOCKEY PYLONS SHOULD BE USED TO MARK STAY POSITIONS (#1-#8)

I don't think that we need to have pylons to mark places in the stays.  With the rest of the changes in the stay exercises this shouldn't be necessary.

I hope that you get lots of replies.  AB-C-1

“I don’t agree with this suggestion” AB-D-1

A-9      AN HONOUR DOWN STAY AS IS CURRENTLY USED IN NOVICE INTERMEDIATE WOULD BE SUITABLE IN PLACE OF THE GROUP DOWN STAY.  AB-D-1

A-11    THE OPEN GROUP STAYS ARE TO BE PERFORMED IN THE SAME MANNER WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT AFTER LEAVING HEIR DOGS, THE HANDLERS SHALL MOVE TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RING WHERE THEY SHALL REMAIN STANDING WITH THEIR BACKS TO THE DOGS UNTIL THE REQUIRED TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE INSTRUCTED BY THE JUDGE TO RETURN TO THEIR DOGS. (CN-1)

A-12    RECALL OUT OF MOVING SIT FOLLOWED BY STATIONARY DOWN (AB-C-2)

A-13    HANDLER ASSISTS STEWARD/DOG PERFORMS SIT STAY (AB-C-3)

A-14    OUT OF SIGHT INDIVIDUAL DOWN STAY – 1 (AB-C-4)

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