ducatibruce

Surely it's better that the entry level stuff happen under experienced supervision, with appropriate precautions - if people are excluded based on their brand of dog don't you run the risk of them trying it without the necessary experience & safeguards & that would easily throw a bad light on the sport. I read the thread about the event that spawned this one & thought - if it happens in Sydney I might take the dogs (pound mutts) along for a try. The attractions were - the people running it seemed to know what they were doing, were taking reasonable precautions (muzzles, leads etc), and weren't anal about the brand of dog involved (this is something of a trad. working dog approach I believe - worry about the work rather than the look/breed of the worker). Frankly, I wouldn't contemplate trying it without a muzzle (& lead)on my 30kg boofer cross even though he displays herdish tendancies - he also displays the terrier charge in and bite tendancy when ratting with our JRT(and that's an odd team to watch - though it developed entirely on its own). Then again I think any newbie dog should be muzzled in that situation & I'm surprised to see that ANKC doesn't allow it (they should mandate it IMHO). ETA - by try it I mean try with a view to doing it properly (or as properly as you can with a non ANKC mutt) ;^)#

EXACTLY Which is something the WSDA people in my area are starting to realise. <snip> The converse situation (only herding breeds be allowed in herding) would be of course to invest in a (probably) high drive working line herding dog because you *might* enjoy herding & its the only way in. You try herding & absolutely hate it. Resume previous occupation of "pet owner" with that dog. The result- a high drive dog, understimulated & bored becomes problem dog (barker, escape artist or whatever) damaging the breed's reputation. And probably ends up dumped at the pound because it's too much of a problem for Joe & Joan Average to handle. Possibly more damaging to the sport than a "not a sheep dog" herding. ;^)#

For those that asked "why try herding if you're not interested in progressing to titles":- How do you know you'll enjoy something until you try it? How do you know your dog will be any good until you try it? How will your sport grow unless you have entry level events? Maybe non herding breeds can't compete at ANKC events - but maybe someone like slim1 will enjoy it so much they'll get an official herding breed dog & participate. This will grow your sport. Your rare future champions will have to come from the masses who participate in entry level events. Sports without entry level events for the masses whither & die. For those that still believe "why try herding if you're not interested in progressing to titles", please start lobbying your state government to abolish school sports - very few children participating will end up competing at elite levels. Those govt's & schools are risking physical & psychological injury to children which might damage a sport I enjoy. Me, I think it should be illegal to pick up a tennis racket unless you have a documented genealogy of Wimbledon champions going back 3 consecutive generations in your family history, on both mother's & father's side. But then again I don't like tennis I don't think there's any danger of pitbulls taking over herding - it will be fairly difficult whilst muzzled & on lead (as required by Qld, NSW, Vic & WA legislation in force or pending). btw Dan - I believe Dread had to give up herding when they changed the rules to allow only traditional herding breeds - I guess they were worried about the sheep who, having read Dread's pedigree, realised they were being herded by a "pitbull" might become extra stressed. Nothing to do with Dread regularly beating the trad. breeds. To the people who organised the event(s) which spawned this thread - keep it up - you're ensuring your sports survival and growth. ;^)# OED "sport - 1 fun or diversion, a pastime of an outdoor or athletic kind... 2 (of animal or child) gambol, play..."

We had one for a staffy cross - we got it from our obedience club - they stressed the need to use it to correct rather than prevent the problem - it did work for us even when it was off after the training. The advice we got was to use like a trad. choke collar but gently. As the regular walker of 2X25kg+ staffy crosses I appreciate the problem. ;^)#