Why Don't More Men

[FionaC]

I was discussing this with my OH yesterday as he has always been in the minority (gender wise) when in Obedience or Agility classes .... I don't really understand why this is the case as sports like Agility are very active & fast paced so really should attract more men to them than they currently do?

I go to Agility and Obedience trials to watch and to expose our 2 dogs to the atmosphere in preparation for trialing in the future and women outnumber men all the time ....

Are dogs no longer man's best friend but woman's? (that was said tongue in cheek in case anyone didn't get the bad joke )

edited to add: we live in Newcastle and our local Obedience school is quite large - couple of hundred dogs there today on the field at a guess for basic obedience classes (it was enrollment day for the month) .... but men definitely make up less than 1/2 of the attendees and in our beginners Agility class, my OH is the only male ....

Edited April 11, 2010 by FionaC

[dogdude]

Probably because someone has to stay home to mow the lawns on a Sunday, and also watch the footy.

I could never see myself doing agilty. Its a bit girly for me. Not sure why I feel that way exactly, just do. I like obedience though.

I think males do connect with prey drive training styles though, and thats why its a shame that Schutz training is under pressure to become extinct.

[Mas1981]

We have quite a few men at tracking training ;)

[J...]

You find the same thing with horses - probably even more obvious with horses unless you get up to the higher levels where you get more men. Have no idea why it is.

I have to mow my own lawn so that doesn't stop me, that's why I bought a ride-on - more time for dog training! ;)

[Erny]

We have quite a few men at tracking training

Yes - it depends on what the training focus is. Before it became illegal (yet another 'ban' ;)) to train dogs for protection, there were many more men involved with their dogs. It's not that they didn't put the work and patience into detailed training such as sits, drops, recalls and the like, because they did - they had to as part of the pre-requisite for being allowed to train for protection was that they had dogs who were very highly reliable in these aspects. They enjoyed all of that, too, but for them, knowing that it was a part of protection training was their inspiration.

You will also find more guys involved in Schutzhund work (not to suggest girls aren't into that either - they would be quite well represented).

In the horse field, not many guys involved in what I refer to as the "roundy roundy" showing. In my day, the guys could be found more easily in the "eventing" and/or "jumping" field of the sport.

ETA: I'm a girl and I enjoy having a day I can spend mowing the lawns .

Edited April 11, 2010 by Erny

[Mas1981]

You find the same thing with horses - probably even more obvious with horses unless you get up to the higher levels where you get more men. Have no idea why it is.

I have to mow my own lawn so that doesn't stop me, that's why I bought a ride-on - more time for dog training! ;)

I found that a lot when I rode too, loads of woman and not many men until like you said they get up to the higher levels or competing.

[Erny]

You'll find more guys into Western Riding - especially the "cutting" events.

In Western Riding, they don't have to wear those little velvet covered 'crash' caps. I'm sure, from a general 'blokes' pov, this would in itself put some off. (Not that I'm suggesting they are a bad idea .... although mine was the full head-safety helmet, it saved me big time, when my horse lost his footing during a cross-country run, and my head crashed to the ground. Lost consciousness and came to, staggering to my feet. Partially and temporarily lost my memory as a result of the concussion.) The clothing style for Western Riding is more cowboyish as well, which I'm sure would appeal to many guys who are a bit sensitive/self-conscious about their image.

Edited April 11, 2010 by Erny

[Black Bronson]

Probably because someone has to stay home to mow the lawns on a Sunday, and also watch the footy.

I could never see myself doing agilty. Its a bit girly for me. Not sure why I feel that way exactly, just do. I like obedience though.

I think males do connect with prey drive training styles though, and thats why its a shame that Schutz training is under pressure to become extinct.

Schutzhund training I think is the only dogsport represented passionately by men and women more equally. I guess Schutzhund is open to more blokey breeds too

Edited April 11, 2010 by Black Bronson

[Tiggy]

I could never see myself doing agilty. Its a bit girly for me. Not sure why I feel that way exactly, just do. I like obedience though.

I think males do connect with prey drive training styles though, and thats why its a shame that Schutz training is under pressure to become extinct.

I guess you won't be doing DWD .

[dogdude]

I guess you won't be doing DWD

You know what Staffys are like Tiggy......4 left feet lol.

Um.......No!

[Staranais]

Because obedience and agility can get a bit catty?

OK, OK, shoot me now.

I too have noticed schutzhund and tracking to be more evenly represented by both genders than obedience, agility, and even I think conformation shows too.

Working sheepdog trials here have probably more men than women competing, especially at the top levels - not surprising I guess, since there are probably more male shepherds and farmers than women ones.

Possibly schutzhund, tracking, sheepdog trials appeal more to men since they lend themselves to more immediate practical application? That's just a guess. Whereas agility and obedience are more just for fun. Whether your dog enters the weave polls the wrong way, or brings back the dumbbell by the end not the middle, isn't really all that compelling unless you're a true fan.

Jobs involving using actual working dogs - shepherding, SAR dogs, police dog squad, security dog work - from what I've seen, these jobs with dogs are at least as likely to be filled by men as by women, sometimes far more commonly by men.

Does anyone know if gundog trials are popular with the blokes? They would be if my theory was correct.

Or perhaps women just have more spare time to practice their obedience in? :lol:

[Kavik]

Certainly Schutzhund and sheepdog work is well represented by men. I guess they are more 'blokey' sports

We have a few men at agility, most of whom also do flyball.

I find agility very friendly and helpful, while there is some division, not as much as obedience.

[FHRP]

I think men have a more competitive streak than women, and when they do something they have a far greater need to be the best and be at the top, just my opinion and observation. As an example, I'd say in Canberra 90%+ of the people doing agility are women, but of the 4 Ag Champs titled here, 3 are by men! You will find that the ratio of men to women at the top level of competition is greater than at the lower and starting levels. Women are happier to give it a go just for the fun of it. I also find that men are more likley to dedicate themselves to just one sport where many women like to try any and everything Me included

If you or your partner want to compete in a male dominated dog sport FionaC then get the boys into field trialing Retrieving is male enough, but field work is even more so...

[perfect partners]

You'll find more guys into Western Riding - especially the "cutting" events.

In Western Riding, they don't have to wear those little velvet covered 'crash' caps. I'm sure, from a general 'blokes' pov, this would in itself put some off. (Not that I'm suggesting they are a bad idea .... although mine was the full head-safety helmet, it saved me big time, when my horse lost his footing during a cross-country run, and my head crashed to the ground. Lost consciousness and came to, staggering to my feet. Partially and temporarily lost my memory as a result of the concussion.) The clothing style for Western Riding is more cowboyish as well, which I'm sure would appeal to many guys who are a bit sensitive/self-conscious about their image.

Not just the velvet helmets! Years ago, when I was trying to get my husband interested in horses he said he'd 'rather do western riding because he didn't like the poofy clothes the English riders wore'! So, anything to get him involved - I took up western riding - competing, judging, training - had a lot of fun, but in the end got out of it because I didn't like the abuse that was going on in the name of 'training'.

[Nic oh lah]

My hubby has said with our new pup he's happy to come to Obediance and Agility with me insofar as doing classes so both dogs get to train insofar as he's available, when he's on shift work he might not be able to make it in which case i'll do half a class with each dog - but then I consider obediance training to be more of a distraction proofing and socialisation activity than actual training - that I tend to do at home.

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

Probably because someone has to stay home to mow the lawns on a Sunday, and also watch the footy.

I could never see myself doing agilty. Its a bit girly for me. Not sure why I feel that way exactly, just do. I like obedience though.

I think males do connect with prey drive training styles though, and thats why its a shame that Schutz training is under pressure to become extinct.

Schutzhund training I think is the only dogsport represented passionately by men and women more equally. I guess Schutzhund is open to more blokey breeds too

what a fantastic photo

[SchnauzerBoy]

I love going to Agility and our club has quite a few men both learning, training and running the club. I think though some people see it as a "Crazy Dog Lady" type activity, which I did at first.

In fact, I still do... but those "Crazy Dog Ladies' can often be found with the "Crazy Dog Men", but both genders offer some fantastic advice.

I got over the hurdle of being one of the younger guys there as I realized how much Aubrey loves doing it, and I enjoy teaching her and watching her.

Guys who are reading this and don't do Agility at the moment - you really should... it is amazing how it improves several things.

Your fitness

Your dog's fitness

Your bond with the dog.

What are you waiting for... rather than saying Why? you should be thinking Why Not?

[Kavik]

Went to the Easter Show today to cheer on my agility friends

Lots of different people handling, young and not so young, men and women, and lots of different breeds involved as well Though the top three places in the event I watched was a clean sweep for the BCs Good for getting the sport out there!

[Nekhbet]

they do ... its more schutzhund they do.

Few females that do it ... that leaves more fit blokes with their nice working breeds for us hey Mon

[Agility Dogs]

Because obedience and agility can get a bit catty?

OK, OK, shoot me now.

Hmmmmm........chicken/egg???????

I think a lot of it is because our puppies constantly remind our fragile male egos that we don't control the world.

I often say to my wife that I wish I'd discovered dog sport 15 years ago - before we were married.