Maxs Mom
Posted : 1/26/2009 2:00:58 PM
KarissaKS
they have some WEIRD obstacles that I don't have available to train on. It sounds like you don't get to train on it, either,
Yes they do have some "unique" equipment but I have yet to see a dog have issues with it. Unlike AKC (the only other organization I know) each division (UAGI, UAGII, UAGIII) has 2 levels "A" and "B". "A" means you have yet to title in that division, "B" means you have. All "A" dogs get the opportunity to have a walk through on leash to familiarize them with the course. That is how I introduced Belle to the crawl tunnel at her first attempt. You get one try on the walk through, she popped out, so when it came to the class, I gave her the crawl command then I got on the ground with her and crawled next to her. She did it! She didn't look at the sway bridge, hanging plank, or sit jump sit obstacle. Our hardest obstacle was "the box" but I now know it was because there really was nothing to her to indicate stay in. It is PVC on the ground but like a table they have to go in, sit or down and stay for the five count from the judge. Belle kept exiting before she would stop. Once I got the idea to slow her down, then use her emergency wait command, she nailed it.
UKC is NOT for fast dogs. It is about accuaracy, and precision. You MUST enter all contacts straight, you get marked off for angle entries. There are areas handlers can not cross in UAGII and III. Not a big deal in II. You have to be careful about crossing the plain of the jump. Front crosses are ok in the handling of the dog, but if your hand crosses the plain, or you stop in front more demerits. Lead outs are really tricky at the first jump because you can not be in the plain of ANY of the jumps. So I just run from the start line with Belle. The other thing with UKC they prefer to have owners handle dogs rather than handlers. My gut tells me they wanted opportunities for less experienced people to have fun rather than be stomped on in AKC. Handlers can run multiple dogs (not owned by them), but UKC doesn't encourage that. It is fun, the atmosphere is pretty laid back. Of course most of the same people at the UKC I also see at the AKC trials. I will say the UKC courses are MUCH easier.