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Newsletters
23 September 2009,
Volume 3, Issue
6
Our Singapore Trip
By Sue Yeap and Adreinne Lim
We were in Singapore from 8th to 13th
September, 2009. We had the opportunity to attend an agility workshop by
Luke Schneider. We also had the rare opportunity to watch dog training
at UD (Utility Dog = highest level) Obedience level and Schutzhund
training with the German Shepherd Dog Club of Singapore. Thank you to
Mr. Kabir Singh for making the arrangement for 2 nights in a row. Last but not
least, we attended the 6th USDAA (United States Dog Agility
Association) sanctioned trials held at the West Coast Park Dog Run.
We met many dog enthusiasts from Singapore, Australia,
Philippines, China and US and it enabled us to interview a few of them
to ask them about the development and status of agility in their
countries.
Interview with Luke Schneider.
Website:
www.calanaisbordercollies.com
Email:
calanais@adam.com.au
Profile:
Luke Schneider resides in South Australia. He is very experienced in
agility and conformation shows despite his young age, currently
completing a Phd in Psychology related to Animal Learning and Behaviour.
He breeds, trains and competes with his Border Collies and his dogs have
gained numerous 1st placings and titles in both fields.
Sue Yeap
interviewed Luke on various topics and here is a summary of his personal
opinion and thoughts about the dog agility sport in Australia.
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In
the early 90’s, handlers were training with dog exclusively the left
side due to the crossover from obedience. Now handlers train from
both left and right side of the dog.
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More
and more focus on speed training.
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Previous training with dog on leash, now dogs being trained
off-leash with the use of the clicker.
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The
agility sport started with owners having fun with the dogs. In
recent years, competitiveness has given rise to ‘elite competitors’.
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Handlers are usually from the ages of 30’s to 40’s, some from the
50’s and some from the late 20’s.
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Agility trials in Australia are run by the ANKC (Australia National
Kennel Club) and the ADAA (Agility Dog Association of Australia).
ADAA trials are not currently available in South and Western
Australia.
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Comparing Australia and the US, Australia agility standard is
perhaps a few years behind the US in terms of competitiveness and
training methods, but catching up with the US rapidly. This differs
from state to state, and also between clubs, with some more advanced
than others.
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Agility sport in Australia can be an expensive sport as there are
not many sponsors for the events. There is generally no prize money
except for the Nationals where there could be about A$50-A$100 for
the top prize, with gifts such as crates, umbrellas and dog food.
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There is no ‘big money’ to be made in the agility sport as a trainer
or handler. Very few private agility training camps on a large
scale. There are mainly training clubs where members congregate once
or twice a week.
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Majority of dogs competing in agility are Border Collies,
cross-breeds, Kelpies, Miniature Schnauzers, Toy and Miniature
Poodles, Shelties.
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Approximately 40% of households in Australia own a dog.
Luke with his Border Collie
Ch. Calanais Walk The Line AD JDX GD,
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Interview with Dexter Sim and Debra Sim
Website:
http://www.pups.com.sg/
Email:
trainer@pups.com.sg
Profile: Dexter and wife Debra operate the PUPS dog training school in
Singapore (started in 2003). They are the organizers of the USDAA
sanctioned agility trials in Singapore. Both of them are certified dog
trainers with CCPDT and WMA. They train dogs for both Obedience and
Agility as well as showing their dog successfully at the conformation
shows. Their own dog “ Max” is the Singapore National Champion in
Obedience and Utility- won 6 years running. Dexter and Debra represented
Singapore at the Grand Prix of Dog Agility World Championships and Dog
Agility Master 3-dog team at the 2007 World Championship Cynosports
World Games in USA.
Dexter
and Debra were very busy organizing the 6th USDAA sanctioned
agility trial in Singapore as well as organizing Luke Schneider’s
workshop. We talked about the Agility scene in Singapore and discovered
how it had changed from traditional obedience style using compulsion
method to more humane positive reinforcement method. The couple is very
dedicated and full of passion for the agility sport.
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Agility began by SKC (Singapore Kennel Club) in the 1990’s.
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Popular breeds for agility are the Border Collies, Shelties,
Miniature Schnauzers, Mixed-breeds, JRTs because hard to house large
breeds in an urban city like Singapore.
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In
their opinion there is no conflict while training dogs for both
Obedience and Agility, although better to finish Conformation first
before agility for coated dogs.
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Their dogs are not specially selected for agility.
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They
train accuracy and speed for agility as separate exercises.
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The
numbers in agility in Singapore is gradually increasing. In the 6th
USDAA trials, there were close to 30 dog-handler teams competing for
titled and non-titling events.
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There are at least 3 large dog training schools in Singapore.
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There is no money to be made in the agility sport for handlers and
owners. It can be an expensive sport. Entry fees to the USDAA trials
averages S$30 per class. Each dog-handler team would pay about
S$150-S$200 for a 2-days trial, entering 6-8 events.
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The
cost for organizing a USDAA trial is high, as it requires hired
manpower for ring set-up and move equipment during course building.
Judges are flown-in from overseas, plus the usual expenses.
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