Agility Observation

 I have stayed away from AKC agility for a very long time for this reason. You just don't see this level of competitiveness and abuse going on in most other venues. At least in the past 10 years I surely haven't. AKC and USDAA just sometimes seem swarmed with the over competitive hot heads that do not treat their dogs very nicely at all times.

I fully accept that not everyone in those particular venues are like that.. but sadly enough they seem more prevalent in those rather than others.  Nor are other venues immune to such people either. Just this week I went to the Ohio State Fair dog show to support and watch the kids and 4-Hers. I saw many young people smacking their dogs, getting upset and over correcting their dogs, and others that though they didn't do anything abusive, simply did NOT carry the right attitude when they went into the ring. But I also experienced a large number that even when their dog could not have done any worse, still came out loving their dog and thinking "we'll practice and do better and have more fun next time".

I just simply think its a rotten attitude, and a contagious one at that. Everyone wants to go to Nationals. Everyone wants a MACH. Everyone wants to make it to World Teams. What they've missed is that it should never be about the winning, but the relationship between you and the dog. The best competitors are not in it for themselves, but are in it for the bond it brings between the dog adn them.  

Now I admit I am still very new at this. The individual I mentioned in my original post has been the only person I saw whose behavior was un called for. However I recently went to the UKC Premier in K-zoo MI, this is a big UKC show and people want to do well I gather that. I never saw so many people in one place with attitudes in my life and I showed competitive horses at the highest lever (worked for an Olympic rider). Children... CHILDREN slapping dogs because it didn't perform I WOULDN'T EITHER with your attitude. Even the staff were rude, curt, obnoxious. I realized they were probably tired, but I was not demonstrating any attitude why did I get some? My friend really appalled me! She was caught at the obedience ring, I tried to help her by getting her agility dogs up to the ring so she could run, I also spoke with the starters that the dogs were here, she was held up but would be coming. They said they would "try" to wait. They started the next class. It was a long time before she was available. Admittedly they should have found me (as I made myself known to them with the problem) and told me "we can not wait any longer", but they did not. However my friend went off half cocked to these people about how dare they shut her out etc. I was floored. The world does not revolve around her either.

The only other person I have had "attitude" from at an AKC trial was the judge at the last one. I asked a simple question to a staff member, how long until the course sheets will be ready (next class) so I can learn the course? I was polite, didn't butt in and the judge snapped at me "my aren't we in a rush?" I didn't even direct my question to her. My classes went back to back, they did not get my first class course sheets out until the course was set (they forgot), so I thought I would "politely" remind them they needed to get the next course out too. I didn't like the way this judge handled the trial (she made it drag so slowly) I doubt I will ever run if she is judging again if I can help it.

I am the first person to make "flippy, snappy" comebacks to my friends (in fun of course) however you need to be careful as some people may not understand where you are coming from. Blaming a DOG for a performance? Look in the mirror. For all I know the UKC workers were tired of being snapped at all day and I was just in the wrong place. I can handle it, but don't take it out on animals (not that the UKC "workers" did), they don't get it.
 

I am about as new to this sport as it gets.  I have only been to AKC, UKC, and CPE competitions.  I do think that the AKC atmosphere is more serious and competitive, but at our CPE trial (my first trial) there were a few people screaming at their dogs, even on the course (one person said "[dog name] we're NOT EVEN GOING TO FINISH because YOU are SO SLOW!"  To me, some of those games at the higher levels are HARD so what point is there in screaming at the dog during the run?  Afterward the handler seemed fine, wasn't hitting the dog or anything like that.  Maybe some people just need to YELL during their runs to burn off steam?  Even so I don't think it's appropriate.  So I agree that the AKC atmosphere is more competitive, but unfortunately I've seen people screaming and cursing at themselves and their dogs in all three venues.  Likewise in every venue for every person that has screamed at the dog I've met half a dozen more people that welcome me and go out of their way to help me and keep me included. 

Everywhere you look there seem to be people whose Moms never taught them to stop blaming others for there own mistakes.I make it a point to let these folks know when they are out of line.Sometimes with a dirty look and a shake of my head and sometimes with a comment.The older I get,the less tollerant I have become of those who are rough on animals and children.My son's little league coach makes his own kid cry every game.

Tena 

Ugh.  Often times the adults are sooo much worse than their kids!  I can't stand that.  I remember it from being at my brother's little league games as a kid and watching other parents yelling at the kids, coaches, umps, and I also remember it from showing horses and seeing the parents yelling at the kids and their horses.  Horrible.  What kind of attitude do they think their kids are going to have?  The kind that reflects their parents, of course!  Either that, or they just shut down completely and quit.  I'll never forget one dressage show I was at.  My friend and I were both riding the same classes.  After they posted the scores for one class and we got our tests, I had won the class and my friend was down near the bottom.  She didn't care, and neither did I, because we both tried, and she just happened to have had a bad ride that time.  We also both knew the next time we competed together, it would be quite likely our placings could be reversed.  But after her mom finished reading her daughter's test, she snatched my test out of my hands and said, right in front of her daughter and 10 other people from our barn, "Well, I've seen the worst test in the class, now I want to see the best."  I felt so terrible for my friend.  Ya, she had a bad day, why make it worse?!!

I don't have much agility experience other than a few classes and watching agility events but for many years I was very involved in AKC Hunt Tests for Retrievers.  I have judged at Junior, Senior and Master level, I have handled dogs in all three levels and I have been the sponsoring club's Hunt Test Secretary for many of these Hunt Tests and some Field Trials.  I have seen bad behaviour as described by the OP many times and if I personally witnessed verbal or physical abuse I reported it and as Test Secretary it was my responsibility to have a committee hearing on the grounds and decide if it should be forwarded to the AKC for action.  I have also seen judges who act so superior and rude, especially to people new to the sport, and I have seen club members treat people badly at events their club is sponsoring.  All I can say is that some people are jerks.  As a judge I was taught to treat everyone fairly and with a friendly, helpful attitude.  Yes, judging can be very stressful and tiring and yes it can get annoying to be asked the same question 20 times.  A good judge should have a good temperment no matter how hot, cold, tired, wet, or hungry you may be. There are good AKC people out there.

On the other side, I met so many wonderful, helpful people that are life long friends.  You just have to write it off to "whatever" and not let it get you down.  We all have to be new when we start a new activity no matter if it is with our dogs or anything else we may be learning.  It really pays to not take things personally.  And keep telling yourself "I'm having fun, aren't I?" LOL

YES I AM HAVING FUN...and so is my dog!

APDT rally o has some rules that perhaps other venues should adopt- note they don't define correction, it could certainly include screaming abuse at your dog:

• Representatives may excuse any person who delivers a correction while outside the ring.

I like APDT rally a lot for many reasons.  I will say though, the last AKC rally trial we did, the handler just before me was NQed for a verbal correction. 

KarissaKS

I really hate to generalize in such a way, but I do have to admit that some of the worst behavior/unsportsmanlike conduct at agility trials tends to come from the men.  I don't know if it's their highly competitive nature or what, but I've seen some men who are very hard on their dogs and have extraordinarily high expectations from each run.  If it's anything less than perfection they get upset.  I think some are upset that their dog "embarrassed" them in public.

Not all are abusive to the dogs -- I have one friend who beats HIMSELF up for every little mistake on course, although he does get a little upset at his dog when the dog is dropping bars.

In general, most women just don't seem to take it as seriously as "most" men.  I think women view agility as more of a fun bonding experience with the dog, whereas men are more geared to win at all costs.  I'm a very competitive person by nature, but it's not in my wiring to take it out on my dog or get upset with him when something goes wrong on course.

Again, not all men (perhaps not even the majority) are this way.  I've seen some wonderfully compassionate men who have very loving relationships with their dogs.

It is interesting that you mention this.  My mom and I went to a large AKC show in Chicago this past winter.  While she likes dogs, she is not really a dog person and this is the first dog show she's ever seen.  However, she made the very same observation about the difference between the male and female handlers during agility.....