josie
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barking and other annoying thingsOk, it's doing my head in. Why do most of the collies bark their heads off while their owners stand there apparently oblivious to it??? How do people deal with this?! I need ear plugs!!
Slate is silent and doesn't make a squeak - although not the epitome of well-behaved dog because she gets excited and jumps around on the lead a bit, but at least she's quiet.
I'm not sure what I can do... I tried looking at the owners to see if it would make them do something because people were "noticing" but nope, no effect.
The other thing is - there is a little terrier there whose favourite toy is a squeaky hotdog sausage. Now, this is ok if she is only given the toy as a reward for doing the course. But her owner lets her chew on it when it's not her go, and besides the fact there is then a squeaky noise happening, along with all the barking, plus it disturbs other dogs who want to reach the toy and strain for it. This woman just doesn't seem to notice how it's affecting other dogs or think that perhaps she should pick it up. What's even worse is the little dog yaps at the woman, then the woman chucks her the hotdog sausage to make her "be quiet" - ARG!!!!
Anyway, that is my little rant. Why are there these inconsiderate people at agility?? I haven't found them in any other type of class yet! - In fact quite the opposite - people at other classes have been v considerate of each other! 
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Cindy
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I personally would like to gag all the collies as if they are not barking they are running around trying to take a swipe at one of the other dogs they get so hyped Having said that, there is one little Boston Teriier that can bark and emit such a year deafning banshee scream as he runs and jumps the course that I am quite in awe of him 
I have come to the conclusion that dog owners, like parents with kids, can be shamlessly blind to the bad habits of their own animals  . Hector is not a barker and I stand there wishing "for Gods sake SHUT UP". This is not to say he is a little darling and never does anything he shouldn't do either - but at least he isn't as brainless as the Collies to get wound up about nothing 
Think you will just have to put up and shut up Jo and thank your lucky stars you don't have a Collie 
You are not allowed squeaky toys as motivators or rewards in our clubs as they are too distracting for the reason you state 
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Allyson
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Well IME it is not just Collies that bark, so do many other breeds including Weims.
The fact is that people want to compete in competitions before they have what I would call basic domestic control; some have no domestic control at all, by that I mean insisting the dog behaves in an appropriate manner at all times eg getting in and out of the car, in and out of doors, etc etc etc.
Because people want to do the "exciting" stuff they do not teach their dogs the correct consequences. If all dog owners taught their dogs that the effect of their barking was to remove them from the opportunity to jump, then all barking would cease.
Most people cannot be bothered to put in the effort unfortunately (one of the reasons I would never bother to pursue agility in a serious way) and another human trait is to blame their dog's behaviour on the breed/its temperament etc rather than their lack of training.
You never see Mary Ray's dogs barking hysterically!
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josie
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I was just wondering - why can't these handlers practise a "watch" command or something, while other dogs are running, or ask for behaviours every now and again to keep the dog's attention on them and not on the other dog having a turn??? Instead it's like some sort of social event with everyone standing around gassing and forgetting about their dogs (while they bark their heads off!) until it's their turn to run!!!
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Allyson
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They could, if they wanted to enough.
It is just like anything else, the world is full of "yebbut my dog..." people who can rattle off excuses on why their dogs bark, jump, bogoff etc etc etc.
I always say if it is important enough to you , you will do it, if it is not, then you won't..........
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