How do You Balance Flyball and Agility?

I've noticed that there are more than a few flyball competitors who also train & compete in Agility. With the rising cost of gasoline and food and the overall slump in the economy, I wonder how much of these "Dual" sport enthusists actually are able to do both.

Depending on which area of the country you live in, there is an agility event within driving distance almost every weekend. If you do both, flyball & agility, how do you balance the two sports? Or, do you even try to balance them, preferring one over the other?

I was curious about that so I decided to add a poll to my blog to measure the interest level here. Please don't cheat and try to "stuff the ballot box." It's just for fun anyway but, I think the results could be useful in terms of other poll questions I would like to ask.

If you think of a poll question you would like to see offered, please tell me in the comments section or send me an email. I'd love to hear from you.

Let's Give 'Peace' a Chance!

You can lead a horse to water but, you can't make him drink.

You can bring two sides of a conflict to the Peace Table .....but, you cannot make them shake hands.

There is no doubt that the sport of Flyball is conflicted as evidenced by articles such as Flyball vs Flyball, Measuring, and Bureacracy at it's Best found on The Flyball Blog.

U-FLI was founded in Spring of 2005 as a response to opposing views within NAFA (North American Flyball Association) to issues surrounding measuring dogs. Both sides were passionate and firmly entrenched in their positions. U-FLI was created to meet the needs of flyballers who have rejected NAFA's traditional method of measuring dogs. Largely, U-FLI has succeeded in meeting the demands of this segment within flyball. Still, the conflict continues to exist.

The challenge is how do "we" (the flyball community at large) agree to disagree without permanently damaging the future of Flyball? The first step is for each organization to acknowledge that the other has the "right" to exist and be what it is to its followers and move into a relationship of peaceful co-existence.

Agility went through a very similar experience. First, USDAA was the Agility game, period. Then, NADAC was formed. It filled a need in Agility that USDAA was not meeting. Later, the AKC adopted rules for AKC style Agility. There are several other dog Agility organizations as well.

The wonder is that Agility survived the "breakup". Not only did it "survive" but, today it thrives as a sport that dwarfs Flyball in comparison. How can that be? Didn't NADAC siphon off revenue from USDAA and "shrink" that Agility venue? Doesn't having several Agility venues "shrink" the market for each of them? The answer is "No" for one reason. Having a "choice" when it came to Agility venues caused the Agility "market" to grow.

It is time for U-FLI and NAFA to shake hands and wish each other success in their endeavors. The surprising truth is that NAFA "needs" U-FLI because NAFA cannot be "all" things to all flyballers. The question is "will U-FLI admit that the NAFA delegates are 'right' in the direction they choose to steer NAFA?"

Flyball: Dog Tag

Flyballdog Tag

There's a "brand new" flyball blog and you can check it out here.

Although it is new and only has a couple of posts, it is worth keeping an eye on. The focus is on dog training.

I added a link on this blog to the new flyball dog training blog. I hope that makes it easy for readers to check it out every now & then.

Looking forward to the next segment of Flyballdog Tag.

Good Luck and Good Racing!

"Northern Ohio Dog Days Dash"

We just want to give a huge "thank you!" to Fur in a Blur for a fun-filled flyball weekend in Sandusky, Ohio! For those outside of Region 1, this venue is located only a stone's throw away from Cedar Point Amusement Park which is rated #1 in the nation fortheir roller coaster rides. This makes a great excuse for an extended stay to go to "the Point"!
In addition to being well organized and well run, FIAB added "Human Flyball"to the activities. I think next year, you should give prizes to the Highest seeded team, Lowest seeded team and maybe give us all a chance to mimic the reality shows and vote for the team with the best "style". I never knew there were so many different ways to run to the box, catch a ball and bring it back!
Also, a big thank you to Monica Johnny for bringing Blast's littermate sister, JiffyPop, so we could play in the Veteran's Class. It was more fun than I ever imagined.
AND, a Big congratulations to Xandr for achieving the Hobbes Award this weekend. It's always a pleasure to watch as a dog passes this rare anddifficult milestone. What a testament to one person's love and dedication to their dog.

We'll be looking forward to next year's event!

On behalf of the Wooferines,

Greg, Mellissa, Lucy, Tara, Tom, Aida, Ruth & Chris

Puppy Pong

I learned about this exercise from a Doggie Day Care employee. It works with older dogs as well as puppies.

The purpose of the exercise is to strengthen the dog's confidence when doing a recall to you or anyone on your team. In the excitement of a race, some dogs lose all focus and sense of direction. Knowing the "Pong" game will allow anyone to approach and call your dog to them and regain control.

Have you and 1-5 other team members gather in a loose circle around your puppy. You need at least two people (yourself included) to do this but, I wouldn't use more than 6 due to space considerations.

Everyone should have something yummy to offer the puppy. I wouldn't use a toy because a toy could actually be distracting and counter-productive to what you are trying to achieve.

Now, get comfortable and as close to the floor as you possibly can. Slowly, each person takes turns calling the puppy by his name and encouraging the puppy to come to them. Every dog is different. Some may not want to come at all or even totally ignore the person calling them. Others may come bounding enthusiastically. Most fall somewhere in between these two extremes.

The room should be fairly quiet without anybody or other dogs around to create a distraction. You want to build trust and confidence in your puppy.

Anyway, each person takes a turn calling to the puppy and rewarding him with yummy treats when the puppy actually comes. After the puppy shows willingness to come and also re-focuses on each new person who calls to him, try putting your fingers around the puppy's collar and take control for just a few seconds. Let him get used to his collar being touched and held. Reward lavishly for compliance.

This exercise shouldn't last more than 5-10 minutes at a time. You should see results within 3-4 times after introduction. After a dozen or more times, you should have a well socialized puppy ready to accept other's directions as well as his owner's.

Some are not as trusting as others and older dogs (particularly "rescues") may try your patience while getting to the compliance stage. Don't rush this just for "results". A skittish flyball dog can become a hazard during a race. Almost everyone has experienced a delay in racing while a "loose" dog is brought under control. This exercise can reduce the time necessary to bring a loose dog back to his owner. Good for dog, good for owner and good for race participants.

We all want to get to that "well trained dog" status. Plan carefully and execute and you'll be amazed how quickly that can happen. In the meantime,

Good Luck and Good Racing!

.........Chris

Let 'em Win!

One of the first lessons a puppy or an older flyball prospect learns is to "chase". Why is this exercise so important? It is important because we want the dog to return to you as fast as they possibly can. In flyball, the reason for this is obvious. Flyball is a race and so we train for faster than lightening returns. ....but, I submit to you that a consistent and enthusistic "recall" on your dog will serve you well in whatever activities you pursue with your dog. These techniques will work no matter if it is AKC Obedience titles, Agility competition or just a romp in the ol' dog park. A fast recall works!

So, how do we get a fast recall on our dog? First, we begin by identifying what "motivates" our dog's behavior. Each dog is different when it comes to motivation so be attentive as to what motivates your dog to run. With a puppy, I would start playing with the puppy. Try different toys. Some squeak, others do not. Some are hard and others plush. Some roll and others rattle. Offer several to your puppy and see if he/she prefers one more than the others.

Try to do this evaluation when the puppy is not tired or hot or hungry as these conditions will distract your puppy from paying full attention to you. Also, offer the toys on several different occasions as sometimes what is a "favorite" today will be ignored tomorrow.

Eventually, your puppy (or older dog, this works for both) will tell you which toy he/she prefers. Now, on to our recall lesson. If you can get another person to hold your puppy while you call them, great! ...but, if not, then you have to wait until your puppy is distracted and not looking at you before you call out their name. Either way, this is what you do:

• Call out your puppy's name.
• Show them their wonderful toy!
• When you are certain that your puppy is committed to running to you, turn away from your puppy and run a few steps.
• Allow your puppy to catch up to you and give them their toy. This is their reward for reaching you.
• This is most important: Play and have fun with your dog! Don't shorten or cheapen the experience in the beginning. Remember, we don't just want a fast dog. We want a consistent dog. Consistently running back to you whenever and wherever you ask him to.
• Let your puppy win! ...now, what do I mean by that? I mean, in the game of "tugging" with your puppy, you've got to release the toy to your puppy. They need to feel they've "won" the game, even if its only 5-10 seconds. Tug and release, tug and release in rapid succession at least 3-4 times.
• At the moment you decide that the exercise is over and you want to end the game, do not take the toy away from the puppy forcibly. Instead, take your puppy by the collar to gain control and/or pick them up. Let them release the toy by their own choice. DON'T force the puppy to give up the toy. Let 'em win!

Now, why do I stress the "let 'em win!" portion? ...because, the most important thing to build when training your puppy is trusting you. You can't build your dog's trust in you if you're going to emphasize the fact that you are bigger and stronger than your puppy and steal his toy away! (eventually).

So, what we do is maneuver the dog into choosing to give up their toy voluntarily. This is essential in the racing lanes so you might as well build the foundation for this right from the start.

What do we do if the puppy doesn't give up his toy so we can do the recall again? Well, there are several options. First, carry your puppy in your arms until he drops the toy. Or, offer the puppy a second toy or food. You can try water, too. If all else fails, give your puppy to someone else to hold while you deliberately ignore your puppy. This usually does the trick as your puppy should really miss you and lose all interest in anything else just to get you to come back.

An older dog that doesn't release their toy can be a bit more stubborn. You may have to leave the room and have him lose sight of you before giving up the toy to look for you. Engage the help of others if this is the case with your grown up dog.

The point you are trying to establish is this: If they want the game to continue, they must choose to drop their toy. The only way you will play with them again is when they drop their toy for you.

Five or ten minutes for this exercise is all you need in the beginning. You can put them up and bring them out again in 30 minutes or an hour. Don't continue to play until your dog is exhausted. If the dog is tired or looking for water, they are too distracted by their physical condition to pay much attention to you. Learning only takes place when they are focused on you.

Start out your new flyball prospect building their trust and confidence in you and you will be rewarded many times over.

Good Luck and Good Racing!

..................Chris

Could This Bill Stop Flyball in Michigan?

Over the weekend, I was made aware of a poorly worded legislative bill that has been proposed by Michigan State Senator Alan L. Cropsey. SB 626 is aimed at curbing Greyhound racing but, potentially could have the unintended affect of stopping positive recreational dog sport activities.

Dr. Al Stinson, DVM, lobbies Michigan lawmakers on dog-related bills for several dogclubs and associations. He also sends out periodic legislative alerts via e-mail to interested individuals. He is concerned that this bill, which does not define"dog racing", could end up making flyball (and lure coursing, terrier racing, mushing, and coonhound water racing) illegal in Michigan.

If you would like to be kept informed of dog-related developments on the legislative front, send Dr. Stinson an email at lsfc2@aol.com, and he'll add you to his list.

Sources tell us that Senator Cropsey is aware that bill is fairly broad and could potentially have a negative impact on dog shows, agility events and flyball tournaments. He has promised to work with his colleagues while SB626 is in committee to narrow the language so it applies only to greyhound racing.

SB626 is presented at the bottom of this post. If it alarms you as it does me, then be sure to voice those concerns to Senator Cropsey. He can be reached at:



Alan L. Cropsey
Office Phone: (517) 373-3760
Office Location: S-8 Capitol
E-mail Address: SenACropsey@senate.michigan.gov


SENATE BILL No. 626


June 27, 2007, Introduced by Senator CROPSEY and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Tourism.


A bill to prohibit certain dog races; to prohibit the
simulcasting of certain dog races; and to prescribe penalties.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, association, governmental entity, or
other legal entity.

(b) "Simulcast" means the live transmission into this state of
video or audio signals conveying a dog race held outside this
state.

Sec. 2. A person shall not hold, conduct, or operate dog
racing for public exhibition.

Sec. 3. A person shall not transmit or receive interstate
simulcasting of dog racing for commercial purposes.

Sec. 4. A person who violates this act is guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or
a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.

Sec. 5. This act does not preclude prosecution under the
Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.1 to 750.568.

Getting Ready

This will be a short note today. Right now, I'm getting ready for Pawsitive Attitudes tournament being held this weekend at the fairgrounds in Chelsea, MI.

There's a hundred things I've gotta do.
My checklist includes:

• Take a shower
• pack dog food (enough for three days)
• pack the dogs (9)
• remember dog toys
• pack lunch
• bring a book to read (..like I think I have "time")
• wash the tennis balls (the dogs don't care but, their human box loader does)
• pack the digital camera (and plenty of batteries) The Wooferines website needs lots more pictures and updating
• pack computer (...this one is an experiment. I wanted to check for internet access in Chelsea)

Have I missed anything? I'm sure I have! .......well, since that's a given I won't know what I forgot until I reach the fairgrounds! ....which will give me something to write about in my next post. Until then,

remember to have fun with your dog!

Good Luck and Good Racing!

.........Chris

DON'T Go Near the Water!

This post has been circulating around several dog activity lists. I am re-printing here because:

1. The author is encouraging us to cross-post it.
2. I believe it is information that is not largely known by the public.
3. This happened in Michigan, the state in which I live.

Without further ado, here it is:

It is with a very heavy heart that I write this and I apologize for its length. Please, PLEASE pass this around.

On Monday, June 25, 2007 I took my healthy 9 month old Border Collie Vita swimming at approximately 6:30 p.m. Vita and two other BC's spent about anhour and a half diving off the dock, chasing the Water Kong, and running around. The temperature that day was just over 90 degrees, but none of thedogs looked particularly winded or hot.

Vita emerged from the water and looked as if she was going to vomit. She threw up lake water three times. I wasn't particularly concerned as she took in a lot of water from retrieving and swimming so much and had seen other dogs do that in the past without complications.

After the third time throwing up, she lay down and closed her eyes. Her tongue was hanging out of her mouth and I began to suspect she may have heatstroke. I immediately placed ice on her stomach and checked her gums. They were pink. I took her temperature which was 101.9, still normal. I then called my Vet who said these conditions did not indicate heat stroke and said I needed to get emergency medical attention right away.

Vita was not responsive and when I picked her up to put her in the car she was limp and her eyes were still closed. Her breathing was slow and her heart was racing. I arrived at the emergency clinic only a half hour fromthe time she showed signs of distress. The ER Vet asked me what sorts ofthings Vita had been doing all day. I explained that she was crated as Iwas gone for the latter part of the afternoon and that upon coming home, theonly other place she went was to the lake.

Vita's eyes were fixed and dilated and the Vet suggested there was alreadybrain damage. After administering an IV and oxygen, the Vet called me inand said Vita was not responding and that it appeared that she was sufferingfrom some kind of toxic poisoning. Her heart rate was 200. He mentioned that he had recently seen a couple of dogs who died from Blue Green AlgaeToxicity. I told him that the lake had what appeared to be algae blooms on the surface of the water. Neither of the other two dogs showed any of the signs that Vita had and that neither dog took in as much water as Vita apparently did. We decided to put her on a ventilator overnight and give her a "chance" to pull through.

When I got home I did a Dogpile.com search of "Blue Green Algae Toxicity in Dogs" and found some very disturbing information.

• Blooms can occur at any time, but most often occur in late summer or earlyfall. They can occur in marine, estuarine, and fresh waters, but the bloomsof greatest concern are the ones that occur in fresh water, such as drinkingwater reservoirs or recreational waters.

• Some cyanobacterial blooms can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surfaceof fresh water lakes and ponds. The blooms can be blue, bright green, brown,or red and may look like paint floating on the water. Some blooms may notaffect the appearance of the water. As algae in a cyanobacterial bloom die, the water may smell bad.

• Some cyanobacteria that can form CyanoHABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) produce toxins that are among the most powerful natural poisons known. These toxins have no known antidotes.

• Swallowing water that has cyanobacterial toxins in it can cause acute, severe gastroenteritis (including diarrhea and vomiting).

• Liver toxicity (i.e., increased serum levels of liver enzymes). Symptoms of liver poisoning may takes hours or days to show up in people or animals. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

• Kidney toxicity.

• Neurotoxicity. These symptoms can appear within 15 to 20 minutes afterexposure. In dogs, the neurotoxins can cause salivation and other neurologicsymptoms, including weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions, and death. People may have numb lips, tingling fingers and toes, or they mayfeel dizzy.

Vita had indeed exhibited salivation and signs of weakness, staggering,difficulty breathing and vomiting.

At 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 I called the Vet and was told that they took Vita off the ventilator a couple of times during the night and that she was not breathing on her own. I told him to discontinue the procedure and to let her go.

I called the DNR here in Michigan and was told that Blue Green Algae didn'tusually appear this time of year and I told the agent that the conditions were that of late summer in Michigan, very hot for the last two days andreminded him that Blue Green Algae can appear at any time. He told me not to panic or to alarm other people. I told him that had someone else panicked, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.

Later that morning I found out from a neighbor that her two young boys had vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps last week and her Doctor suggested she bring in a water sample. I do not know if she did or not.

I also talked to a woman from a neighboring county whose neighbor's dog ingested a lot of water from a pond and died suddenly a couple weeks ago.

As of this writing, Wednesday, June 27th, I have not heard anything from Michigan State where I took Vita for a necropsy and toxoligical panel.

For the time being, I would strongly suggest you watch your dogs when swimming in small lakes and ponds as the potential threat of toxic poisoning from Blue Green Algae is prevalent. Had I known that algae of any kind was toxic, you can be sure my dogs wouldn't be swimming anywhere and that Vita, whose name quite ironically meant "life" in Latin, would be alive today.

Missing you more than you can imagine.

May you rest in peace, Red Top Vita

09/05/06 - 06/26/07

Bob Tatus

5997 Mabley Hill Road

Fenton, Michigan 48430

248-255-2111

PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

Toxic Algae Presentations

A Dangerous Time of Year...

It was miles away but, I still could hear it. ....and so could my dogs. It was the unmistakeable sound of an exploding M-80. No amount of reassuring on my part could calm my dogs (who are more like my "children" to me).

"Strut", my high drive mini-Aussie seemed to be stressed the most. With a keen ear, she could hear blasts that occurred miles away. It upset her and it upset me that I could not calm her enough to go potty. The fact that it's against the law to explode fireworks is utterly useless since it's alright to buy and sell them. It disgusts me that lawmakers could leave a loophole big enough to fly the space shuttle through.

The only advice I can give is this: Beware and be aware. Firecrackers and fireworks explode all year long in my neck of the woods. The worst time is the entire summer with the two weeks surrounding Independence day reaching crisis level. I keep them on leash at all times especially in the afternoon and throughout the evening.

This summer, play it safe. Your dogs will be grateful.
Have a Happy and safe Independence Day holiday.

Good Luck and good racing!

.........Chris