Growing the sport vs. sport reputation? - Page 1

A spin off from the topic of "is this normal for a schutzhund club."

wanting to get some input from members of other clubs and not just schutzhund, ring and psa etc. also.

Do you think that the want and/or need to gain membership has caused clubs to become more "unfriendly"?  does the number of people who show up for a little while then fall out make us less likely to want to help the next person who shows up?

on the one hand we want new members, but on the other we become saturated with people who have little to no knowledge of what it take to  actually title a dog.  this in turn results in clubs who get tired and frustrated with "newbies" who show up for a little while and then are gone, or get upset from the get go when someone tells them that their dog does not have what it takes for the sport. 

we have a very open club and are willing to help most people, as long as they are able to understand that the sport is not for every person and every dog, and that it may take you (the newbie) longer than someone else who has been in the sport for some number of years.

our club is in a somewhat remote area, and i know we get a lot of "window shoppers" where we are at.  I can only imagine what it is like if you are in a major metro area.  (i would like to know on average how many new people you do see in a month, year?)

i would really like to see this thread go somewhere productive.

john

Being in a club myself....

People do come and go.  I guess that we have the attitude, that we can at least give them a try.  For some, initially, they are all gung ho, until they realize the work that is involved.  We've had several show up once and then poof they are gone.  We have one guy that might not have the best dog, but he is there week in and week out absorbing things for when the time comes that he can get another dog.  I like to see the people that ask questions and will watch things.

I would guess that most newbies that show up to "window shop" have no clue what they are getting themselves into, either with the time commitment or the caliber of dog that it takes to succeed.  Although it's frustrating to invest time into the starry-eyed newb who shows up with Fluffy in tow, it's not realistic to expect every new potential member to show up with a well-pedigreed dog either. 

It's not the dog that matters, IMO, but the character of the person.  If the newbie gets excited about the sport, then Fluffy will eventually be retired to the couch.  On the other hand, if the handler is too busy or not motivated, then it doesn't matter how good their dog is. 

I would expect that it takes at least a dozen window-shopping newbies before you get one that sticks.  Has your experience been different?

I bet it is more than 1 in 12.  Most clubs have atleast, ATLEAST, 1 or 2 visitors a month.  Most clubs don't grow by one or two people every year.

clubs have to be picky.  It's easy to admit a member, but hard to get rid of them.

We gained 5 new members this winter and spring plus have a waiting list.  I would let everyone join that fit in with our group because without participants the sport can't grow.  I do know, though, that with anymore novice handlers the club would be totally overwhelmed and our helper and the other experienced people would end up burned out.  There are also time constraints.  

We have had a few people come out that didn't last or didn't fit in with our club.  This is normal for a sport that requires a huge time commitment.    These people usually sort themselves out during our probation period.

Why is everyone so concerned with the sport growing?   I am perfectly satisfied with the participants of today.  It is not (my) business and I don't make anything off of it.  It is a hobby to me.  I can't imagine people that do arts and crafts, worrying whether or not people are getting into their hobby.

I don't worry about it dwindling either.  There are always newbies coming out and not enough room as it is.

I would be more worried about quality of the organization than quanity in the organization. 

 The sport is a off shoot of the original purpose a breed worthyness test so training for the goal of being breed worthy has takin the same place as the sports programs at public school systems the sport has overtaken the original purpose.

So what a handler who is thinking about doing the training has to understand is what there goals are they have set for them selfs and have a firm understanding  of what it takes to accomplish those goals. This doesnt mean that a person who would like to do obedience and tracking but not really intrested in protection (in the begining) don,t find them selfs getting fired up about protection work, although all three phases must be adhered to for a person looking for a chance to train a dog breed worthy .

So goals can change this is where a good Training Director comes into play as well as reading the dogs needs the needs of the handler must also be evaluated from the onset of the training. Clubs can be often read by the Attitudes of there training director and where there priorties are at. If the club is soley intrested in the "sport" of schutzhund you will find the Training Director is more then likley only intrested in bringing people into the club with like values.

Some clubs are laidback with the intent of training there dogs and only trialing when there club trials are scheduled again look at the traning director for a idea of where there goals are at.

The sports "reputation" is based on where the orginizations goals are focused the betterment of the breed or the posistion of  it,s sports based enthusiests again just like the public school  systems the tail sometimes  wages the dog (pardon my pun).

What all clubs must remember is that at one time there most highly prized members were once drooling newbies mesmerized by the things people do with there dogs and if they arent looking to train new members or are just looking for venues to sell club dogs to unsuspecting future podium standers it took a person with the will to try and fail and try again to get the club,the region, the orginization where it is (some times where it is is questionable)  .        

I'l throw this out there from an older decoy point of view......

I ain't getting any younger. Been an athlete all my life and worked alot of dogs over the years. You just can't do it forever. Especially if you physical health can directly affect your career.

I have been bit my fair share of times. I have only been bit once by a good dog. Shitty dogs are the ones who get yoyu injured. They come off the bite and go for your hand or face.  they don't have the courage to commit and come in funky. You go down and not wanting to land on the dog, end up twisting or tearing something. Weak dogs are the ones you will most likely get injured working. Weak dogs and inexperienced handlers increase that risk. Injuries are a risk we take and I really enjoy the physical aspect of the work, but you have to start being more careful as you get older.

I don't do it for money. If I did I would work every dog around.

I believe in being completly honest with the handler about my opinion of a dog. I don't pull punches, but I don't tell them their dog is shit either. If they are wiling to accept their dogs limitations, have a good attitude and want to learn, I will work with them. If not or they are the type who think they know what they are doing, with a mediocre dog, who want to tell me how to work it, they can go elsewhere.

One thing I really like to see and encourage as much as possible is the young people. They are the ones who are always willing to learn and the future of the sport.