I don't mean that you disagree on a pass or fail, or a Q or NQ..
Longish story that I'm trying to condense..
Dekka and I went to a Rally/ Ob trial where we met Kayla and Roxy's CD. Dekka and I competed in Advanced Rally O. In CARO Rally, there are food bowls (called offset figure 8). I was not aware, but it is the judge who has to provide the bowls, not the club. I entered 2 rounds, Dekka entered all three. Both rounds I entered were under one judge, in the same ring.
In the rally rules for that exercise description and faults it states
The other trials I've been to had hardware cloth (metal mesh) on the bowls bent under them to prevent an oops. I've heard of saran wrap being used at a trial last weekend. Apparently it went well, and no dog punctured it.
The judge in the other ring had that same set up. This judge had a piece of nylon or plastic mesh the size of the interior diameter of the bowl that could be picked up, and a small piece of paper over that..
Round One Cider did three stations with me left me for the food bowls that were nearby, managed to snarf something out of the bowl but came when I called (she was visibly chewing). We did well after that oops.. and managed 1st place.
I didn't realize she'd learned in that moment you can self reward. Round Two we did 3/4 of the course well, and when we hit the bowls she didn't just snuffle, she mowed right down. I freaked out a bit and called her loudly twice in a tone many people told me after was inappropriate and I should know better.
The club who put on the trial ended up confronting the judge as Cider isn't the only dog who managed to self-reward out of those bowls. In the end we Q'd, first time we haven't placed and got a talking to after the ribbons. Judge kept saying the bowls were secure. If she believed that, we should have NQ'd no matter what the club said to her. I tried to put it behind us, we've worked on the exercise at home and we've never had the issues we are having now even at home, but we are and will work through it..
I went to competitive ob class last night. I didn't realize it, but my trainer's younger dog had the same thing happen at that trial under that judge and many people had complained to the club. I thought it was more isolated an incident.. She tried to trial this past weekend and her dog won't leave the food bowls alone so back to basics for her too.
There's a trial in November close to home I planned to enter. By a stroke of horrible luck she is one of the judges again.. 2 excellent rounds by her, only one by another judge. Ob trainer says not to enter under her ever again. I sort of am now leaning that way too. Or emailing the trial secretary to ask about bowls.. The club this happened at though had sent a reminder to both judges about their bowls.. so I guess it doesn't matter.
So after this horribly long post is the question I have. Would you make a formal complaint? If it's the judge's responsibility to bring appropriate bowls and coverings.. than she dropped the ball. I was told the judge's handbook says such, but it's not readable online..
Do you drop it harbour bad thoughts about her and avoid her and hope she quits getting so many local assignments?
Nothing like this has ever happened before. While I've trialled for over a year I'm still a baby in this world. I'm not sure if they'd even care if people made formal complaints. I'm not sure how it works.
Longish story that I'm trying to condense..
Dekka and I went to a Rally/ Ob trial where we met Kayla and Roxy's CD. Dekka and I competed in Advanced Rally O. In CARO Rally, there are food bowls (called offset figure 8). I was not aware, but it is the judge who has to provide the bowls, not the club. I entered 2 rounds, Dekka entered all three. Both rounds I entered were under one judge, in the same ring.
In the rally rules for that exercise description and faults it states
A hail screen wire cover is placed over the food bowls to prevent a dog who breaks heel position from being rewarded by eating the treats.
The judge in the other ring had that same set up. This judge had a piece of nylon or plastic mesh the size of the interior diameter of the bowl that could be picked up, and a small piece of paper over that..
Round One Cider did three stations with me left me for the food bowls that were nearby, managed to snarf something out of the bowl but came when I called (she was visibly chewing). We did well after that oops.. and managed 1st place.
I didn't realize she'd learned in that moment you can self reward. Round Two we did 3/4 of the course well, and when we hit the bowls she didn't just snuffle, she mowed right down. I freaked out a bit and called her loudly twice in a tone many people told me after was inappropriate and I should know better.
The club who put on the trial ended up confronting the judge as Cider isn't the only dog who managed to self-reward out of those bowls. In the end we Q'd, first time we haven't placed and got a talking to after the ribbons. Judge kept saying the bowls were secure. If she believed that, we should have NQ'd no matter what the club said to her. I tried to put it behind us, we've worked on the exercise at home and we've never had the issues we are having now even at home, but we are and will work through it..
I went to competitive ob class last night. I didn't realize it, but my trainer's younger dog had the same thing happen at that trial under that judge and many people had complained to the club. I thought it was more isolated an incident.. She tried to trial this past weekend and her dog won't leave the food bowls alone so back to basics for her too.
There's a trial in November close to home I planned to enter. By a stroke of horrible luck she is one of the judges again.. 2 excellent rounds by her, only one by another judge. Ob trainer says not to enter under her ever again. I sort of am now leaning that way too. Or emailing the trial secretary to ask about bowls.. The club this happened at though had sent a reminder to both judges about their bowls.. so I guess it doesn't matter.
So after this horribly long post is the question I have. Would you make a formal complaint? If it's the judge's responsibility to bring appropriate bowls and coverings.. than she dropped the ball. I was told the judge's handbook says such, but it's not readable online..
Do you drop it harbour bad thoughts about her and avoid her and hope she quits getting so many local assignments?
Nothing like this has ever happened before. While I've trialled for over a year I'm still a baby in this world. I'm not sure if they'd even care if people made formal complaints. I'm not sure how it works.