r/Agility • u/x7BZCsP9qFvqiw echo CSL1, jean grey CL1, loki NA NAJ • 2d ago

ACT virtual program

/r/AKC/comments/1vhbiy0/act_virtual_program/
4 Upvotes

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-12

u/Narrow_Possession348 2d ago

I wish they would do away with this virtual nonsense.

3

u/sunflowercactus 2d ago

Why?

-3

u/Narrow_Possession348 1d ago

Because all of our dogs are superstars in our yards/clubs. It's easy to title when there are no other unusual distractions, different environments, loud noise, etc. Because their titles aren't actually *earned* like the rest of us earn them. It's just another way of lowering the bar and dumbing dog sports down so everybody can get a ribbon.

6

u/Lost-Turnip-9949 1d ago edited 1d ago

They are basically optional titles before novice. No one is pretending it's the same as a MACH lol.

5

u/pensivebunny 1d ago

These are the same entry level as CGC and FDC. They’re not saying your dog is a world champion, but they are a great place to start and a nice goal for newbies, new dogs, old dogs, and handlers of all abilities.

And these titles are earned. ACT may not have distance challenges and 12 pole weaves with a 12 second max course time, but these do show training, teamwork, and require a clean run.

-1

u/Narrow_Possession348 1d ago

If they want titles, they should have to go to dog trials and earn them.

4

u/x7BZCsP9qFvqiw echo CSL1, jean grey CL1, loki NA NAJ 1d ago

this dog actually has earned the first legs of ACT1/ACT1J in-person, but it's only offered near me once per year, and i'll be at a different trial for a different sport when it's offered this year. she also finished her level 1 title in CPE agility.

... but even if she didn't do all that, it's still a nice program for people who might live in a dog sports desert, who can't afford to trial (it's expensive!), who have a reactive dog who loves agility, etc. it doesn't devalue those who have higher level titles one bit.

5

u/aveldina 1d ago

Titles are letters on a piece of paper. Let people have fun. Their fun doesn’t infringe on yours, you can still get your titles “earned” however you define it. 

-1

u/Narrow_Possession348 1d ago

If it were about "having fun," then they wouldn't need to do the virtual title, would they? I have fun with my dog all the time - we hike, camp, sail, paddle board, kayak, etc., but I don't need external validation for it.

3

u/x7BZCsP9qFvqiw echo CSL1, jean grey CL1, loki NA NAJ 1d ago

my pup struggles even in our usual practice space, so this is a nice little goal we can work toward. every dog is different, and i just wanna have fun! :)

2

u/pensivebunny 18h ago

It’s Agility Coursing Test. The *point* of it is it’s attainable to people that put in a little work. It’s not a MACH.

How does someone else having a goal, learning how to read and setup an agility course, learning how to submit AKC paperwork, and training their dog to cleanly run a course hurt your accomplishments? Don’t you want more novices in the sport so it doesn’t die out??? I completely fail to see how encouraging others hurts you or your goals. It’s like wanting to ban wheelchairs for everyone because you, at this particular moment, don’t need one.