Group Stay Gripe

[Sayreovi]

This is a question for anybody really and its probably already a slightly biased audience but how many people would do a stay in novice or CCD if they aren't sitting on a pass (or alternatively if your in a higher class what is common practice in your particular state).

I have and will in future withdraw my dog if we arent on a pass. I know he can stay and I dont want to stuff that up, he is a pretty cocky entire boy and would react to another dog standing over him.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

We do group stays in training but it's not the same as in competition. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm a lot more relaxed at training - where it doesn't matter much we perform perfectly or not. And the aggressive dogs stay on lead.

I would definitely want to do mock trials before I did competition ones. I'm still ambivalent about competition obedience. I'd want to have my dog at a really high standard - way beyond CCD before I entered. But I've seen dogs who can do the required standard and better - stuff it up anyway.

I do see the point of not trying it too soon, with the lack of ability to correct.

But if dog stuffs the stay, and you do something about it like call her out, or give a second "stay" signal, or let her know she's "oopsed", you've already failed - do you get banned from competing (suspended) for a while as well?

We have done shocking heelwork at training and then superb stays. Go figure.

But I will have to consider whether I thought the other dogs in competition were likely to eat my dog (or play with her), before I decided to do the stays. Hopefully there would be some clue when you're setting up, if not before. Though what to do with the "Westie" situation I don't know. It's hardly fair that she gets to try twice on a fail, and stuffs everybody up. And I've always found that dog to be well behaved, at least I've never seen it pick a fight before. And that's what I mean about the difference between training and competition... A dog that behaves almost perfectly at training, picks a fight during the competition. WTF?

[Tay.]

I never used to put Jess in stays when she wasn't passing, but I did on Saturday thinking she'll stay since it's homegrounds. But nope, little witch dropped in her sit stay, not once but twice! So no more non-qualifying stays for her!

[ness]

Hmmm MRB I will tell you that is incident that happened in the Open ring wasn't the difference between a comp environment and a training environment - won't say anymore other than that. I don't take the decision to withdraw a dog on a qualifying score lightly and very nearly did so on that day. The only thing that entered into my decision was that I did know Ness was pretty solid and anything wouldn't really impact on her that heavily. If the situation had been a case of my baby dog in the ring on the same score I'd have withdrawn without hesitation.

[bedazzledx2]

Definitely against the rules and could impact on other dogs!!!!!

We do group stays in training but it's not the same as in competition. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm a lot more relaxed at training - where it doesn't matter much we perform perfectly or not. And the aggressive dogs stay on lead.

I would definitely want to do mock trials before I did competition ones. I'm still ambivalent about competition obedience. I'd want to have my dog at a really high standard - way beyond CCD before I entered. But I've seen dogs who can do the required standard and better - stuff it up anyway.

I do see the point of not trying it too soon, with the lack of ability to correct.

But if dog stuffs the stay, and you do something about it like call her out, or give a second "stay" signal, or let her know she's "oopsed", you've already failed - do you get banned from competing (suspended) for a while as well?

We have done shocking heelwork at training and then superb stays. Go figure.

But I will have to consider whether I thought the other dogs in competition were likely to eat my dog (or play with her), before I decided to do the stays. Hopefully there would be some clue when you're setting up, if not before. Though what to do with the "Westie" situation I don't know. It's hardly fair that she gets to try twice on a fail, and stuffs everybody up. And I've always found that dog to be well behaved, at least I've never seen it pick a fight before. And that's what I mean about the difference between training and competition... A dog that behaves almost perfectly at training, picks a fight during the competition. WTF?

[OSoSwift]

But if dog stuffs the stay, and you do something about it like call her out, or give a second "stay" signal, or let her know she's "oopsed", you've already failed - do you get banned from competing (suspended) for a while as well?

Definately not allowed to do this. The Judge or Steward should be onto a dog that is moving. If however my dog is under duress and a judge did nothing I would go to my dog quietly and remove him/her if required.

I have never had a dog fail their stays at a trial in open or novice as yet, and although I have had a dog move next door they have never stood over or aggressed my dog in any way.

With my Whippets however I would be more likely to go and "save" them if I deemed it necessary as they are a very soft breed and a dog picking a fight with them could blow their confidence forever.

If a dog moved a stay and it handler called it out or called an extra command I wouldn't be very impressed. Having said that I do train for such occurances.

[J...]

But if dog stuffs the stay, and you do something about it like call her out, or give a second "stay" signal, or let her know she's "oopsed", you've already failed - do you get banned from competing (suspended) for a while as well?

You might also have to deal with some p*ssed off handlers who's dogs have broken or dropped as a result of the "interference", not to mention the affects on their confidence

Back in my early obedience class days it was common to have one or two handlers verbally correcting dogs across the "ring" in stays practises. I've seen Darcy's whole demeanour drop the moment it happens and I've had to go back, reward and/or release her after someone decided to do it loudly without warning.