I guess what I don't get is that most of the exercises are ring exercises. What is the deal with not wanting to do French or Mondio? I haven't seen much opposition to the bully breeds. I also know that I would like to get some of those guys to train ring so we have more participants just like you guys in ASR. I think Mondio has all of 8 clubs. Keeping in mind I could have my own club, being that I need only 1 member (ME) thats a small amount of people. Is it a macho thing or do they think that mondio is really weak???

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I really wish that the reality-based protection sports could have combined into one organization, as we hardly have enough people to have one such organization, much less three or four. But that's not going to happen for many reasons.

Now that is a good idea. But like you said, there are many reasons it wouldn't happen. Though if all parties sat down and looked at the potential benefits and put their egos aside, it *might* be possible. Hell, they could call it something else so nobody gets to keep their name. Hell, call it North American Ringsport (NAR) or something. It *could* turn out to be a very popular organization, controlled by a North American entity, rather than having the faults associated with having a governing body overseas that shows little support (FR, MR, BR for example). If they could get it together and act professionally, I'd really be interested in doing something in it! I'm pretty sure that there is a lot of apprehension about joining the current organizations because of the fear that they might be a "here today, gone tomorrow" type thing...I know a lot of people that felt burned when they tried doing FR here.

Anyway, that's just a couple of random thoughts on it.

I think that would be great.

David.

EEEEED, come on Ed give in. We want a Reality sports forum, We want a reality sports forum <Chris keeps repeating it slowly pumping his fist as if he is begining to demonstrate for this> We want a reality sports forum.

PS: Ed, I forgot to mention to you in our last emails, I want a reality based forum <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

How are these "reality-based" dog sports ensuring that the sport won't become another washed-out routine in a decade, like sch. is (or becoming)? I really hope there is a sport I can use to make a personal protection dog without the help of some fraud trainer or sissy sch.club
(Please take the sissy sch. part lightly- I'm only trying to make a point about wanting a REAL protection dog.)

Alison Voore

Alison,

Everything is dependent on those involved. If they can keep standards up and egos to the side, things will stay focused. If politics and ego become involved where they move to the forefront, focus is lost and things lose their value. There are clubs from many different sports that lose focus of the intended purpose and either do things for fun only (with no interest in correctness), chase points and podiums, or become a marketing ploy.

However, there are also clubs from many different sports that stay true to the intended purpose, train hard, trial hard, and incorporate a real edge to their training regimines.

I have heard rumors that they want to pay judges now in Mondio. I hope not. Politics is something that I believe a judge should get the boot for.

Alison,
No matter what, reality-based protection sports are still *sports*.
You can not and should not depend on them fully to produce a protection dog. There's more work involved to produce a reliable ppd.

Alison,
You have to please forgive me if you were at my ASR trial and I met you but can't remember, I was wearing 3 hats that night. However, if you were there, and watched the ASR-1&2 You can see that it may not be full proof as the only way to tell that is to work your dog on the street, or have a real protection encounter, but ASR does a very good job at testing the real capabilities of the dog. Alot of people commented on how it is much more difficult and how the pressure is tested correctly and is put very strong on the dog. If you weren't there, one of the tests in Level II was in a small public restroom, pitch black (one could barely see their hand) , and the dog had to engage under extreme yelling and gunshots (which was like a sonic boom in the hollow 1 toilet/1 urinal restroom). Even what I described doesn't do justice like actually being tested in that situation. The wood search, again pitch black, gunshots on sloped hill with the decoy being on the higher ground opposing down on the dog. We're not even talking about the highest level yet which is ASR 3. The ASR leadership is all about real, and true testing to the best that a dog can be tested in a simulated situation. The original ASR board has also written a charter that in which no future ASR leadership will be able to change certain fundamental aspects of the ASR testing program in an effort to make sure the integrity of ASR remains from now until.

Chris

I wish I was there but with my new son, it's a bit of a drive from Marietta. I like that about ASR and that is one sport I do want to do for those reasons. I'll probably be at your trials someday. Those are the kinds of tests that a protection dog needs even if they are still just sport.