Agility in Michigan

Anyone know of a Novice event or fun run? Ann? Kel?? Anyone?
Anna

Where at in Michigan? If you go to the AKC website you can search for events...try this: http://www.akc.org/events/search/index.cfm?action=get_other_shows

You can also search the UKC events:

http://www.ukcdogs.com/Upcoming.nsf/EventView?Open&Group=DogEvents&Type=M

I don't think you would be able to do AKC agility, maybe with Brie if she is AKC registered, but you probably would not be able to get the ILP with them as Colby is not a purebred. But, you can most definitely get it with UKC as the UKC LP program is for all dogs, purebred or not.

Yup, as Sara said... you can definitely run with UKC... but, unfortunately, AKC may very well not allow you to LP your pups. Really though, I wouldn't see that as any big deal.

I would highly recommend looking into USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association), CPE (Canine Performance Events), and NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council). We've run with all three... but mainly we do USDAA, with CPE a close second. All are open to any breed or mix thereof and have MANY different agility games, along with the standard runs that the multi-sport organizations have. Each has their own set of rules and obstacle sets. USDAA is the most demanding... with the highest heights and lowest course times. You also must have a perfect score (clean run, under time) in order to earn a qualifying score. But everyone I have met in all these groups are wonderful people and very welcoming and helpful.

If you look at the Northfield Dog Training website (located near Ann Arbor), they have fun runs regularly. It is normally $5 per run and they will have 3-5 run throughs per match. They also hold many sanctioned trials there... predominantly through USDAA and CPE. They just had a match this past Friday and another is scheduled for later this month. We will likely be there, as will Ann.

The main USDAA groups in MI are AWSOMM (Agility Workout Society of Mid Michigan) and CCDAC (Canine Combustion Dog Agility Club). Both have trials scheduled in the near future. There are several CPE groups... the one we've competed with most is LABKAT (Leaps and Bounds K-9 Agility Training). If you visit the CPE website, there are several upcoming trials in MI. Level 1 is EXCELLENT for brand new dogs. There are 5 levels, and then C. You can start as high as 3, if you choose.

Another good venue to check into are any 4-H matches that offer adult classes. I instruct a 4-H dog training club in Lapeer... so I can pass any trial info I get that offers runs for adults onto you via email as well, if you'd like.

Hadley Acres is a great place to train and I teach there on occassion too. I've been training/competing with the lady who owns the place for over 15 yrs now. It is located in Hadley, off of Pratt Rd, no far from its intersection with M-24.

CCC (Canine Community Center) in Warren has several planned: http://www.caninecommunitydtc.com/fun_match.htm

Arboroads in Ann Arbor also holds fun runs http://www.arboroads.com/#Agility You would need to call to find out when they are starting them this year.

Fun match this coming Sunday at Northfield (5/25) starting at noon. Kel is right how they run. We will be there on Sunday with at least Belle the others are still up in the air.

Anna I sent you an email, I may try to call you if I still have your phone number.

Kel are you coming next Sunday?

Ann

I'm not sure yet... we're kinda up in the air between that and a couple other events. There are three things going on that Sunday we're trying to choose between... and then the boys are supposed to march in a parade on Monday.

We just decided that we'll be there! Justin hasn't been to an
agility event yet... and he wants to go see one (even if it isn't an
actual trial this time). So, as soon as we're done with RNR K-9s
practice, we'll be heading straight over.

Ann, what time(s) are you planning on running?

I am not "totally" sure yet. We will be helping with tear down, but I told Jan I would feed on Sunday. Yesterday it sounded like she only will need me one day on the weekend and that will be Saturday. Until I confirm that I am not sure. If I am not feeding horses I will run Belle the last 3 hours and help take down. Which is probably likely. If I am feeding I will run first three leave and come back.

Be sure to register on line, I am not sure what the turn out will be like. I plan to call Jan on my way home so I can register hopefully today.

Did I tell you I got Belle in agility on Sunday at UKC?

Sunday at which UKC show?

We'll be running the last three or four, depending on what time we
arrive. I registered each of them for the last four. So, if
you are there earlier, would you mind letting them know we are still
coming, even if we don't make the first run?

Not a problem Kel!

Yes I was able to get Belle in the Novice agility on Sunday at UKC in K-zoo. The other days were full but they still had space on Sun, and I got Belle in. It should be interesting as it is a 'bit' different than AKC. I guess in UKC Nov there are no weaves, and we won't have the bridge. She should be fine with the hula hoop tunnel, if I just make sure I say "tunnel" as we approach.

Ann

Thanks, Ann.

Baako and Jack had their first agility trial this past Sunday. It was also Aro's first time running UKC. We just called the hoop tunnel "tunnel" as well. Aro hadn't seen a crawl tunnel in probably three years either, so we called that "tunnel" as well. None of the three had been on a sway bridge (except Aro, who has been on the playground version), sway plank, or pause box (as opposed to table) before either. I just said "walk it" for the bridge and plank, and "box" for the pause box. I worked on the box somewhat a couple days before by putting four broad jump boards in a square and sending them out to that... lol. Improvisation works just fine for me. None of them had any issues with the new obstacles.

There are a bunch of upcoming UKC trials in Kzoo... but I'm assuming you mean Premier, right? If so, we'll see you there.

A friend of a friend has her UKC equipment stored at NDT... maybe if we ask real nice we can play on it this Sunday.

Really at NDT??? I wonder who your friend of a friend is? We must ask we could always take out side into the yard and play with it.

Yes I mean Premier sorry I did not realize I spoke to my trainer because in AKC we run Belle preferred (20 in vs 24 in) in UKC she will jump 24. I was wondering if we should run her in class a couple times at 24 just so she can see it, and my trainers response was "she always jumps over 30 in she will be fine!"

I guess Belle won't see the sway bridge but she plays on them at the park too. What is a 'crawl' tunnel just so "I" know

Her name is Chris... I have her email and will have to contact her about it. She does private/semiprivate lessons also. My friend Judy and I were thinking of doing a semiprivate with her for UKC obstacle practice... but Judy wants to do strictly indoor practice. I don't care either way... so I'm looking for someone who might want to do a semiprivate outdoors at Chris's place (although I'm not sure where it is exactly yet). Maybe you'd be interested? I'll email you once I get more info from her.

Actually, the top jump height for UKC is only 20". They have three jump heights: 8", 14", 20". Here's the height rules: http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/Rules/DEAgiliOfficialAgilitySizeDivisions

Here's a picture of a crawl tunnel: http://www.affordableagility.com/images/crawlcombo.jpg

Most of them also have fabric that folds up and covers the top front and back of the obstacle. One of the most common problems is dogs trying to jump it, who are new to the obstacle. So, with the fabric along the top, that seems to help curb the issue. I've seen some dogs land really badly, smashing through the entire thing, after trying to jump this obstacle. I've also seen dogs jump the sway plank and the sway bridge... which is also very dangerous. Some of the UKC obstacles really don't favor speed or large dogs... so you need to be careful. I run my dogs way slower in UKC than I do in other venues.

Here's a site with pics of some of the UKC obstacles... it also shows a crawl tunnel with the fold-up style fabric (although it doesn't cover the entire top half on this particular one). http://www.chicagocanine.com/agility/ukc.html

The crawl tunnel is set at 16" for standard Div. 3 (20") dogs, unless you have a deep chested (chest depth over 14") dog, then it is set at 20". If I were you, I would run Belle as a deep chested dog, especially considering how tall she is. If you didn't note that on your Premier entry, you'll want to let the ring steward know at the trial, so they can change it. They may make you get an entry correction form at the registration/check in table... but, for something that simple, maybe not.