SUMMARY: Don't tempt fate with subtle humor.
Just a year ago, we published an April 1 agility news spoof that included, for NADAC, safety improvements including a teeter-totter whose center elevation would be only 6 inches and jumps spray-painted on the grass.
Just received this info from a friend (thanks, Debbie):
NADAC announced a couple of days ago that it has removed the teeter from its courses until they can come up with a more standardized version (and one that minimizes impact concussion and board whip).
According to her email on the list, Sharon [Nelson] is now starting to come to the conclusion that there is no way to make the teeter consistent, since there are too many variables, and even minor changes have big impacts.
She and Becky are currently looking at introducing another obstacle, a 16" wide, 12' long, 12" high (at the center) "balance board" to replace the teeter.
They have also now made "hoopers" a titling class. Hoopers is a jumpers course, where the dogs go through "ground obstacles" (aka essentially hula hoops with the bottom on the ground) instead of over jumps.
Well, NADAC might certainly end up a safer sport, but it won't be anything like the dog agility that other organizations perform.
And watch out for those April Fools Day pranks--we know that Sharon saw the April 1 newsletter because she had to tell at least one irate NADACer that it was just a joke. But did she take the suggestions to heart? Let's hope that AKC, USDAA, and CPE don't follow suit.
I don't think you need to worry about USDAA following suit. I don't know much of anything about CPE but as long as USDAA and AKC want to be part of the International Agility scene, I doubt they'll start removing obstacles (except maybe the table which I will fight to keep).
ReplyDeleteCan NADAC get any weirder? Used to do NADAC, like six years ago...haven't since and won't anymore. Weird, weird, weird.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! This is ridiculous! Like the other anonymous, I used to do NADAC while ago (maybe more like 4 years ago) and stopped when they started implementing all the crazy changes. I can't remember exactly which change broke the camel's back for me, but it was one where they just suddenly announced, 'as of August we'll be changing x,y and z'. They didn't request or take notice of any feedback from the people who actually spend their MONEY there! I swore I would never go back to NADAC (I did once) and was sure that NADAC would die a slow and painful death. With each change they make I'm more and more sure of their demise, yet the continue to hang on! They must have some REAL loyal followers! I just think that NADACSharon needs some stronger meds.
ReplyDeleteThat parody page was hilarious. Will you guys be doing another?
ReplyDeleteLove your Blog. I have referred a few people to your Crate Games breakdown - it is very useful!
Unlikely this year. I'm swamped and sadly the loss of Jake earlier the month put me right out of the mood. Maybe next year. Or maybe this year. But you wouldn't want to KNOW if we were planning something, now would you? It would just spoil the surprise. -ellen
ReplyDeleteNADAC has turned itself into a bloody bore! Booting the teeter is bad; hoopers is worse. It's lame, pointless, idiotic. Yawn.
ReplyDeleteNot only does NADAC not listen to its members, it doesn't even acknowledge our opinions. It reminds me of Congress! Who leads NADAC anyway? Who makes, then monkeys with, the rules?
I'm looking into other organizations -- but more to the point, I know of several places that host trials, places that are planning to bring in AKC, CPE, USDAA, UKC, and others, and to heck with NADAC!
Sharon Nelson owns NADAC and so can do whatever she'd like with it, and apparently does. NADAC seems to be a personal hobby, like a favorite old car, that she never tires of tinkering with, sometimes it seems on a daily basis. I think it's telling that they can't (or don't bother) trying to keep their own web site up to date with current rules. Anyone who likes playing by her rules--whatever they might be at any given time--won't mind doing NADAC.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed with NADAC matting on contacs and I commend their concern for dog safety. I've been doing agility with AKC, USDAA and NADAC past 4 years and feel the organizations violate their own safety rules by using slats that can jam toes and why must the frame be high, stressing the dogs back and shoulders.Why push the dogs to the limit?
ReplyDeleteSlatless get slippery -whose to say which is better without facts
DeleteThat's a good point; nothing is entirely safe. I've known a few dogs who've broken toes or toenails on slats, but so far don't think I know any who've been injured by sliding on slatless.
DeleteThe question is--where do you draw the line? How high on the Aframe is too high? Do the slats hurt more dogs than they help? (I think that would be hard to quantify either way.) What really are dogs' limits that we're pushing to? Obviously varies by dog. Do we create agility for the lowest common denominator? Highest? (Oh...that would be Shutzhund perhaps.) Middle ground?
ReplyDeleteThese are tough questions to answer. NADAC obviously goes more for the lower limits than other orgs. Does that make them better? Your choice.
Elf-you are right on the money, the problem with NADAC is that Sharon Nelson is a dictator who listens to no one. If you post something on her Yahoo list that she doesn't like, poof, it disappears, what the hec? She will be the demise of NADAC. And since she runs very fast BC's =she has the elite times about impossible for your average Lab.
ReplyDeleteSharon Nelson WAS the demise of NADAC. No one does Nadac any longer. I have not run a Nadac trial since 2008.
ReplyDeleteSharon is an interesting woman.
DeleteAnd it's not quite true that no one does NADAC; I count 12 NADAC trials within 2 hours of me in the next 6 months. So someone's doing NADAC!
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