The Flyball Arena
Trent Valley Dog Club will again be providing demonstrations of Flyball and you will also have the opportunity to Have-A-Go with your own dog for £2.00 for 10 balls.
A flyball race sees two teams of four dogs each, racing side-by-side over a 51 foot long course. There are different tournament formats but each format involves racing between two teams at a time. Within a team, each dog must run over the jumps, trigger a Flyball box releasing a ball, retrieve the ball and then return over the jumps. The next dog is released, in relay fashion, to run the course but can’t cross the start line until the previous dog has returned over the finish line. The first team to have all 4 dogs finish the course without error wins. Each race comprises up to five legs, and the team that wins the most legs wins the race. Each flyball team consists of four dogs, plus up to two reserves that can be interchanged after each leg.
An electronic judging system that uses lights and timing sensors is used on the start / finish line to determine accurate times, and the winner when both teams complete the course in quick succession. Tournaments are run in divisions based on the fastest speed of the team in a previous competition or a time declared by the team captain. Arranging divisions based on speed enables the racing to always be competitive.
Why not come and see how fast your dog is on the flyball course!
The Agility Ring
Trent Valley Dog Club will again be providing demonstrations of dog Agility and you can also Have-A Go with your own dog for £2.00 for 2 runs over the course.
Agility is an action–packed rollercoaster of excitement for you and your dog. It’s made up of various obstacles for your dog (not you!) to run through, jump over, and weave in and out of – and all against the clock! Not only does agility test your dog’s fitness, it also measures your ability as a handler to direct your dog through the course.
Dogs who compete in agility must be motivated, focused and, above all, have a strong relationship with their handler. When you step into that ring, it’s just the two of you in the world, taking on the course ahead and having a blast together! Any breed of dog can enjoy agility, but they must be in good physical shape and fully developed physically. Agility requires a lot of twists, turns and stamina to make it around the course.
Due to the physical exertion involved in agility, it’s important for dogs to be fully grown before they officially start. This will vary by breed but generally is around 12-18 months of age.
Please make sure when exercising your dog around the course that they are NOT wearing a harness or a choke / half-choke collar
The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme
Established in 1992, The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme is the largest dog training programme in the UK. The scheme is open to all dogs, young or old, pedigree or crossbreed. Dogs do not need to be registered with The Kennel Club to take part. The scheme promotes responsible dog ownership by teaching owners to train their dog for everyday life situations. There are four award levels: Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The bronze award aims to produce a dog that will walk and behave in a controlled manner. It is a basic standard that all adult dogs can achieve with correct handling. Owners must show that they have means of picking up after their dog and that their dog is wearing a lead and collar with the name and the address of the owner inscribed on the collar/disc to take part.
The bronze award scheme on the day will be run by the Trent Valley Dog Training Club and cost £2.00 which includes your certificate and a further cost of £3.00 if you would like a rosette should you pass, dogs do not have to have passed the Puppy Foundation to take the Bronze Award.
Full details of the bronze award can be viewed at https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/3512/gcdsbronze.pdf
BY KIND PERMISSION OF THE KENNEL CLUB
