Pet Peeves

Complaints department

Maria in The Sound of Music may have had her favourite things - 'raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens' - but did she have a secret list of her least favourite things, too. While we love most things about agility, there is always room for improvement. Email us your little niggles in no more than a sentence of two. (No need to put your name on them so you don't have to worry about upsetting people!)

Here's a start.

People who can't be bothered to pick up their rosette because it's only a 22nd place.

Judges who set the dogwalk as the second obstacle on a course. It's such a downer (literally) if you miss the contact so early in the course!

Individuals who drone on about their dogs and who don't have the courtesy to ask about yours.

Now it's your turn...

Why doesn't anyone arrange training days in the Peterborough/Cambridgeshire area?
People who always complain about senior/advanced handlers being evil to their dogs/judge/course etc. and not being interest in lower places/clear rounds. This behaviour covers the whole spectrum of competitors. There are good and bad in all grades and certainly no worse the higher up you go.
Folk, who after a judge gives up their time at all, never mind at such short notice, think its perfectly acceptable to stand at the finish line slow handclapping and jeering the decisions made. Also, show management who were stood there not doing anything about it and making things worse by impugning their judge's decisions.
When you're camping, people who let their dogs start barking at 6am in the morning.

Waiting for the presentations knowing you've got a Clear Round rosette and then being disappointed when they're not announced and you are told ' they're in the box over there. Help yourself.
Anyone who thinks leaving their dogs in cars all day - apart from the obligatory walk to the rings to run or have a pee - is perfectly acceptable. It's not; it's cruelty!

People who park in the ring party allocated spaces then spend the whole day sitting by their car only going near the rings to run their dogs.
Those people who write in moaning about anything and everything when they should be grateful they have the means and opportunity to enjoy something they love with their dogs. They are the ones who should be getting a life. Wingers!
My number one gripe is major pet stores that sell agility 'practice kit' that rips or breaks the first time a dog goes near it. (At least i did get a refund!
When I arrive on time at a show, only to be parked MILES away from the rings. And latecomers are parked ringside!

Fido Favourite Moments

If every moan could be balanced against the pet peeves, here are some which would go top of the list.

1) Seeing handlers over 70 run a dog really well
2) Seeing handlers under 10 run a dog really well.
3) First clear round with a new dog.
4) Seeing braggers and know-it-alls fall over!

For more agility reasons to be cheerful, click here

When people have very noisy dogs at training who are gossiping so much they can't be bothered to make the attempted to get said dog shut up!
People who moan about dogs barking at shows. You are at a dog show. Dogs bark. It's the noise they make. If you don't like it go to a rabbit show. Maybe not if you go there you will probably moan about the smell of carrots.
People who give up their dogs and rehome them 'cos they are not going to make the grade.
Lack of equipment used. Where are the wishing wells, walls, spreads and tables for any other level with the exception of Grade 7?
Other people who crowd the start/finish line when my dog needs space and then give you a hard time when you ask for 'room.' Can their dog please not be allowed to lunge at and bite as you are getting ready to go!
In warm up/training other members letting their nasty dogs lunge, bite, growl and be threatening, and have the excuse 'I can't stop him doing it' or 'It's your fault, because you looked at him! Duh.
Competitors who use prong collars and shock collars at shows or home. If you can't control a dog without one maybe you shouldn't have a dog, and get your partner or a family member to use it on you instead.
People who moan 'oh great, another tumbler!' when they win yet another class. Some people are so ungrateful!
People give my collie dirty looks just because he's whining and barking at the dog doing the course. He's only young and a beginner to agility; hence we are standing in a queue to a Grade 1 class! And watching the agility winds him up. If I try to shout at him or tell him off, it only adds to the noise, so it's better to just ignore him!
Annoying, is watching a senior handler get it wrong, blame it on the dog, pick it up by the scruff of the neck, walk out of the ring and still shout at the dog for being naughty when putting the lead on. Senior handlers should set an example and judges should reprimand harsh handling.
People who 'walk' courses at full pelt with their arm outstretched with fingers at eye level.
People who seem to always have a treat for their dog in their hand at the finish line but you never see them get it out of there pocket. No food is allowed in the ring but obviously carefully hidden in their hand around the course is okay.
People who have dog treats in their pocket, don't zip it up and then while running the course, it falls out so that the next half dozen runners have to battle with their dogs when they stop to sniff it out and eat it!
People who pick up a pole and claim they helped put away equipment.
You know those loo rolls fixed inside a big metal case? Well, I hate those people who pull their bit off, and don't leave another bit hanging down, so you have to stick your finger inside, bounce it around a bit, grapple blindly, jiggle it about some more, pull, tear, swear, and so on for about five minutes in order to get the next bit!
I hate people asking what's happening about refunds two minutes after a show is cancelled.
People who tell you what place they would have got had they not had a pole down. Rubbish!! Get a life.
Judges who say you touched your dog in the weaves when they are stood behind you and can't see a thing unless part of the job description is to have x-ray vision! And no. I didn't touch it
Show organisers who don't leave enough room between rings for two queues of dogs to allow safe passage for the rest of us.
People who treat their dogs like children/ babies. No wonders these animal are stressed!
People who's dog has just had a go at my dog for no reason other than they 'just don't like my particular breed of dog.' This happens at nearly every show we go to and we have the scars to prove it! I wish they would either make sure they keep their distance or muzzle their dog.
Agility is for and foremost for enjoyment so complaining about dog barking, being waken up early and stop your moaning about people getting together chatting in the late evening. Please get a life.
Finish lines which aim into the score tent on a bright sunny day. My little boy thinks 'no way am I running into that large black hole' and, having gone clear and fast, refuses the last jump. Looking at it from his point of view, I tend to agree.
People who constantly train there dog over a couple of jumps/weaves in the car park at a show.
Those who wheel out their mobile crematorium and fill my caravan up with fatty smoke - I'm a veggie!!
Collie owners who let their dogs have a go at my GSD and then announces their dog doesn't like GSDs. Well keep them away. Also dislike the constant barking which is not corrected
Having to run my new inexperienced dog in Novice at KC shows instead of having the opportunity to let him gain experience and confidence in Elementary and then Starter classes or their new equivalent levels from 2007. Entry should be on the level of the dog, not the handler!
When you ask the ring caller, 'What are you calling up to?' and they say, 'I'm taking anybody as long as you don't mind standing in a long queue!' Yes, I do mind long queues. What's the point of running orders if you don't use them? Use the flipping ring board and bump the numbers up when you're short of dogs!
Finding out that your club has committed to doing ring party at every show within a two hour drive. I have no objection to helping but with so many people not actually turning up to do it, it means rushing to get your dog to do your runs - which never go well because you've not had time to warm up together - then rushing back to relieve some other harassed person. Not my idea of a fun day out with my dog!
People speeding through showgrounds. 5mph is walking pace only, no quicker. If you overtake someone who is walking then you are going too quick!
How about those people who have won out of Elementary and Starters but cheat by putting in a dog who is definitely over-qualified for that class. Some of us do agility because we enjoy it, not just for the winning.
Definitely generators! Why do people have to have them? Won't a battery do? All campers with generators, should be put altogether, well away from those of us who want to enjoy a quiet evening with friends.
Competitors who show no respect for ring parties, the show organisers or the judges. It is usually the ones who have never lifted a finger to help at a show but think they know how one should be run.
People complaining about competitors sleeping in cars without paying camping fees. How much space does a car take up?

Senior handlers wanting clear round rosettes.

Judges who set up courses with only six6 weaves - or none - and because it's getting late in the day think that the Mediums/Smalls will not mind only having 16-17 obstacles! Always worth waiting 4-6 hours for I find

People who think it is okay to slam doors, sit around chatting and shouting, shouting at dogs, playing with their dogs and letting their dogs bark at 11pm on a Saturday during a show. Some of us do not have caravans, and tents do not offer any sound proofing. I know its probably the last camping show of the season but have some consideration! I shouldn’t have to come out in my PJs to ask you to be quiet. Angry is doesn't come close to how I felt!

People whose dogs get out time and again and who don’t thank you for catching their dogs for the second time that day. Worse than that, who then say, ‘if it happens again, my vans over there’. It is not anyone else's job to pick up your dog!

People who loose there temper and drag there dog out of the ring by the scruff when it gets it wrong

People who leave the back of the van or car open and allow there dogs to savagely scream at you and terrify your dog as you walk through the parking area

Callers who let you stand in the queue for 20mins in the rain/heat and then just as you get to the start say the judge is going for a break !!!

People who throw their leads, harnesses and/or head collars out of their way or toss them to the waiting 'lead runner' when they could hand it over in a respectful manner.

People who think it is okay to slam doors, sit around chatting and shouting, shouting at dogs, playing with their dogs and letting their dogs bark at 11pm on a sat during a show. Some of us do not have caravans and tents do not offer any sound proofing. I know its probably the last camping show of the season but have some consideration! I shouldn’t have to come out in my p.j’s to ask you to be quite. Angry is doesn't come close to how I felt!

Large spaced out courses that are on a slope as well.

Courses that repeat the same exercise/movement i.e. jump pull through, jump, jump pull through, jump, turn, pull through...

Handlers who make their dogs walk out of the ring on their hind legs.

People who stand with a glazed expression on their faces while their dog barks monotonously and continuously in the queue.

Shows with no Clear Round rosettes in certain classes! My eight year old Senior dog is never going to get placed against dogs half his age, so it would be nice to at least get a Clear Round rosette to show for our efforts on those rare occasions we get it right between us! After all, we pay the same entry fee so we should get the same rewards.

People who don't help set up and then complain with training starts late.

People who attend weekend shows, sleep in their cars and do not pay the camping fee.

Judges who let their club members practice at club the course they judge at a show. What chance do the rest of us have?

Filthy portaloos that leave me retching so that I'd rather risk dehydration than use them again. At times like that I wish I had a dog's life!

People always moaning about the collies in the Medium classes - and no, I haven't got one. Get over it. They can't help being small and may have a complex about their size.

Messages that strangely disappear from The Agility Forum?

Are the portaloos getting smaller? It was wet on Saturday and when I went to the loo it was almost impossible to remove my gear and when I sat down I had a wet coat in my face and not enough room for my posterior…
People who moan and don't put their name to it. Sue Seekings!
People who wind their dogs up, some with toys (balls tied to leads) when in a queue, while you are trying to keep yours calm.
People walking courses and practising their reverse turns while holding an umbrella. I have nearly had my eye taken out
on more than one occasion
Point chasers - I thought it was all about an active day out with your pet?
Callers who let the queues get beyond the usual 10-15 competitors when it is boiling hot.
People who think all dogs are deaf and bellow incessantly.
Start/finish 'crowders' - some of us appreciate personal/dog space.
I've read all the peeves and not seen generator mentioned once - am I though only one to find a relaxed weekend (or week) ruined by the noise of a generator in the next caravan or tent!
Judges who invent their own rules.
Not being able to do gamblers because we are not Senior or Advanced!
People who think they are above others at training / shows...
Ring boxes that hold food with the lid carelessly left off when dogs are running. It's not fair to those who are working hard as ring party to see their snacks disappear down a greedy young dog's throat who's just left the course early for a munch! More to the point, it's really annoying for the dog's handler too considering food isn't permitted in the ring?
No dogs at the ring Saturday am. Big queues Sunday pm
People who are camped in the middle of the camping area and think it is okay to let their 17 collies loose to race into the exercise area - and back - several times - while they look for the leads, poo bags, jacket, ball, mobile phone etc. in the back of the van then deny that any of their dogs has pooed while they weren't watching.
People who have loud, raucous parties until the early hours, keeping everyone awake... and don't invite me!
People who abuse ring parties/judges
People who wait until the dying minutes of a class before announcing that they still have two dogs to run and sauntering off to get them one at a time when they could have run them anytime after the calling to the end of the class announcement went out half an hour earlier as happened to us ring partying at the weekend,
People who stand in the middle of a course chatting when you are trying to walk it.
People who moan to anyone that will listen that they don't like the course that a judge has set up just because it doesn't suit them or their dog - get over it! I could go on but I won't.
People who insist on standing in the queue chatting about their shopping list when you are patently trying to concentrate
People who insist on letting their dogs out of their vans at 5.30 am off lead and thinks it's ok to call 'rex come' at the top of their voice when the rest of us are trying to sleep.
Braggers and know it alls.
Clubmates who play nasty tricks on you when you under the influence of the odd glass of wine
Wannabees - people who aren't Advanced but want to be and will do anything to get there. Once there, they think they are the bees knees and give Advanced handlers a bad name.
People smoking while walking a course or when queuing. Grrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
The tyre should be banned.
People who don't keep an eye on their dog in the queue.
People who think it is okay for them to force advice on you after a run when you are barely on nodding terms with them. Grrrr
People who moan that a course is too easy / too difficult. It's always the same people who moan about something. Just enjoy working your dog and do your best!
People who show their dog they are not happy with them after they've finished their round.
People who stand and chat to friends on a tricky bit when course walking.
People who bellow angrily at their dogs on the start line.
Callers who sit ringside so you have to take your excitable dog through the queue.
People who tell their dog off when it did as they told it - handler error!
Having to do Gamblers in the qualifiers at DIN, just because we are Senior or Advanced.
People who chat to each other in training class and then don't know the course when it is their turn.
People who come up to you and explain just how they WOULD have beaten your dog if only...

From Adrian Cummings...
Great to read and agree with so many others!

From Katarina Ullsten...
Think this is a great idea.