Clean Run Magazine - July 2006 - 5

Editorializing... We Can All Use Public Relations in Dog Agility By Annie
DeChance very well connected in some way that will affect your life at
some When you think of public relations and dog agility, you usually think
point in the future. Remember, a bad impression of someone stays of how to
promote an upcoming event so that you can get press with a person much
longer than a positive one. If they happen to coverage of some sort. In
most cases, this is true, but there are other be on your next interview
panel, your chances of getting that job aspects of public relations and
agility that haven't been discussed are pretty slim. Besides, without that
volunteer, you wouldn't be before. And it applies to every single agility
competitor. Remember, able to run your dog in the first place. you never
get a second chance to make a first impression. Agility instructors need
to follow the same rules. You might be a In the public relations world,
you follow the rule of seven. For fabulous instructor, but if your
students can't get feedback from every seven people you meet, at least one
of them knows someone you at a show because you're too busy running several
dogs, what else that knows you. Since you don't know which of the seven
people does that say to your students? If you make the commitment to help
has another connection to you, you need to treat all seven people as
improve another agility team's skills, that commitment doesn't stop if
they are the one with the connection. That way you don't ruffle at class.
It goes with you where ever you go at a show, in class, any feathers or
offend a potential client. even at the grocery store. It's a very small
world, and the agility Every agility competitor should be an ambassador of
the sport, no world is even smaller, so you need to treat everyone as if
she is matter how long you've competed. When you are at a show with your
next student. your dog, how you act toward other competitors and how you
treat It's also important not to offer advice to someone unless it is
asked your dog are a direct reflection of the sport to others. For the
most of you specifically. You may have the best of intentions and believe
part, there always will be some element of the general public there to
that you're trying to help the other person, but before you speak, watch
the event, whether it's just someone who saw it while driving think about
it. You have no idea of the history of the dog and by, someone who was
invited to the show by a friend, or someone handler what they've been
through together and accomplished who has taken a few agility classes and
is there to volunteer and together. You may have just seen or heard one
interaction between learn more about agility all of these people should be
considered the dog and handler, thought your advice would be helpful, and
the general public and be treated as such. without knowing it, completely
offended the person. That's the If one of these members of the general
public gets up enough fastest way to lose respect and, in effect, lose
students. Bad news courage to ask you a question, take the time to answer
it. Even if about someone always spreads faster than good news just watch
it is just to say, I'll be more than happy to answer your question your
local news. when I'm finished running my dog. Please meet me at this spot
in Judges also need to be cognizant of how their actions can affect 10 or
15 minutes. others. Making assumptions of competitors because of the type
Sounds like a pain to do, right? Well, it is, actually. But imagine the of
dog they run is a sure-fire way to offend them. Every person positive
impression you will make on that person when you come competing in agility
has worked very hard with her dog, no matter back and meet them a few
minutes later and answer a few questions if he's the fastest, slowest,
spookiest, goofiest, or ugliest dog you've for them. Not only will they be
impressed with you, but they will ever seen. Even offhand remarks to a
friend will be overheard by be impressed with the atmosphere of the sport
too! someone. And it's almost guaranteed your comment will make it We also
need to demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times, no back to the person
you spoke about. matter whose fault it was the dog went off course. Even
if someone I'm not trying to paint a bleak picture. Overall, the sport of
agility else's dog disobeyed his owner and got in your dog's face, because
is still the best sport in which I've participated, but it seems that as
that never happens we need to be good sports. Accidents happen, the sport
grows, so do poor attitudes. Imagine how things would plain and simple, on
and off the agility course, and we need to change if one of the
requirements to make the world team included show respect and empathy for
one another, no matter what the sportsmanship and you were judged by your
peers! The rule of seven situation. would seem much more important to each
and every one of us. As competitors, we need to show respect not only for
the other People don't care how much you know until they know how much
competitors, but also for each and every volunteer at the show, you care.
and thank them as often as possible. This is huge, especially at Annie
DeChance high-profile events. That volunteer gate steward or scribe could
be Annie DeChance is a public relations professional with 20 years
experience in radio, television, video production, and event production
and promotion, including the USDAA World Cynosport Games for the past two
years. She competes in USDAA with her three mixed-breed dogs: Joey,
retired , APD, 22 Performance Top 10; Hannah, PIII, 22 Performance Top 10;
and three-year-old Stella, PI, who is just starting out. | July 06 Clean
Run 5
Clean Run Magazine - July 2006

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - July 2006
