There are fewer and fewer helpers every year. There are fewer and fewer MEN every year. There is declining participation at least in our state (FL) and there are hardly any people under the age of 40 (no offense to anyone) involved in the sport seriously.
Why aren't 20-30 year old men interested in this sport? Is it because of how much time it takes? What can we do to get more involvement? We need good/strong helpers. I am not sexist but if this sport becomes a sport of women (which there are already more women than men here) the intensity of the sport is going to get lost. That's my opinion of course but unless a woman has a testosterone imbalance or is a giant, they are never going to be as "hard" with the helper work as a good male helper. It takes size and strength to handle the courage test of the harder hitting dogs.
Would it help if some of us girls did our obedience in bikini's?
There is just becoming way to much estrogen in the mix.
Again, only my opinion but I would like to hear others thoughts on this.
I can only speak from my personal experience on this issue. I think new people get turned off by the clique nature of a lot of clubs. Some clubs are run by a single tyrant who says it's his way or the high way. I actually had the head person of on club tell me that if I didn't let him pick out my next dog that I couldn't train there. This hobby/sport takes a large commitment of time and money. I don't know why you are having the large disconnect on the ration of men to women. As a single man maybe I need to get back into the sport. LOL
Training opportunities are too limited in many areas of the country. I drive 4 hrs and 15 minutes when I can. EACH WAY. With gas the way it is.... I have had some serious considerations about WHY I do this. Don't get me wrong, I do have a closer club, but Rod described it perfectly in his post. I am a member- active, but there is NO helper 90% of the time....
Keith Jenkins Webboard User Reg: 08-25-2003
Posts: 209
Loc: Virginia
Offline
I drive almost 3 hours one way to train also Deanna. By the time you figure training fees, gas and food it adds up very quickly. Luckily we have friends that live nearby so he don't have to worry about motel cost. But I do get the benefit of working my dog with Armin Winkler. Also from time to time we get two great helpers in Doug Wendling and James Laney that come to train so we get to work on other helpers. The club has a new helper who is going to be very good once Armin finishes molding him.
Now I do like the idea of the women wearing bikinis to train. I know Armin will!
Keith Jenkins
Eli SchH3,FH,StP.3,BH,TD
Breitta v. Schwarzen Kobold BH,TR1
Argus vd Aunkst SchH3,BH,AD-2011 USRC National SchH3 Champion
4-5 clubs in the St. Louis area. USA, DVG, WDA <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Brandon La Mere Webboard User Reg: 06-29-2003
Posts: 111
Loc: Wisconsin
Offline
I have to say that I feel VERY lucky, I drive one (1) hour each way and have some really great people who train in the club. We have 2 helpers and a third in training. They are very knowledgeable and are a great help.They are really helpful to me since I am new.I could go on and on but...... B.
I think Im even luckier, I travel 20 minutes to my club - where there are just 6 of us who train at the most - there are two helpers, very experienced - one has qualified his dog for WUSV World Championship Team in the past, though he had to pull out (family comitments ie a new born baby - which is the only thing on the planet that could have kept him from going), the other has been to the world championships, and one of the handlers is going to the world championships this year. These being a family of three, who run the training. And I am also training to be a helper - I go to qualify in october. Im 16 stone and work as bouncer in my spare time, so im tough helper for any dog. Oh and i also fit into the 20 - 30 age range. And this is in the uk where the sport is very rare.
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