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Helping Clubs Keep Competitions Cool By Greg Tresan

America has gone dog-gone crazy for canine events. The annual Westminster Dog Show and Competition is broadcast live on a major cable network and receives the same news coverage as top golf tournaments. With 31.2 million pet-owning households, the interest level in pet-oriented programming has never been higher.

It is conceivable that the sport of canine disc could achieve the same level of national recognition. After all, it is far and away a more visual sport than pampered pups on parade. With local canine disc dog clubs growing in record numbers, the IDDHA has been organized to support the success of those clubs.

Like many sports that began in schoolyards and neighborhood lots, the sport of canine disc is entering the realm of professional competition. While the largest number of enthusiasts still engage in the sport for pure fun, the American competitive spirit has generated a dramatic rise in organized amateur contests complete with sponsors, titles, and rankings.

And, why not? Competing for bragging rights is an American tradition. Man must know which of man's best friend is best. Measuring the term "best," however, is where clubs can run into trouble; there's an awful lot of pride at stake.

Protection against controversy
As an independent organization dedicated the general benefit of canine disc enthusiasts and local clubs alike, the IDDHA can take the heat out of competitions by providing club event organizers with the means to eliminate any impression of arbitrary judging.

Having a universal set of standards for competition is an excellent way to open up play and encourage participation in club events. By relying on the standards and judging provided by the IDDHA, the club avoids the controversy of arbitrating the contests. Instead, the club becomes the provider of fun and the link between sponsors and their important target markets.

A sanctioning organization such as the IDDHA also protects a local club and its sponsor from any appearance of impropriety. In the recent past, certain competitions have been mired by controversy borne of hearsay and wild accusations. Club events sanctioned by the IDDHA are protected against such negative activity by a strict code of ethics and a documented protest procedure.

Sponsors have expressed an interest in such protections. As the sport grows in popularity and sponsor dollars escalate, the need for these procedures also grow.

Strengthening the sport
On the fun side, another benefit the IDDHA provides to local clubs is a unified set of standards for competition. These enable the handlers and the dogs to be judged on the same basis as others around the world. Unifying the judging standards of competition is a great way to strengthen the sport and elevate its profile on the local, regional, and international landscape.

The IDDHA has produced a video to help clubs train members according to IDDHA standards. This entertaining and informative video is available free to local clubs interested in applying IDDHA standards to their local competitions. In addition, IDDHA representatives and judges around the country are available to all clubs to assist with any event.

The IDDHA is dedicated to helping handlers learn to understand and train their dogs, encouraging good sportsmanship, and the safe, humane handling of disc dogs. The organization is also dedicated to keeping fun in the sport. Furthering the interests of disc dog clubs and participants alike is one the best ways to accomplish these goals.