dumb question....b/c i always think i'd like to do this w/luc, he does the distance and more already.

do you have to bike?

(i'm scared of biking on toronto streets, which would make training hard)

or, if i get my speed up just a bit, i can run at the low-end pace (i'm not the world's fastest runner, what can i say). would that be allowed? or does the handler have to be biking?

From what I've seen, especially at club level events (where AD's happen!), the judges have quite a bit of leeway to make decisions for special circumstances. As an example, I described in a different thread watching a wheel chair bound woman successfully complete her BH. This was in the United States under a GSDCA-WDA club event, judged by a German SV judge. But I'm guessing he was "on the fly" to some degree in terms of deciding how to test this dog/handler team.

Since you are in Canada, you might want to contact these folks?? http://www.gsscc.ca/ to see what they say about running v. biking? And even with the master organization's response in hand, I would still contact the club hosting the trial you want to attend to get their feedback. (I would get the head organizations feedback first, and work it from there with the host club if it was me doing it)

Not sure if that suggestion helps, but I can sure understand why you might be shy of biking on Toronto streets! My last "corporate" job was with a company based in Buffalo NY, with a location in Toronto - so we often went there on business. From what I recall, not a place I would want to be biking a dog - at least not in the heart of the city! (but I did enjoy my time there otherwise!)

Beth

thanks beth, that's good to know! i'll contact gsscc and see what they say.

....the three questions i failed on my written drivers test when i was 16 were the hand/arm signals for 'right' 'left' and 'stop'. i have a friend who used to be a bike courier who got doored then run over by a truck, spent a year in a rehab hospital. if he got hurt, there's no way i'm sending luc and i out there on a bike.... :shudders:!

the only bad thing would be if luc didn't get it, it'd probably be my fault, speed-wise. ah well.

edit: i just looked on gsscc's website - you have two hours to do 20k. i can do that, no problem, my personal best for a half marathon (21k) is under 2 hours.

21k in under 2 hours!!
Holy cow, what kind of veggies are you eating woman!

This doesn't necessarily answer the question about bikes v. on foot, etc. for Canada...but here is the answer from the newly elected VP of the GSDCA-WDA (Cindy Jones-Petersen, who we have trained with, and mentioned in the original post):

"The AD has to be done with a bicycle. It is a question that has been asked before.....many people want to run (I would like to roller blade), etc., but it has to be a bicycle. No Motors either"

Hope that helps.

Beth

it's actually not that fast. i know a girl who can run it in 1.35 (course, she did her first marathon in 3.15....which is crazy....i'm more of the 'normal pace and steady' sort of runner).

beth, darn. well, i emailed gsscc, hopefully they'll have a different answer.

beth, i got a similar answer - it has to be done on bike b/c not enough people can do that distance in that time. but i can.

they also said i'd have to be a member of the gssca, which essentially means joining a SchH club just to do the AD, and it's not like i need to do any training at a club for that. oh well.

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

they also said i'd have to be a member of the gssca, which essentially means joining a SchH club just to do the AD, and it's not like i need to do any training at a club for that. oh well.

Are you sure that joining the GSSCA (I assume this is the main GSD / SchH / SV sattelite organization in Canada) means ALSO becoming a member of a SchH club? Not that becoming a club member is a bad thing.

In the USA, you can trial at clubs, or participate in conformation and/or breed survey events, without being a member of that local hosting club, or any other local type club. (Me and Gary are not officially members of any local level Schutzhund club - but we retain memberships in 2 national organizations). You DO need to be a member of the master organization i.e. United Schutzhund Clubs of America or GSDCA-WDA to participate in certain events. (check the detailed rules by organization for specific event rules). I am not personally familiar with the precise requirements of other organizations such as DVG, AWDF, etc.

Beth

well, i looked on their site, and there's no way to 'join' the GSSCA that i could see....but perhaps i do assume too much. i just don't want to become a club member b/c luc could never to SchH on a variety of levels, and while i did look into it w/teagan and went out to one session, she's got hip dysplasia and i think that would make several aspects of SchH difficult for her.

thanks for starting this topic. i've begun working my dog to get him ready for a february or march AD. i am nervous, having never competed in any type of schutzhund event before!