I've been a lurker on Agility Vision for a while, but I thought I would come out of hidiing and blog a little while I have the time.
Here in the NE, we've come to the end of our trialing season for a brief summer hiatus. It's coming at a good time. After 6 months on the DL with a bum ticker (subsequently repaired and working better than ever) we trialed for 2 months this spring and my old boy finished his PIII and my youngster completed her AAD. And I need a shrink.
I was reading Bud's post about Agility Thugs and I have to say, I agree with him quite a bit, but they aren't just so-called instructors. They are competitors too. They just have a different MO. And they are spoiling it for the rest of us, who still want to have fun with our dogs, while having a respectable run and demonstrating some level of skill.
All this has really soured me a bit on agility. Maybe it was the 6 months away from the trial scene or the brush with death open heart surgery. But coming back, soemthing is different and it isn't fun. At least the judges still have their heads on straight. But there are some people out there with those talented dogs, who give nothing to the sport (like volunteering for a class or two at a trial) who make competing in the ring a trial of a different sort.
I am hoping our time off this summer will renew our love of the game and we'll be back in the fall. I know my dogs will miss it if we take too long a break.
Amy and Aussies; Ray, Flirt and Punch
Saddenned by your post
Ray please don't give up on the sport. I had not read Bud's blog on agility thugs until I read your post. Yes there are a lot of people out there like that and you will find them not only in agility but in a lot of other sports. I have had a lot of dealings like Bud but I will not go into them on a public list but I have also met a lot of wonderful people through the sport and over time you will find there is way more good people out playing agility than bad. I have been in the sport since 1989, seen a lot and also had a lot more good times than bad.
I live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan but if you take a holiday some time and want to see a bit of Canada maybe you could come our way I'll keep the Thugs away and introduce you to some fun agility people.
Take care of that ticker and I hope you and your dogs are back on course soon!
diane mapes
Whoa, Agile.Aussie!!! Do
Whoa, Agile.Aussie!!!
Do you do agility for YOURSELF or for OTHERS? Hmmm, that's what I thought -- you do it FOR YOU and for YOUR DOGS! So, to let the attitudes or behaviors of thug-ly folks into your head, they've won the game before you even stepped foot into the agility ring.
There ARE more good people than bad -- that's who I'd be hanging out with and paying attention to. The heck with giving attention to the detractors out there!
I read Mr. Houston's article on "thugs," and while I agree with his right to write it, if he's got a bone to pick with someone (and it sure sounds like he does), why not be direct and address the person (or persons) he believes are being thug-ly instead of writing a vague blog on the internet?
I agree with Diane Mapes -- don't give up on the sport. Take the time you need to heal your heart (literally and figuratively), and come back to the sport you love.
FlyGirls
"If things are not going well with you, begin your effort at correcting the situation by carefully examing the service you are rendering, and especially the service of the spirit in which you are rendering it." - Roger Ward Babson
I've taken a few breaks from
I've taken a few breaks from agility. They aren't all bad. However, if you're trying to avoid someone the chances are they'll still be there when you decide to come back.
I've had a sidelining injury, a break because I was tired of getting up so damn early, a break because I wanted to hang out with my non-dog friends, and a break because I couldn't STAND some dog people.
How great are your ignoring skills? Ignore who you don't want anything to do with, chances are the people you are having issues with have the social skills of high schoolers anyway. Mean people ruin your day.
Out of the whole NE crew I can think of two people who I've had major beefs with and choose not to have anything to do with anymore. I just go on with my day, maybe say a quick "Hello", volunteer, play with my dogs, hang with the friendly people.
Or you can try a different venue. Some people hop around but they can't be everywhere EVERY weekend!
This is my 12th year in agility. You will get a little tired, a little frustrated, a little mad, it comes with the sport. Take a few weekends off, play with your dogs, catch up with old friends and see how you feel afterwards.
Breaks don't mean you're quitting, remember that!
Katie
Time to reflect
I think it's healthy to take some time off from agility now and then, especially after something as serious as open heart surgery. How can you not have a different perspective after facing such a life-changing event!
After grappling with the loss of so much after Hurricane Katrina, I was really angry and often looked at agility people's goals -- including mine -- as superficial and meaningless. Over the past 10 months, some degree of normalcy has crept back into my life, and thankfully, along with that has come a renewed respect for people in general.
If you do take a breather, you can reconnect with your non-agility friends, pursue other hobbies and maybe discover new interests along the way. Katie's right -- just because you're taking a break doesn't mean you're quitting the sport altogether.
I hope your heart keeps going strong for a very long time.
Take care,
Julia
What you want out of it
Amy, I'm happy to hear that you have recovered from your sugery and are back to trials. I'm sure you do look at things differently now. Although I agree with you that it has changed over the last 1-2 years.
But...don't let a few ruin your and your dogs' fun. Do agility for what you want out of it. We all have different goals and motivations and the good thing about agility is for 99% of the people it's all about personal goals with each individual dog.
Be proud of your dogs' accomplishments and each of your runs. And enjoy agility with your pals. That's what it's really about anyway.
Renee
Don't you dare!
Amy, I was so thrilled to watch you and your dogs (especially young Flirt) this spring. Your sportsman-like attitude and sense of fairness with your dogs is a beacon for all of us. Don't leave the sport to the thugs. Hang in there!
Averill
Taking a Break
Found this place quite by accident while multi-tasking (on hold for about 2 hours now!) and saw this post,..
Amy, you are one of the first people I ever met in agility and let me say that the sport would be worse without you. I did not know until recently that you had had health issues, but I did sense there was something 'deeper' about you now. I know from experience that when something life-threatening happens and you recover from it, you somehow expect the rest of the world to share your new view about priorities and beauty in life. Instead many remain the same petty, narrow-viewed people they always were. Its disappointing. One of the hardest things I had to learn about agility is that people are still people inside agility as well as outside it. This has become even more true the more mainstream agility has become.
You didn't get into agility for others, though. You did it for you and Ray, and more recently for awesome little Flirt! You know you will miss it if you take a break. :) Do what some others do and just plug in your Ipod at trials so you don't hear all the b.s. that bothers you, and enjoy your day and your dogs. Life is indeed too short to waste on issues you cannot control.
I hope to see you again soon,
-Devi