A question for dog sport competitors

[Bahamutt99]

I am faced with an issue that I am really on the fence on. I'd like to hear some feedback, to hopefully make my decision a bit easier. Here's the scenario:

I had a big weekend planned about a month from now. My dog is entered in an agility trial in Missouri on July 14th, and a weight pull in Texas on July 15th. I knew I was looking at a lot of driving, but if everything went as planned, she stood to finish two titles in one weekend. (UAGI and UWPCH.) I pre-entered for both of these shows at the end of last month.

Today I got an update on the weight pull. People have been calling in and requesting the format be changed from a pull with a wheeled cart to a rails pull, so they made the change. I get very upset about this, because I specifically entered a wheels pull since my dog does poorly on rails. (On wheels, she can do a 15-point pull in about 10 seconds. On rails, I have to push her to get her to do a 10-point pull. And she needs 15 points to title.)

This is the only club within a reasonable driving distance that hosts UKC pulls. I understand that they are having a hard time justifying hosting pulls since they don't get a lot of entries, and they have to do what will get them entries. However, is it right that they make a change as requested by those not yet entered, without asking those who are? Is that normal?

This is not a minor change for a pulling dog that is uncomfortable with the rails system; it can make or break a successful pull. If I go and she does squat, I've wasted an 8-hour round trip for nothing. It is unlikely at this point she will get her 15 points that she needs, unless its a very easy track. At the same time, I like this club, and want to support them, but I don't support the decision. But the next pull isn't until September.

What would you do?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Loki on wheels:

Loki on rails:

"I don't wanna!"

 

[MafiaPrincess]

We don't weight pull, but from your described scenario I'd be pretty upset. I'd be upset enough to email the host club and tell them nearly what you wrote here.

You like them, you want to support them, but to change the format after you have entered without consulting those entered is uncool, and feel it is not the best for you and your dog. And you are really upset by this decision. See what they have to say to that alone first up.

Sounds liek a really big change, and if in your position I don't think I'd bother an 8 hour drive either if it might be a stressful and not as great a trial as it could have been.

 

[Bahamutt99]

Well, I've already explained to the secretary and the weight pull chairperson how I feel. The sec was very sorry and was one of the ones who didn't want to make the change. I feel really bad for her, because I know I'm crabbing at the wrong person. I dunno. My dad just said "Eh, go ahead and try it. I have faith in you." And that just made all the sense in the world. Oy vey. I need ice cream to get me thinkin' straight.

 

[SisMorphine]

Do you know anyone else who was planning on going to this event that is affected by this? The more people you can get in your corner who are actually planning on attending the better.

And even if it doesn't get changed I'd still go and give it a shot just 'cause.

 

[Bahamutt99]

Unfortunately, I don't know of anybody else who was going. But I have a suspicion that it was one group of people petitioning to get the pull changed to rails, probably some local ADBA pullers that do nothing but rails. I wish they would just comp my entry and let me go anyway, but I think it'd be rude of me to ask for it. I haven't been competing long enough to understand how these things work.

 

[Dekka]

Personally I would pull from the event (hehe no pun intended) My reasons are not really that they changed without asking, but that if the dog doesn't like rails, then why ask him to do it? Maybe he needs more practice with them. They way I look at dog sports, is that I do them because both my dogs and I enjoy them, if any dog said "I don't like this class/venue/sport/" then I wouldn't do it. You entered a pull with wheels, not a pull with rails. So they should happily give you your money back. I would ask them to let me know the next time they are doing one with wheels, thank them for putting it on etc..

Just my 2 cents

(the pics are great!!)

 

[mrose_s]

i don't think they're decision is fair

i'd love to put buster in pulling, i think he'd really like it. he's not really the breed to be over succesful but i think he'd have fun. i dunno where to start with it though

 

[Bahamutt99]

The only downside to pulling out of the event is that my husband has already requested off work, so if he's going to be off that weekend, I feel like we should get the full benefit of the events we've entered. There's always the chance she'll do what she needs to do. I dunno. I'm still up here on the fence.

 

[SharkyX]

Well yeah buit having the day off you could always have a relaxing day at home.

Personally if they changed the event type that much I'd be pretty frustrated.
I'd probably still go however... some points are better then no points.

 

[Bahamutt99]

I have myself pretty much talked into going. We've been plugging along all this time. I'm not going to quit now. I've made my complaint known, so hopefully that counts for something.

 

[Bahamutt99]

Just thought I'd share that Loki did the agility trial in the BSL town and got her UAGI. (Great bunch of people at that club. They were behind us all the way.) Then we did the weight pull, and got her UWPCH. Props to the Competition Dogs of the Ozarks club, and also to the North Texas APBT Club. Good events!

 

[SharkyX]

Well congratulations on both titles
That's a good accomplishment, let alone something to be done in one weekend (I know you worked up to that point but all the same).

 

[Bahamutt99]

Sorry, forgot to check back on this thread. Thanks! We're waiting for those titles to come in the mail. I need to buy some picture frames. LOL