Can You Name This Agility Game?
I was at a Suzanne Clothier seminar in CT this last weekend and was speaking about agility with dog behaviorist and researcher Dr. Rudy de Meester from Belgium. He mentioned that he was concerned that people who compete in agility can push dogs harder than is good for the dog's health. He told me about one dog sport and one type of agility competition that were new to me.
The new (to me) dog sport is canine cross country or CaniX. It is basically skijoring without skis. The human and dog are connected by harnesses and run together over a course. Since it involves running with your dog it requires the human to be as fit as the dog. I wish I was in shape enough to consider it.
The other interesting thing he mentioned was an agility game played in Belgium (and maybe elsewhere in Europe) where the object of the game is not to beat the clock but to match the clock. The team that comes closest to matching the course time wins. The thing I love about this game is it can be played by all ages of dogs and competitors. Dr. de Meester liked it because it didn't encourage handlers to push their teammates past their abilities. Unfortunately, I didn't get the name of the organization or this game. So if any of my European readers could give me some more information I'd love to learn more about this game.
The more I do agility the more I enjoy the games. At first I was intimidated by the rules. But now I'm older and not afraid to screw up on course and get disqualified. It doesn't take long to develop some simple strategies and the planning of your run can be fun. Running the courses can also challenge how flexible you can be when things go wrong.
Also the local availability of CPE and, lately more, USDAA trials makes it easy and inexpensive to play more games and earn titles in the games. Some parts of the US also have a lot of NADAC which also features games. I think Bud Houston is bringing back JFF which will feature a lot of games too.
Are there any unusual agility games that you enjoy playing?
Comments
The game is called Time Gamblers over here in the UK, but I've only seen it run under the British Agility Association. It's probably something different in Belgium!
My favourite game is Time, Fault and Out, personally.
So how was the seminar? I love Suzanne Clothier based on the book and multiple articles I have read.
As for games people can still put undue pressure on their dogs in those too. I guess all agility calls for us to be fair and in tune with our dogs. A little bit of empathy.
There was sort of a "match the clock" gamblers course in one of the DAM tournaments I did (judges can come up with all sorts of crazy gamblers rules for DAM tournaments). You got a bonus for crossing the finish line no more than a certain number of seconds before course time. It was fun!
I'm with you Steve, I love to play the games. I think my std. poodle, Gully, like to play them, too. Usually things go as planned but when they don't it's very challenging to think while running and handling.
Haven't done and NADAC yet but hope to this summer. Love CPE for the games.
I know that it is restricted to 17" and under, but if you have a smaller dog and love games, try TDAA! Anything out of the Agility Games Book works. It's great fun to show up at a trial and try a brand new game!
Regarding caniX (or canicross, or cani-cross): It appears to be popular in Europe and maybe the UK, along with "bikejoring" (sort of skijoring with bicycle). It appaers to be an outgrowth of trail running -- through woods, etc. -- as opposed to running on nice, flat surface. In my "Mostly Doggy Links for the Week" mailings, I've posted several links on canicross, which, gawdknows, I'm too old and decrepit to do more than contemplate and admire from a distance.
Thank you all for your comments!
Leanne - thanks for giving this a name! I had to look up "TFO" since that was a new one to me also.
Erin - Suzanne is the "real deal", I can't say enough good things about her and I never miss an opportunity to see her. I hope to post more about that weekend soon.
Lisa B - I'll look forward to our "progression" in USDAA and we'll see what we encounter :^)
Dianne - Have fun playing games!
Lola - since TDAA is a "Bud" organization you'll definitely play a lot of games. One thing I was intimidated about in JFF was you never new what game(s) you'd play and sometimes the rules were complex or it wasn't clear what the strategy was. That made it hard to be the competitor and especially the scorer/judge/timer. Like playing poker with too many wild cards and variations. So in some ways I felt that actually discouraged new comers to the sport to get involved in JFF.
Geoff - I thought athletic agility folk like Elayne (http://daysofspeed.blogspot.com/) might be interested :^)
What you're describing sounds like a game I've come across at occasional Kennel Club shows here in the UK. It's called "Beat the Judge".
To quote from a brief version of rules I found when doing a google, "A standard agility course with a time set by the Judge in a sealed envelope. Dogs completing the course in a quicker time than that which the Judge has stated will not be considered in the final places."
Pretty sure I've also come across it set as a Jumping course, not Agility.
It's funny but this is maybe the third place I've seen the term 'canicross' in the past few weeks. I dunno, I've always just called it 'running with my dog' minus the fancy equipment (though I have been in the market for a good dog running harness).
There aren't any specific canicross races in my area that I know of but there are lots of road races, some of which go on dirt roads & trails, that encourage and/or allow dogs but you don't have to run with a dog to enter or win so I suppose it's not proper canicross. I love racing with a dog though, way more fun than racing solo.
I'm WAY slower than my dogs, if anything they pull me along and make me go faster than I would if I was running solo, especially if I'm getting dragged up a hill. You certainly don't have to be as fast as your dog to participate.
Bonnie
Snooker is my favorite game to play! From what I understand, NADAC doesn't offer any "free choice/strategy" games anymore. Only games with different obstacles...hoopers, tunnelers and such. My venues of choice are CPE and USDAA because of the games.
DOCNA is another US agility organization that has a time gamblers game. No distance challenges, just gathering points and coming as close as possible (without going over!) to the allotted time.
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