Clean Run - November 2011 - 5

Editorializing…
Sportsmanship: Stop Tearing People Down
By Debra Furphy

I attended my first trial of the year a few weekends ago, a CPE trial my local agility club hosted. It was a lovely event and many teams had amazing successes, ranging from meeting or exceeding personal goals to earning qualifying scores, placements, and new titles. Unfortunately though, I saw many Level 1 and 2 competitors being spoken to snidely or brushed off while they celebrated a personal best, a placement, a Q, or both. Once their backs were turned, a small number of upper-level competitors openly mocked them. Maybe what I witnessed was bad moods from the drizzly weather, or the long days, or maybe some normally wonderful competitors were having a bad day or two. But it shouldn’t happen in public at a trial. Celebrating the success of another team in no way diminishes the success or accomplishments of you and your dog. Yes, we compete for placements, Qs, MACH point multipliers, Super Qs, and other hard-to-earn goals, depending on our venue(s) of choice. But please try to remember that for some people a Level 1 CPE title may as well be their MACH, ADCH, NATCH, or C-ATCH. We don’t know what it took for them to get there. We don’t know why just completing a course may be worthy of happy tears. We can’t imagine why they feel such joy; so instead of demeaning their joy, why not double it by sharing it with them? Try to have some compassionate and encouraging words if you notice a team having a bad or difficult run. Haven’t we all had a dog that lost his brain between the warm-up jump and the start line? How many of us have endured our dogs that are social butterflies visiting the ring crew and judge? How many of us faced the zoomies or a dog that

forgot not just a recall, but his name? And, honestly, who hasn’t had a dog that liked to make up his own course? Last but not least, what about the dogs that leave the ring? Sympathy and support after these often humiliating (for the handler) incidents are the difference between someone continuing to train and becoming a lifelong agility competitor, or leaving the sport in disgust because of the callous and cutting remarks. Or worse, hearing laughter that is not sympathetic and in the spirit of camaraderie but from meanness. There is always, always something positive to find in a run, whether it is a lovely start-line stay, a beautiful weave pole entry, or an incredible contact. Sure, maybe the contact wasn’t on the actual course, but if it was lovely, mention it! Try to find something good. Let them know it will get better with experience, and to keep having fun, to just keep on playing. Share your embarrassing stories, the ones you laugh at now but the ones that made you want to cry or quit when they happened. Stop tearing people down and start trying to build them up. Thank you, from someone who would have given up 10 years ago if not for a bunch of supportive strangers who told me my dog had talent and we should stick it out. We did and we never looked back. Best wishes and happy trialing!

Debra Furphy
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Debra Furphy is an agility lover that owns River, a service dog that her husband, Andrew, shows in agility. Her former service dog, Brandy, retired from agility after winning a DOCNA National Championship, six Regional DOCNA Championships, and earning two HIT awards and 40+ titles. She lives in New Jersey with four dogs and a very patient husband! November 11 | Clean Run

Clean Run - November 2011

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