We went to our first Hoopers competition, and he was a good dog.
Before I Start this is not my first show or competition, but it is the first one since Covid 19 shook the world. Minx my Chihuahua was my first hoopers dogs and I saw her confidence grow from finding this new sport. Minx loves doing her Canine Hoopers World progress awards and recently her and Dodge my young GSD completed their UK hoopers, hoopers star awards too.
Minx was never fully comfortable in a show environment which is why I stopped competing with her. I took Minx to her final hoopers show last summer when guidelines changed how shows were run, we got a few clear rounds, but it was obvious, even with the new style of shows, competitions just aren’t for her. Dodge went to the next competition at the venue for training, as he was too young to officially compete, so this was his first official show.
Last weekend I took Dodge to his very first hoopers competition with UK Hoopers. We have been training very hard to get him to the point of being able to compete, but the journey isn’t all hoops and barrels. Dodge has successfully completed all 10 levels of the Starters Grade Canine Hoopers World progress awards so his foundations and understanding of the equipment and how to run a course is decent. My ability to remember what cue I need and where to position myself at times is questionable, but we work as a team.
Making sure he was ‘competition ready’ has been a very difficult journey for use during the Covid 19 pandemic because a lot of what was ‘normal’ has changed but also the environments in which to train him just haven’t existed. Shows and competitions just haven’t been a thing in the fight to reduce spread and keep everyone safe. The one show we managed to attend for training, the organisers were amazing, and he was scheduled as the last dog of the day. This meant there were only really new people for him to work around not new dogs as well. I’m looking forward to taking him back to Kelluki and being able to compete there in the future.
Running the courses is a major part of going to a competition, your dog being able to wait at the start line and stay focused on the handler in a new environment is a big task. I am fortunate in that Dodge has trained at several venues so the skills he has with the equipment is transferable to new environments. Proofing behaviours never stops especially in Dog sports. You can never train for everything. You may have a judge wearing a big hat or a long flappy coat or hiding under a gazebo. Think of all possible sequences that you may encounter, you can’t it’s impossible. Sometimes a course is made entirely of hoopers, other classes there can be up to 4 different obstacles in any pattern the judge has imagined.
Just training hoopers isn’t always enough to compete either. Making sure your dog is physically fit enough and your ability to work together as a team is also going to play a major part in how successful you will be. I have worked Dodge through several trick dog and canine conditioning titles over the last yead to help with this part of our training.
You may be thinking he understands his job, he’s well trained, you’re a Hoopers instructor and judge, why is a show such a big deal? Well, this is where the other variables of the day come into consideration.
Other competitors and by that, I mean new dogs and people as well as Judges, ring support and anyone spectating. Most dog training classes you might attend may have 4-9 other dogs in them, and by week two these dogs will start to become familiar.
One thing we have struggled to do due to government guidelines is attend group classes or workshops held by different trainers. Dodge attended group hoopers class from 6 months of age to just learn to be comfortable with other dogs and people playing hoopers, while he waited his turn. As a German shepherd he can find movement very exciting. Group classes are the ideal environment for him to learn to relax and stay focused on me, whilst other dogs are having fun with their handlers. The first lockdown stopped group classes when Dodge was 8 months old, just as he was starting adolescence.
This is a very important development stage for young dogs and is very often the most challenging. Social interaction stopped for everyone so play dates were not possible and appropriate socialisation became very difficult. This would have been the summer I would have been taking Dodge to various competitions and shows, to get him comfortable in such a busy environment. Shows can be noisy, visually overloading and full of adrenaline so all of the dog’s senses can become overwhelmed. With the whole world seemingly coming to stop, months of show prep were lost. Going to parks is not the same environment they can be a lot more challenging and not everyone in the park understands dogs in training do not need to say hello to them or their dogs (but that’s a whole other blog subject for another day).
Current shows are very different to what they were. Show organisers are working extra hard to stay covid compliant and keep everyone safe. Previously classes had a start time, and you would try and slot into the queue where you could. This could be very difficult with dogs that may not be comfortable round others like Minx. Hoopers shows used to run all groups at the same time, so there wasn’t even segregation between small, large and veteran.
The guidelines have meant you can only have groups of 6, so instead of waiting with everyone else to take your turn, a strict schedule is followed. The number of entries has also been reduced so class numbers are smaller. At the show I went to there were two rings, with a group in each ring so only 4 competitors waiting their turn. For Dodge having 9 new teams to see is much easier than 50. And because of social distancing the etiquette of my dog needing space is always adhered too. This means I know Dodge should never have an unknown dog or handler come into his space
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Another thing that really helps set us up for success is that the UK hoopers rulebook states dogs must not be closer than two meters to the side of ring. This instantly reduces the risk of him finding a dog too close halfway round a course. They also discourage dogs barking at the ringside which adds to much more welcoming environment.
I am also going to take the opportunity to thank the Judges and ring support for making sure Dodge was not running at exactly the same time as another dog in the adjacent ring. This again is not something I have been able to train him for so appreciated their understanding and support with this factor.
The human half of the partnership.
Since the first lockdown in March 2020, I have barely left my bubble, I have been to two shows and taught one Canine Hoopers World instructor course in person, the rest have been virtual. It’s crazy to think in a whole year I have stepped outside of my safety net a handful of times. Pre-Covid I was away teaching monthly and meeting new trainers and people all of the time. This was the first time I had been on an adventure, on my own, without adult supervision for months.
I felt fully prepared excited and a bit nervous but ready to go. What happened next is very hard to train for, adrenaline. As I walked the course, I could feel my heart rate increase, I began to second guess what cues I would need and where to handle the course from. Our dogs are very good at noticing our moods and responding as they see best. We hadn’t trained for me feeling like I was about to throw up.
Can you remember the first time you went to a Theme park or carnival? The sounds, smells, proximity to new people, having so many things to look at and then your own chemical response can be a lot. You might start on a slower ride before going on the big roller coaster but queuing up for the ride is a big part of the experience. You have to remain as calm as possible whilst waiting your turn. As a Brit queuing is part of our culture, we do it to go in shops and banks all of the time but waiting to go on the big ride fills us with anticipation and excitement. The same effect can happen when you are waiting to run your dog in a class. Walking the courses was a real test for me as there were two courses in one ring. You had to follow the numbered cones first then the pegs. Once my brain realised the second course was the first course backwards this was easier than it sounds. It doesn’t mean it went completely to plan.
How did we do? He was brilliant. Dodge can become vocal around new dogs and become frustrated when on lead but with careful management of space and help from the ring team Dodge did not ‘shepherd’ once. He sniffed the judges politely and then went to the start line. He managed nearly all of his start line waits, one was a bit premature but that I can forgive, and train more of them. He has never worked in and outdoor arena before and was very relaxed in that environment. He has never worked with two rings set up next to each other and coped well with this new object in world.
He waited his turn patiently with other dogs nearby and even a miniature horse behind him in the paddock. We didn’t manage a clear round this time but there are plenty of shows in our future. We did manage to navigate two courses with 5 faults and two courses with 10 faults. We came very close to getting placed 8th overall and placings went to 7th so with more experience the ribbons are within reach. The faults were because he missed hoops which again, we can train for. We haven’t practiced hoops being near barriers as we normally have a whole field at our disposal. The other courses we freestyled either my cues were late, or the environment was distracting, or the pull of the tunnel was just too strong! Honestly who cares we had fun, and no one got a tooth kiss from my boy. I know what we need to train for the future and our teamwork just keeps getting stronger.
