Agility Dog Association of Australia Ltd

From the ADAA Chair ... November 2006

ADAA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 11 November 2006. I would like to offer my thanks to the outgoing and incoming Board members. Tracey Harrison-Hill and Marion Allen both completed their three year term at the AGM. Thanks to both of them for their contribution over the past three years. Marion Allen nominated as the Qld Regional Board member and Nicola Read nominated as the NSW Regional Board member. Marion and Nicola were both appointed to the positions at the Annual General Meeting as the sole nominees for their respective nominations. To all I would like to offer my thanks for assistance given to ADAA to date as well as for their future voluntary assistance.

While thanking volunteers, I would like to thank the Sydney members who have offered assistance with the NSW Pet Expo over the second weekend of November. There are many who will be assisting ADAA in promoting Agility at this very public event. The equipment has been loaned by PICSI, Loyd Barker has coordinated all of the volunteers and then there are the members who we hope will have fun doing the demonstrations over the three days. Well done and thanks to you all for volunteering.

I have to say that my contribution to the Association, once the Grand Prix was over, has been quite minimal over the past five weeks as I travelled to Canada and USA, primarily for Agility training and competition. I was privileged to spend five full days followed by a further three half days, listening and watching Susan Salo teaching dogs jumping skills. Susan is a world-renowned show-jumping trainer and competitor. Just as she does with horses, Susan teaches dogs to have a focused mind and responsive body to achieve success in jumping. Through understanding and foundation skills, dog achieve jumping with balance, stride and scope so that it just looks effortless. I can now attest to that. What was phenomenal is that I was then able to take away the observation skills developed there to other handlers in their training sessions and finally to the USDAA Grand Prix. There was still time to audit Greg Derrett’s classes in handling systems and spend time with Susan Garrett and Lynda Orton-Hill watching and discussing the Say Yes programme.

The culmination of the trip was attending the World Cynosports in Scottsdale Arizona (see photos). This included in excess of 980 dogs entered in the USDAA Grand Prix as well as Splash Dogs, Lure Coursing, Frisbee/Disk, Flyball, Herding and Canine Freestyle (not to mention the multiple vendor stands – no wonder I needed an extra bag to come home with). With six rings running all day (courses available for walking at 6.30 am) and the Main Arena running nightly (until 10.00 pm most days) the small band of judges definitely had their work cut out for them. There were rows upon rows of shade tents available to competitors to rent space in (that’s for those who didn’t have their bus-sized motor home in the RV car park!). Anyway it was a great experience, with a great atmosphere and many exceptional dogs. I also met with Kenneth Tatsch (USDAA President) to discuss and explore the visions of the two organisations and to consolidate the relationship between USDAA and ADAA.

I can definitely say that we still have a way to go in Australia (from both a training and handling perspective) in catching the North Americans. I would have to say that no single handling style was proportionally over-represented on the winners’ podium, however what was absolutely clear is that the winning dogs totally understand their handier’s system (whatever that may be). There is no confusion as to what the handler is going to do. Of course, it is quite unfair to compare the average competition/competitor in Australia with those at the USDAA Grand Prix. Dogs had to pre-qualify to participate in the Grand Prix, and those that you see on video are the winners who were themselves the cream of the cream. So don’t be disheartened if your dog wouldn’t beat those dogs, neither did any of the tens of thousands of dogs in the USA that participate in Agility!

May you enjoy your training with your dog and achieve your goals.

Cathy Slot
ADAA Chair

World Cynosports Photos - click on a photo to enlarge, will open in a new window.

Splash dogs on the bitumen in the centre, shade tent marquees in the background to the left.	Media ring in the foreground, rings 2-6 extend from the left of screen, other activities to the right.
Main arena in the foreground, Frisbee/Disk rings in the background.	The main arena in the foreground.
Some of the vendor marquees.
Grizzly bears playfighting were in an enclosure at the top of Grouse Mountain.	Halloween - this gentleman attracted more than a passing glance.

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