Westminster Agility Tonight
- Thread starter crazedACD
- Start date
That's like the Invitational (which is already limited to 5 of each breed + international invitees) where there can only be 1 of a given breed in the finals for each height category. So like last year going into the finals the 20" order was
1 Border Collie (Int'l)
2 Border Collie
3 Border Collie
4 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
5 Flat-Coated Retriever
6 Border Collie
7 Labrador Retriever
8 Australian Shepherd
9 Entlebucher Mountain
10 Irish Water Spaniel
11 Brittany
12 Siberian Husky
The int'l dog doesn't count so the "top ten" finals run order was
1 Border Collie (Int'l)
2 Border Collie
3 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
4 Flat-Coated Retriever
5 Labrador Retriever
6 Australian Shepherd
7 Entlebucher Mountain
8 Irish Water Spaniel
9 Brittany
10 Siberian Husky
With the #3 and #6 dogs after four rounds booted because there was a higher ranked dog of their breed already in.
1 Border Collie (Int'l)
2 Border Collie
3 Border Collie
4 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
5 Flat-Coated Retriever
6 Border Collie
7 Labrador Retriever
8 Australian Shepherd
9 Entlebucher Mountain
10 Irish Water Spaniel
11 Brittany
12 Siberian Husky
The int'l dog doesn't count so the "top ten" finals run order was
1 Border Collie (Int'l)
2 Border Collie
3 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
4 Flat-Coated Retriever
5 Labrador Retriever
6 Australian Shepherd
7 Entlebucher Mountain
8 Irish Water Spaniel
9 Brittany
10 Siberian Husky
With the #3 and #6 dogs after four rounds booted because there was a higher ranked dog of their breed already in.
Yeah, we were taking bets on if there was going to be fight, and as soon as the GSD walked in the ring, we all went "here it comes!". I love that they showed it again in slow motion....
My dogs would also consider sitting in the ring after the run a serious downer. They want their party and rewards and a walk.
Super happy with the winners at least, and the grand champion couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Some of those runs were just incredibly painful though.
Oh well. Prime time agility!
My dogs would also consider sitting in the ring after the run a serious downer. They want their party and rewards and a walk.
Super happy with the winners at least, and the grand champion couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Some of those runs were just incredibly painful though.
Oh well. Prime time agility!
Except that it's not really finals the way we normally mean it. I mean it's a random-draw (ish) regular trial and they kind of made up a "finals" so I mean, it's not like it's a national championship event. The whole thing is a regular trial that just happens to be on TV so they add a sort-of finals for audience entertainment purposes.
It's no NAC/Cynosport, and judging it by those standards (in terms of quality of performance or rules) will just cause frustration. It's a publicity event, and their first stab at it, nothing more.
It's no NAC/Cynosport, and judging it by those standards (in terms of quality of performance or rules) will just cause frustration. It's a publicity event, and their first stab at it, nothing more.
I know. And I know the right answer is "We got agility on primetime TV for two hours!" I am bothered that a lot of the dogs were nowhere near fit enough to be on a course. I feel bad for the people who got knocked out by dogs who rarely broke out of a trot. And I LIKE watching smoking fast agility dogs and handlers push for the win!
We had friends over last night, and I made Zach flip to it and start recording it for me to watch later. Friends comments:
"But...that dog is so fat. I thought they had to be athletes!"
"The dog is so slow and timid. Do they yell at it?"
"Why are the handlers so klutzy?"
We only watch 3-4 runs before putting pandora back on for the night, but arghhhh I so wish they had showed the "best of the best" instead, so people had an idea of what "good" agility looks like!
Side note, one of Lucy's training companions was one of the mixed breeds. She said they had AWESOME reception. Everyone was cheering for them, they did lots of interviews, people loved all over her dog, etc. Really happy to hear that
"But...that dog is so fat. I thought they had to be athletes!"
"The dog is so slow and timid. Do they yell at it?"
"Why are the handlers so klutzy?"
We only watch 3-4 runs before putting pandora back on for the night, but arghhhh I so wish they had showed the "best of the best" instead, so people had an idea of what "good" agility looks like!
Side note, one of Lucy's training companions was one of the mixed breeds. She said they had AWESOME reception. Everyone was cheering for them, they did lots of interviews, people loved all over her dog, etc. Really happy to hear that
Well I mean a lot of the dogs were top tier for sure. All the winners were very nice. I know the 3 8" paps are all some of the best dogs of their height- EZ made finals at nationals- that dog may be the fastest pap I've seen. Sadly off course at nationals. Chase is a two times World's Team dog and a national champion- still making finals now and he's a senior. Sparkle is also a national champion. I know the mini schnauzer was a national champion (or maybe second at nationals? Either way....) as well as two of the BCs at least being World's dogs, right? Not as familiar with the BCs. And then of course Ashley Deacon and Dash... knew they would smoke everyone else the second they got up there. I don't know about the mixed breed but their run was very nice.
I wish it was more even though because it was these really high caliber dogs running in between pretty average dogs.
I wish it was more even though because it was these really high caliber dogs running in between pretty average dogs.
I got to take a weekend trip up to NYC as a birthday present courtesy of my (amazing) boyfriend. I'm currently on the bus back so forgive any typos from typing on my phone. The show was a lot of fun from a spectator (who knows dogs but is relatively clueless about agility) point of view. Definitely some things that could've been done better being there. They didn't plan for nearly enough spectator seating, so all during the day people were standing three to four rows deep. Hard for anyone to see let alone someone short! During the "finals" the bleachers filled up quick. We got there an hour before it started and got probably the last two seats together.
I was also surprised (and disappointed) that they didn't let the fastest dogs through to finals regardless of breed. I was expecting to see plenty of quick border collies and paps in the finals but instead had to watch a variety of dogs that weren't very quick at all. Although it was fun to see a variety, if you'd been there early in the day you'd already seen all of the different breeds. It was unfortunate to see slower dogs in the finals then I saw during the day.
I also heard people commenting that the floor was slicker than it could have been... Dogs (and owners) kept slipping. I don't really know though. I stuck my toe onto the flooring and it seemed to have fine traction, but again, I don't know agility.
On the plus side it was lively, packed, and super fun to see such a variety of breeds during the day. The owners that I spoke to were all super friendly and some of the dogs were quick quick quick. Plus, the trip in and of itself was a blast! And we stayed in a pet friendly hotel so we got to see cool breeds around the hotel too (for confirmation and agility). Overall a great time, though I hope next year will see some improvements to the show itself.
I was also surprised (and disappointed) that they didn't let the fastest dogs through to finals regardless of breed. I was expecting to see plenty of quick border collies and paps in the finals but instead had to watch a variety of dogs that weren't very quick at all. Although it was fun to see a variety, if you'd been there early in the day you'd already seen all of the different breeds. It was unfortunate to see slower dogs in the finals then I saw during the day.
I also heard people commenting that the floor was slicker than it could have been... Dogs (and owners) kept slipping. I don't really know though. I stuck my toe onto the flooring and it seemed to have fine traction, but again, I don't know agility.
On the plus side it was lively, packed, and super fun to see such a variety of breeds during the day. The owners that I spoke to were all super friendly and some of the dogs were quick quick quick. Plus, the trip in and of itself was a blast! And we stayed in a pet friendly hotel so we got to see cool breeds around the hotel too (for confirmation and agility). Overall a great time, though I hope next year will see some improvements to the show itself.
Yeah I agree, the winners were not exactly undeserving or unaccomplished teams. Since they do something similar with Invitationals, it makes sense they'd do it this way for WKC. I pretty much knew that Dash would win 16" too, especially seeing the dogs running earlier in the class. It seemed they had the running order arranged so that the slower or less likely to win dogs were going first and the better dogs in the last half. The 24" winner, mixed breed Roo! also won the Invitational.
It was a bit disappointing to see so many people struggle with that backside jump, that ended up being a huge factor in who was Qing.
I think the atmosphere was overwhelming for some of the dogs with the crowd, sound system, camera crew, etc. I know the Ridgeback seemed quite stressed. Most dogs aren't used to running in that sort of environment and it was definitely a very long day.
I did have to laugh about how they were making a big deal about the 16" mixed breed and "oh how cool it would be for a mix to win this!" and it was a sport bred mix LOL.
And the Rottie...oh my. I was sure there was going to be a fight. They needed to have some sort of divider between the "winner's chair" and the dogs coming on and off of the course. Or maybe a raised platform or something. The Rottie was only one who seemed to have an issue but several dogs were able to be held on their owner's lap and the other's weren't breeds in which dog aggression is characteristic.
It was a bit disappointing to see so many people struggle with that backside jump, that ended up being a huge factor in who was Qing.
I think the atmosphere was overwhelming for some of the dogs with the crowd, sound system, camera crew, etc. I know the Ridgeback seemed quite stressed. Most dogs aren't used to running in that sort of environment and it was definitely a very long day.
I did have to laugh about how they were making a big deal about the 16" mixed breed and "oh how cool it would be for a mix to win this!" and it was a sport bred mix LOL.
And the Rottie...oh my. I was sure there was going to be a fight. They needed to have some sort of divider between the "winner's chair" and the dogs coming on and off of the course. Or maybe a raised platform or something. The Rottie was only one who seemed to have an issue but several dogs were able to be held on their owner's lap and the other's weren't breeds in which dog aggression is characteristic.
Not sure about a clip, but basically, there was a chair by the exit and every time a new dog would become first in the class (even if temporarily) the owner replaced the old 'first' dog/owner. The rottie was on a lead by his owner. A gsd finished the course and upon finishing ran up to the rottie before the gsd owner could grab her dog. The rottie kind of lunged, the rotties owner sort of kicked the gsd away and the gsd owner grabbed her dog. Really that was it. I had a front row seat and saw it reasonably well but it was super quick.