From The Editor
Time certainly seems to have flown by this summer. I can hardly believe it’s September already. It’s been a busy summer for disc enthusiasts, with lots of competitions to attend. And while for some, the disc season is coming to an end as winter looms around the corner, some are still busily preparing for the biggest competitions of the season. The USDDN National Finals in Cartersville, Georgia. And the Skyhoundz World Championships in Chatanooga, Tennessee. Several SODH members qualified to compete at these two competitions and we wish them all great success.
On a personal note, while Rowdy & I are finished competing for the year, we are still practicing to prepare for our performance in the half time show at the Argo’s game in October. Should be lots of fun!!
There are a few disc competitions left this season. The Harvest Disc Dog trial on Sept. 13/14 and the SODH Dog Disc-a-thon at the Roseneath Fair on October 4th. Hope to see lots of you turn out to support both events. Remember …… winter is just around the corner so you’ll want to do as much disc as possible before the snow arrives!!
Happy Disc’n
Jackie
Why Do We Compete?
With the running of the recent Olympic Games, I got to thinking …. why do people compete? Why does it matter if Canada has more Gold Medals than China or Russia or the USA? Why is it important? Why do we compete?? And when I sit down and really think about it, over the millennia, has competition not caused more friction in our world than camaraderie?? So why do we do it?? Is it a hard wired human behaviour deeply set in our genetic make up?
Perhaps this obsession with competition is a throw back to primitive times when competition was linked to survival. Losing meant dying and so the ‘drive’ to win (survive) was passed on from generation to generation. Have we selectively bred the human race to pass on the desire to compete? Afterall, if those that compete and win are those that survive & procreate, then it is that genetic material that will be passed on. Survival of the fittest could be said to apply also to the competitive nature and not just health of an individual. And competition is not just linked to the human species although competition for sport/pleasure might be said to be exclusive to humans. But is it?? Have you ever watched 2 dogs running to get the same tennis ball? Are they not competing for sport/pleasure? Afterall, what is to be gained by being the one to bring back the ball? The ball will get thrown again regardless of who brings it back. Do dogs have a sense of, “woohoo! I won!”?. Outside of survival (competing for food/mates etc.) is winning a concept that they can perceive? Or is it simply competition for attention. “Yay Fido! You brought the ball back! Good Dog”, to the retriever of the ball, and no attention to the other dog. The subject is fraught with questions
But let’s look at sports competition. How does survival play a role here? Well in an elimination game, survival means staying in the game > making it to the next round. But outside of just the elements of the game itself, we could say that it’s all about survival of the Ego. Although almost no one would want to admit that
I put the, ‘Why Do We Compete’, question out to the disc dog world and the responses were as varied as the people who gave them. The most poignant answer I got was, “to honour my dog.” This particular fellow said that he competes with his dog to honour his dogs love of the game and because competition challenges him to be the handler his dog deserves.
Here are some other answers to the Why Do We Compete question
>> I think competition is human nature. It’s not a bad thing, and it forces us to strive to do better. And recognition is something that you can't get in your back yard, but you can at a competition.
>> Competition makes me work harder with my dogs which we all enjoy. It also makes me train new things which keeps the dogs thinking. If I didn't compete my dogs would be bored and lazy. The dogs also enjoy competing and really feed off of my energy at trials. And to throw a disc 70 yards in a park is easy. Throw 70 yards with a cross wind with 100 people watching in the final round of the Quad now that is serious fun.
>> Sure there is that wanting attention, need of approval, winning titles, etc that is at least in the bowels of the mind even if you don't admit it.What I think it is for me is that without the organized competitions/training/get togethers you wouldn't necessarily:1. Meet people of the same interest and have that human bond along with our fellow canines' bonds2. To keep it from getting stagnant. Our canines will most likely not get bored with it (although some will) but we might and that would certainly impact our canine
>> I LOVE this question, I've asked myself this time and time again. I think for me the reason I compete is to better myself. If I didn't compete I would not push as hard to train and become better. I need the extra ambition from others to motivate myself. Competition is definitly not for the dogs. I love being out and having fun with my dogs but when we go to a competition, I always thank my dogs for doing their best for ME.
>> We do it because it is an activity that my wife and I can do together that we both enjoy. The competition aspect simply makes it more exciting and challenging. There are benchmarks (both personal and competitive) that one can work to better, and exceeding these benchmarks provides a personal satisfaction. The greater satisfaction, however, is that the competitive aspect pushes others to improve as well. Plus, the best people encourage and help everyone in the sport to improve in order that they themselves can enjoy more challenging competition. I have to say that I get just as excited (well, almost) when a friends dog does well, as when my own does. Overall, I think it’s the combination of the camaraderie and the competition that makes the sport enjoyable.
>> Why do I compete? Lots of reasons really, not just 1: (a) My dogs love it. Yes, I hear the groans, but let me explain - my family and friends all saw me play disc with my dog in our back yard, local park, etc. They all swore that I competed for my own personal "gain" - and then I dragged them to a competition where the temperature was 104 degrees. We were all wilting but my dog was pulling to get out on the field and when she was out there, the focus and the drive and the joy was apparent to everyone. (b) It brings people into my life. Some of my best friends I gained through frisbee and through my dogs. (c) Because as humans we are competitive - the dogs don't care what medal they bring home and truly I don't either. What I do want to know is "how do I stack up? Am I getting better?" I'm not driven by the titles …. it's about how did my dog and I do against the "challenge" - whether that challenge is a tough agility course or a strong group of frisbee players. Do we measure up? (d) And did I say, that it's the people I meet? In these days of economic strain - one needs a reason to travel around the country/continent. Competitions and tournaments give us that reason to mix socializing with dog sports.
>> Because I enjoy playing with my dog > Because my dog loves the game and loves playing > Because I enjoy the bond with my dog > Because I enjoy traveling and meeting other players . Because of the enjoyment my dog & I playing brings to spectators but as you point out, you can do this in demos or at home. I think the reason I compete is because I have supporting and encouraging friends who convince me to at least try it, so I do.
>> At first I competed because I WANTED to WIN. Well it took many reality checks on and off the field with and without the dog to realize hey, Competing to Win is not everything, if you win while competing that is good but first & foremost I learned the sport was about spending time with your dogs and both of you have a great time and the satisfaction of doing things together.
>> It's not necessarily winning but trying to win. Striving to get better. Trying to teach our dogs new things. Stronger behaviors. Becoming better trainers. If I just wanted to have fun I could play in my back yard all the time. We have had a pretty good year so far ….. Even in winning there were things we could have done better.
>> Knowing you have done your best.... Now that's fun. Of course traveling & making new & seeing old friends are great too.Striving for that moment of perfection, and when it happens on a competition field the feeling is unmatched. That is why I compete. It is not about the dog, but in a way it is. I want my guy to do well and for me to do well with him. I have hard time explaining it but I do feel the bond that develops when you do have that moment is remarkable and hard to match. All the time spent learning together and then both dog and man coming together and performing perfectly. That is a great feeling and with any team sport it is extremely bonding.
>> The feeling you get from competing and doing well can not be found on the practice field. That is why humans compete. It is rewarding to us. The feeling is addictive. Competitions provide proof of your accomplishments.
>> I think there are many reasons for competing - camaraderie, showing off, winning, testing one's self, to name a few. Personally I like competing because of the do or die nature of it. It's one thing to jam, and I really enjoy playing at home and training probably more than competing, but there is something special about going out on that field and knowing that this is your one shot to show people what's up with your team. It's a rush. I also like to hook up with other players and see old friends and make new ones and to share experiences and information with people who know what I'm talking about. That's a special thing about competing that you can't get in the backyard or online.
>> Well as someone who will never win I might have a different perspective. I come out for the social aspect, I enjoy seeing everyone and yes I could do that outside of competitions but who has the energy to get everyone together. I do think that watching great teams gets me pumped up to try some new things at home, and I enjoy the "event" that is the competition. It's more fun when there's some pomp and circumstance. I am a competitive person, but disc is a team sport and there are limitations to what some dogs and their humans can achieve. As long as my dog and I continue to stay motivated and improve as a team I'll keep competing.
>> Winning is just a bonus. What's the old saying, the journey is the reward. My dog and I have gone from not knowing if we could actually play catch with a disc, to grabbing a novice medal in freestyle at a competition a couple of weeks ago. And, our journey is not done yet. Discovering this whole disc dog culture has been really cool. And it would not have have possible without organized competition.
>> For me, competition gives me insight regarding how I am evolving emotionally. I have found that even though these insights are available to me all the time, they come to the surface very bluntly under the pressure of competition. I have learned that I feel best about my competitive experiences when I define success in terms of how effectively I manage my internal state and how well I set my dogs up to have a positive experience. The quality of the performances is direct feedback on how well I took care of my dogs and of myself. Do the dogs look like they are enjoying themselves out there? If not, what aspect of training or relationship do we need to address in order to help them enjoy the moment? Did I enjoy my time out there with them? Is there anything I need to change in action or attitude in order to further enjoy the buzz of the competitive spotlight? I have learned that I also enjoy the process of preparing for an event (or a series of events) - the training, peaking, competing, recovery and then doing it again at a higher level the next time around.Competition offers some very unique opportunities for personal growth. I like that.
>> Where I live, taking your dog off leash can result in a fine, and some people have even had to go to court after 1 instance of playing with their dog off leash. So, for me a big reason is having a big field to play on.The other aspect of it is i just love watching all the different types of dogs i'll probably never own, different styles and spending a day relaxing.
>> Oh, absolutely- makes us feel better about ourselves if- we win stuff, or look good or attract attention to ourselves. Now, I realize that what I am about to spew next might be a thread killer- hence apologies in advance!Winning accolades, trophies and recognition for anything serves to focus public attention on to us in a positive light. To our subconscious, this translates to: I am considered valuable to my peers (ie: fellow humans). It is a very reinforcing feeling and hence addictive- we in fact are more like our dogs than we realize! If we ask the next question- why does our subconscious consider being of value significant? Well, anything or anyone of value to a subset of the population will tend to be protected and helped by that subset- so that is why celebrities, sportspersons etc get a lot of privileges and more doors are open to them than to the rest of us. Anything that our subconscious processes as raising our 'value' in society, it labels as reinforcing- accolades and recognition are part of that equation. So, bottom line, activities that serve to bring us attention, thereby raising our value amongst peers, trigger evolutionary conserved self preservation pathways in our brain and that is what this is all about in the end- survival of self. Pick any extremely rewarding activity and start to unravel the reasons for it being so- it will all come down to survival of self followed by procreation of self.....that would imply that we compete FOR ourselves ......
>> I think the competitive aspect of any sport makes it a lot more interesting, even more fun. It’s true that we can enjoy the game in the park too, and I’m sure everyone does, but it’s a much bigger thrill to perform in a contest and being seen by other disc doggers. I think (__) is right about the subconscious. Showing off and proving our selves might be a primitive instinct indeed.
>> I would agree that the competition itself is for ourselves. However, I do believe that it can be for the dogs as well as long as things are kept in perspective. If there weren't competitions for people to watch and inspire them to give it a shot, how many more dogs would be sitting on the couch instead of having their person take them out in the park for some fun? How many of us would practice with our dog as much as we do if we didn't have those competitions to work towards? Some would, but others might not. Having the competitions gives me a deadline to work towards having something new in my routine. This translates to more time spent off the competition field with my dog in the nearby park or our backyard. I love the social aspect as well. With as busy as life is for most people, it's always nice to have an excuse to get together with friends that enjoy doing the same thing. I also think that the competitions are a big socialization tool for the dogs. There is tons of craziness going on, and by being exposed to all kinds of different things, dogs, people, loud music, cheering, etc, etc, my dog has become much easier to handle as a result because very little phases him anymore.
>> A goal, the reason I like to compete is it gives me a goal to reach for. I do try to make attainable goals such as a 40 yard catch, all throws in bounds, high number of completed catches in freestyle etc. That being said, I NEVER make my goal to win a competition and that makes it so much more fun when we do well.The titles, ribbons, trophies are all nice icing on the cake and it's fun to see my family's pride in our dogs after an event, but the competition to me is about improving our game, keeping things fresh and achieving our goals.
There were a few other answers that I “attempted” to save for inclusion in this article, but unfortunately one hit on the wrong computer button ….. and poof! … they’re gone! One player shared that she loves the strategy of the competition. She loves to watch the competition and come up with a personal strategy to do well against her peers. In toss/fetch what strategy will it be today, to stay in the game >> in freestyle, what strategy is needed to conquer the elements (weather) and do well.
For myself when I asked myself this question originally, my answer was, “I don’t know”. It’s what you do, so I do it. But in hashing out the subject with fellow competitors I see a lot of my own reasons within their answers. A big one for me is the goal or deadline to get something done. With a large number of dogs to look after (my own, boarders, and fosters), the farm critters, teaching classes, working, and organizing competitions, I find that the days just get away from me and many things on my “to do” lists just don’t get done. And often the training of my own dogs will fall into the just doesn’t get done category. We've all heard of the cobblers children, right?So having a competition to go to gives me a deadline and a goal > it forces me to get out there and train my dogs. The second big aspect for me is the opportunity to hook up with friends and meet new friends. Some of my best friends I’ve met through competitive dog sports, and if not for competition, I’d never have met these people. And of course there is the hard wired need for validation that we all crave > if other people think I’m okay, then I must be okay. I’m working hard to overcome this need for validation
>> We do it because it is an activity that my wife and I can do together that we both enjoy. The competition aspect simply makes it more exciting and challenging. There are benchmarks (both personal and competitive) that one can work to better, and exceeding these benchmarks provides a personal satisfaction. The greater satisfaction, however, is that the competitive aspect pushes others to improve as well. Plus, the best people encourage and help everyone in the sport to improve in order that they themselves can enjoy more challenging competition. I have to say that I get just as excited (well, almost) when a friends dog does well, as when my own does. Overall, I think it’s the combination of the camaraderie and the competition that makes the sport enjoyable.
>> Why do I compete? Lots of reasons really, not just 1: (a) My dogs love it. Yes, I hear the groans, but let me explain - my family and friends all saw me play disc with my dog in our back yard, local park, etc. They all swore that I competed for my own personal "gain" - and then I dragged them to a competition where the temperature was 104 degrees. We were all wilting but my dog was pulling to get out on the field and when she was out there, the focus and the drive and the joy was apparent to everyone. (b) It brings people into my life. Some of my best friends I gained through frisbee and through my dogs. (c) Because as humans we are competitive - the dogs don't care what medal they bring home and truly I don't either. What I do want to know is "how do I stack up? Am I getting better?" I'm not driven by the titles …. it's about how did my dog and I do against the "challenge" - whether that challenge is a tough agility course or a strong group of frisbee players. Do we measure up? (d) And did I say, that it's the people I meet? In these days of economic strain - one needs a reason to travel around the country/continent. Competitions and tournaments give us that reason to mix socializing with dog sports.
>> Because I enjoy playing with my dog > Because my dog loves the game and loves playing > Because I enjoy the bond with my dog > Because I enjoy traveling and meeting other players . Because of the enjoyment my dog & I playing brings to spectators but as you point out, you can do this in demos or at home. I think the reason I compete is because I have supporting and encouraging friends who convince me to at least try it, so I do.
>> At first I competed because I WANTED to WIN. Well it took many reality checks on and off the field with and without the dog to realize hey, Competing to Win is not everything, if you win while competing that is good but first & foremost I learned the sport was about spending time with your dogs and both of you have a great time and the satisfaction of doing things together.
>> It's not necessarily winning but trying to win. Striving to get better. Trying to teach our dogs new things. Stronger behaviors. Becoming better trainers. If I just wanted to have fun I could play in my back yard all the time. We have had a pretty good year so far ….. Even in winning there were things we could have done better.
>> Knowing you have done your best.... Now that's fun. Of course traveling & making new & seeing old friends are great too.Striving for that moment of perfection, and when it happens on a competition field the feeling is unmatched. That is why I compete. It is not about the dog, but in a way it is. I want my guy to do well and for me to do well with him. I have hard time explaining it but I do feel the bond that develops when you do have that moment is remarkable and hard to match. All the time spent learning together and then both dog and man coming together and performing perfectly. That is a great feeling and with any team sport it is extremely bonding.
>> The feeling you get from competing and doing well can not be found on the practice field. That is why humans compete. It is rewarding to us. The feeling is addictive. Competitions provide proof of your accomplishments.
>> I think there are many reasons for competing - camaraderie, showing off, winning, testing one's self, to name a few. Personally I like competing because of the do or die nature of it. It's one thing to jam, and I really enjoy playing at home and training probably more than competing, but there is something special about going out on that field and knowing that this is your one shot to show people what's up with your team. It's a rush. I also like to hook up with other players and see old friends and make new ones and to share experiences and information with people who know what I'm talking about. That's a special thing about competing that you can't get in the backyard or online.
>> Well as someone who will never win I might have a different perspective. I come out for the social aspect, I enjoy seeing everyone and yes I could do that outside of competitions but who has the energy to get everyone together. I do think that watching great teams gets me pumped up to try some new things at home, and I enjoy the "event" that is the competition. It's more fun when there's some pomp and circumstance. I am a competitive person, but disc is a team sport and there are limitations to what some dogs and their humans can achieve. As long as my dog and I continue to stay motivated and improve as a team I'll keep competing.
>> Winning is just a bonus. What's the old saying, the journey is the reward. My dog and I have gone from not knowing if we could actually play catch with a disc, to grabbing a novice medal in freestyle at a competition a couple of weeks ago. And, our journey is not done yet. Discovering this whole disc dog culture has been really cool. And it would not have have possible without organized competition.
>> For me, competition gives me insight regarding how I am evolving emotionally. I have found that even though these insights are available to me all the time, they come to the surface very bluntly under the pressure of competition. I have learned that I feel best about my competitive experiences when I define success in terms of how effectively I manage my internal state and how well I set my dogs up to have a positive experience. The quality of the performances is direct feedback on how well I took care of my dogs and of myself. Do the dogs look like they are enjoying themselves out there? If not, what aspect of training or relationship do we need to address in order to help them enjoy the moment? Did I enjoy my time out there with them? Is there anything I need to change in action or attitude in order to further enjoy the buzz of the competitive spotlight? I have learned that I also enjoy the process of preparing for an event (or a series of events) - the training, peaking, competing, recovery and then doing it again at a higher level the next time around.Competition offers some very unique opportunities for personal growth. I like that.
>> Where I live, taking your dog off leash can result in a fine, and some people have even had to go to court after 1 instance of playing with their dog off leash. So, for me a big reason is having a big field to play on.The other aspect of it is i just love watching all the different types of dogs i'll probably never own, different styles and spending a day relaxing.
>> Oh, absolutely- makes us feel better about ourselves if- we win stuff, or look good or attract attention to ourselves. Now, I realize that what I am about to spew next might be a thread killer- hence apologies in advance!Winning accolades, trophies and recognition for anything serves to focus public attention on to us in a positive light. To our subconscious, this translates to: I am considered valuable to my peers (ie: fellow humans). It is a very reinforcing feeling and hence addictive- we in fact are more like our dogs than we realize! If we ask the next question- why does our subconscious consider being of value significant? Well, anything or anyone of value to a subset of the population will tend to be protected and helped by that subset- so that is why celebrities, sportspersons etc get a lot of privileges and more doors are open to them than to the rest of us. Anything that our subconscious processes as raising our 'value' in society, it labels as reinforcing- accolades and recognition are part of that equation. So, bottom line, activities that serve to bring us attention, thereby raising our value amongst peers, trigger evolutionary conserved self preservation pathways in our brain and that is what this is all about in the end- survival of self. Pick any extremely rewarding activity and start to unravel the reasons for it being so- it will all come down to survival of self followed by procreation of self.....that would imply that we compete FOR ourselves ......
>> I think the competitive aspect of any sport makes it a lot more interesting, even more fun. It’s true that we can enjoy the game in the park too, and I’m sure everyone does, but it’s a much bigger thrill to perform in a contest and being seen by other disc doggers. I think (__) is right about the subconscious. Showing off and proving our selves might be a primitive instinct indeed.
>> I would agree that the competition itself is for ourselves. However, I do believe that it can be for the dogs as well as long as things are kept in perspective. If there weren't competitions for people to watch and inspire them to give it a shot, how many more dogs would be sitting on the couch instead of having their person take them out in the park for some fun? How many of us would practice with our dog as much as we do if we didn't have those competitions to work towards? Some would, but others might not. Having the competitions gives me a deadline to work towards having something new in my routine. This translates to more time spent off the competition field with my dog in the nearby park or our backyard. I love the social aspect as well. With as busy as life is for most people, it's always nice to have an excuse to get together with friends that enjoy doing the same thing. I also think that the competitions are a big socialization tool for the dogs. There is tons of craziness going on, and by being exposed to all kinds of different things, dogs, people, loud music, cheering, etc, etc, my dog has become much easier to handle as a result because very little phases him anymore.
>> A goal, the reason I like to compete is it gives me a goal to reach for. I do try to make attainable goals such as a 40 yard catch, all throws in bounds, high number of completed catches in freestyle etc. That being said, I NEVER make my goal to win a competition and that makes it so much more fun when we do well.The titles, ribbons, trophies are all nice icing on the cake and it's fun to see my family's pride in our dogs after an event, but the competition to me is about improving our game, keeping things fresh and achieving our goals.
There were a few other answers that I “attempted” to save for inclusion in this article, but unfortunately one hit on the wrong computer button ….. and poof! … they’re gone! One player shared that she loves the strategy of the competition. She loves to watch the competition and come up with a personal strategy to do well against her peers. In toss/fetch what strategy will it be today, to stay in the game >> in freestyle, what strategy is needed to conquer the elements (weather) and do well.
For myself when I asked myself this question originally, my answer was, “I don’t know”. It’s what you do, so I do it. But in hashing out the subject with fellow competitors I see a lot of my own reasons within their answers. A big one for me is the goal or deadline to get something done. With a large number of dogs to look after (my own, boarders, and fosters), the farm critters, teaching classes, working, and organizing competitions, I find that the days just get away from me and many things on my “to do” lists just don’t get done. And often the training of my own dogs will fall into the just doesn’t get done category. We've all heard of the cobblers children, right?
How Do You Teach That?The Flyball Vault:
For the flyball dog, transferring the swimmers turn from the box, to the disc handlers body, is not a stretch (although there are some gravitionally challenged border collies who would beg to differ!). But for the non-flyball dog and disc handler, the swimmers turn can be a mystery. Where do you start? How do you get the dogs to turn? How do you get them to take their back feet off the ground and launch off the handler?
The simplest and most successful method that I’ve found for teaching this move is as follows:
1) sit on a chair (without arm rests)
2) have your dog sit or stand on one side of you (start the dog on your left side if you are right handed; and on your right side if you are left handed)
3) encourage the dog to jump up on to your lap & then to jump down off your lap to the other side of you. So the dog is either going from right side to left side, or vice versa. (Be sure to have the dog close to you on your lap > as opposed to just skimming off your knees. It’s important that the dog learns it’s okay to come in tight to your body)
** I use a food lure for this first part so that the dog can concentrate on the skill being taught without being distracted by the disc
4) once the dog understands this movement you can introduce a disc. Have him jump up onto your lap and then launch off to grab the disc (it is a “take” at this time) >> still going from left to right or right to left
5) next, you will move his start position to an angle facing you, and his end position to the opposite angle. If you imagine the face of a clock, the dog would be starting at either 2 o’clock (to your right) or 10 o’clock (to your left).
6) now have the dog jump up onto your lap from this angle and lure him (with the disc) to turn as he launches off. The right turning dog will leap up from 2 o’clock and jump out to 10 o’clock The left turning dog will leap up from 10 o’clock and jump out to 2 o’clock (the disc is still either a take or a fake out at this point).
7) now it’s time to start to stand up > afterall you can’t have a chair out on the Frisbee field!!
8) find a stool or chair that is slightly higher than the chair you’ve been using. You want to be not quite standing, so that the dog still sees a lap surface to leap onto. Make sure that he jumps “high” on your lap (hip area as opposed to thigh area)
9) when the dog is really proficient at doing the move with you perched on this higher stool/chair, then do away with the stool/chair and simply present him with a slight lean backwards of your body and a bent knee. Eventually you should be able to just lean a little bit backwards and have the dog jump up and do the swimmers turn off your body. You can encourage the dog to come higher by holding the Frisbee higher.
10) once the dog can do takes in this manner you can float the disc out there for him to catch
This move can be done either as a vault which includes a toss, or as a disc-less move that leads into another move. Once developed you can have the dog do the swimmers turn/flyball vault off the front of your body, off your back, or off your hip. For small dogs you can even kneel down and have them flip off your thigh or chest.
Quotable Quotes: The weight of expectation can drown success. But only if you allow others to define that success. (author unknown)
The 4th Annual Can-Am Disc Dog Games
The weekend of August 23/24 saw the 4th Annual Can-Am Disc Dog Games. The event was held in Whitney Point, New York, at the Broome County Fairgrounds. Saturday featured some fun non-disc games such as Rubber Duckie Retrieval and the Paws Ice Cream Eating Contest. The latter was easily won by Katherine Fergers little sharks, Zelda and Tallulah. None of this licking ice cream business for them …… these girls just chowed down and devoured the ice cream, box and all
Sunday started off with a 3 station FDDO challenge featuring the Tree Of Hoops, the Skip Plate, and the Hyzer. Then onto the Skyhoundz Disc Dog-a-thon which featured distance/accuracy; freestyle; flydisc; and team spot landing.
Of course, a big part of attending the games is the social aspect. We have exclusive use of the Broome County Fairgrounds and participants have the option to camp on site with full electrical and water hookups. And there are ‘real’ bathrooms and showers available as well. In the evenings everyone gathers round the campfire to chat, sing, and enjoy Corinne playing the guitar. And on Saturday morning Jeff gave the wake up call by playing revelry on the trumpet!!
This is a disc weekend that is not to be missed >> fun, learning, socializing, and competition all rolled into one great weekend.
This is a disc weekend that is not to be missed >> fun, learning, socializing, and competition all rolled into one great weekend.
competitor crating area at the Can-Am Games
New Disc Dog Forum: Hyperflite/Skyhoundz has launched a new disc dog discussion forum at http://skyhoundz.com/phpBB3/index.php
Canadian Disc Dog Derby In Alberta: the first Derby was held in May 2008 in Alberta, Canada. There were six dog playing and it was reported to be, "total fun to add this new event to our trial and will be looking forward to hold it in May of 2009." The Derby was hosted by the K9 Korruption club.
Results In the Mens Divison:
1st place with a best of 126 ft
2nd place with a best of106ft
3rd place with a best if 102ft
Results in the Womens Division:
1st best of 105ft
2nd best of 86ft
Results In the Mens Divison:
1st place with a best of 126 ft
2nd place with a best of106ft
3rd place with a best if 102ft
Results in the Womens Division:
1st best of 105ft
2nd best of 86ft
SODH Members Going To Tennessee & Georgia: Congratulations to SODH members Colleen Miller, Angela Ewtushik, Katherine Ferger, Jackie Parkin, Dennis Alexander, & Wendy Grandman for earning qualifying and alternate spots for the USDDN National Finals in Cartersville, Georgia. And congratulations also to Amanda Morten, Angela Ewtushik, Don Blewett, Dennis Alexander, Linda Leung, Rick Rauwerda, and Wendy Grandman for earning qualifying spots for the Skyhoundz World Championships in Chatanooga, Tennessee. Good Luck to all of you!!!
Many thanks are also in order to Angela Ewtushik for spearheading a t-shirt, disc, and bumper sticker sales fund to raise money for a travel fund for the qualifiers.
Just A Dog (author unknown)
From time to time, people tell me, 'lighten up, it's just a DOG'. Or,' that's a lot of money for just a DOG'.
They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for 'just a DOG.'
Some of my proudest moments have come about with 'just a DOG.'
Many hours have passed and my only company was 'just a DOG,' but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by 'just a DOG,' and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of 'just a DOG' gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's 'just a DOG,' then you will probably understand phrases like 'just a friend,' 'just a sunrise,' or 'just a promise.''
Just a DOG' brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
'Just a DOG' brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of 'just a DOG' I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
Because of 'just a DOG' I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it's not 'just a DOG' but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the Moment.
'Just a DOG' brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not 'just a DOG' but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being 'just a woman' or 'just a man.'
So the next time you hear the phrase 'just a DOG' just smile, because they 'just' don't understand.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat an animal....
'Just a DOG' brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not 'just a DOG' but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being 'just a woman' or 'just a man.'
So the next time you hear the phrase 'just a DOG' just smile, because they 'just' don't understand.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat an animal....
1st Annual Triple Crown Disc Dog Championships
A video collage of the event, put together by Katherine Ferger can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw1ylhYREpE
Well it took 8mths of preparation but it was worth the effort. The 1st Annual Triple Crown Disc Dog Championships were well received by those who attended. Each day of the Triple Crown featured a single disc dog trial. Saturday was the USDDN Canadian Qualifier in which players were competing to earn qualifiying spots for the USDDN National Championships. Sunday was the Canadian National Disc Dog Championships in which players were competing to earn the Canada Cup. And Sunday was the Hyperflite/Skyhoundz Ontario Regional Championships in which players were competing to qualify for the Skyhoundz World Championships. The Triple Crown Award was an award presented for to dog/handler team(s) with the highest combined scores from all three days of competition.
The Triple Crown Toss/Fetch Award was won by Heather Gallagher & Goose.
And the Triple Crown Freestyle Award was won by Corinne Breweer & Kangaroo Jack.
Thank you to all who came out to support the 1st Annual Triple Crown Disc Dog Championships, and congratulations to all who earned qualifiying spots for the USDDN National Finals and the Hyperflte/Skyhoundz World Championships
Weather wise we had a nice weekend. Not too hot on Saturday & Sunday, although we did have to contend with some difficult wind. Monday was the hottest day but ..... no wind. I guess hot was the price we had to pay for no wind! Overall though the weather held up nicely and, thankfully, after a summer with a record amount of rain & storms, we had no rain.
Saturday night offered a super BBQ steak dinner at the home of Richard & Catharine Gastmeier. It was a lovely evening with great food and great company. Proceeds from the BBQ are being donated to Border Collie Rescue Of Ontario & Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Of Ontario.
On Sunday night Peter Bloeme gave a free "throwing into the wind" clinic which several people attended. Now if I can just take what I learned and make it habitual, then maybe ..... just maybe ...... I'll learn not to fear the wind
There was a HUGE raffle with some awesome prizes. The raffle raised $595 with a large portion of the proceeds going to Border Collie Rescue Of Ontario, and Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Of Ontario. Thank you to all who supported these two deserving rescue groups, by buying raffle tickets.
There were also some terrific vendors on site this year >> Sasha's Blend; Burns Pet Foods; Touch Of Love Dog Spa Products; Multi Menu Pet Foods; Ludivina Jewellry; & Pawsitive Choice Pet Supplies.
Of course none of this would be possible without the help of the volunteers who worked tirelessly over the course of the weekend. Most were also competing as well as volunteering and still, they managed to do both. I would like to extend a HUGE thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers that gave so tirelessy of themselves.
The weekend would also not have been possible without our event judges:
Saturday = Joelle Budd, Laura Moretz, Corrine Brewer, Pat Nadarajah
Sunday = Ray Lowman
Monday = Peter Bloeme, Ray Lowman
Len Silvester from TTL Action Photography was our official trial photographer & was on hand all weekend taking amazing shots of all the dogs in action. Len also donated twelve $25 gift certificates towards photo purchases (congrat's to the lucky recipients of those certs!) Photo's are posted on Lens site at http://www.ttlphoto.com/
And we are grateful also to the Chinguacousy Park and the Brampton Summer Festival organizers for including us in their festival and providing such a great playing area for us.
Of course, a HUGE thank you goes out to all of our wonderful and generous sponsors without whom, this event would not have been the success that it was. Thank you for your support and generous donations.
· Sasha's Blend
· Tawzer Dog Videos
· ERG Music
· Who's Walking Who
· Burns Pet Health
· A Touch Of Love
· Dog Condo.ca
· Dog-Ma Dog Walking
· Petcurean
· Border Collie Central
· Sgt. Woof Grooming
· Foxfire Publications
· TTL Action Photography
· Besslin Border Collies
· Pawsitive Art
· Global Pet Foods Braemar Centre
· Canadian Pets & Animals Magazine
· Animal Wellness Magazine
· BCRO
· Rollover Pet Foods
· The Kong Company
· Lifestyle Dog Training
· Gotta Go Throw/Little Flyers
· Soggy Dog
· Multi-Menu Pet Foods
· Sasha's Blend
· Tawzer Dog Videos
· ERG Music
· Who's Walking Who
· Burns Pet Health
· A Touch Of Love
· Dog Condo.ca
· Dog-Ma Dog Walking
· Petcurean
· Border Collie Central
· Sgt. Woof Grooming
· Foxfire Publications
· TTL Action Photography
· Besslin Border Collies
· Pawsitive Art
· Global Pet Foods Braemar Centre
· Canadian Pets & Animals Magazine
· Animal Wellness Magazine
· BCRO
· Rollover Pet Foods
· The Kong Company
· Lifestyle Dog Training
· Gotta Go Throw/Little Flyers
· Soggy Dog
· Multi-Menu Pet Foods
Article Submissions Wanted: this newsletter is for you, the disc enthusiast. Please take the opportunity to contribute to this newsletter. Write a competition review, book or dvd review, contribute a cool trick tutorial to How Do You Teach That, anything goes. Got a cool disc photo of your dog you'd like included? Send it to me at besslin@sympatico.ca Please re-size the file so that it is not too big (I'm on dial up) and send in jpeg format.
