About Me

I have been training dogs since 1996, when I got my first competitive dog, a Border Collie named Jess. Jess was made up to triple champion (Contact Agility, Dog Jumping & Carting). My second dog, Seven (my first Australian Shepherd Dog), introduced conformation to our range of disciplines. Seven is now a 5-way champion (Contact Agility, Dog Jumping, Non-Contact Agility, Flyball & Carting). I have practiced as an Obedience instructor from 1998, and an Agility instructor from 2001, including specialised puppy Agility classes. I now give private instruction in Clicker Training. 
For fun, I handle another, younger, Aussie -V- in Agility and Jumping, and a little conformation. And now there is a new border collie puppy to train up, Chakotay! She is DOING IT ALL!

My goal is to encourage great performance dogs while at the same time I hope to promote the good breeding and pure lines  of these wonderful dogs!

Qualifications:
Championship Show Judge - Dog Jumping
Championship Show Judge - Agility
Championship Show Judge - Carting
Championship Show Judge - Flyball
Passed numerous Clicker Courses
Gold award at the 2008 KUSA Instructors Course
Qualified - Hills VNA Level 1

Affiliations etc:
Member of the Kennel Union of Southern Africa
Member of the South African Sheepdog Association
Member of the Port Elizabeth Kennel Club
Member of the Australian Shepherd Club of the E Cape
Member of the South African Working Dogs Association
Member of the South African Dog Agility Association
Member of Cat Care
Member of the Animal Welfare Society
Supporter of Border Collie Rescue - Gauteng

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is expressed in the nature of one’s conduct while associated with a sport. Good sportsmanship includes not only abiding by the rules but also conducting oneself with proper consideration for fairness, ethics and respect for other participants, officials, and those hosting the event, as well as respect for the traditional conventions of the sport. Good sportsmanship expresses an aspiration that the sport should be enjoyed for its own sake.

 Sportsmanship is closely related to character. Character refers to one’s dispositions, values and habits that determine the manner in which a person responds to desires, fears, challenges, opportunities, failures and successes. A person with a strong, positive character will usually conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner.

 There is an additional, more subtle side to sportsmanship. Studies refer to it as “full commitment to participation.” This means more than just running your dog. It means embracing the sport in a broader sense through a willingness to contribute time and effort to the sport’s success. We all know individuals who participate but never contribute. They are often the first to complain when something goes wrong. This is a subtle form of poor sportsmanship.

 Good sportsmanship contributes to the pleasure one experiences at an event and helps build support for the sport in general. The lack of sportsmanship works to undermine support for the sport. The experienced participant realizes the vagaries of an event may sometimes result in a less than desired performance. Nevertheless, if he feels he was given a fair chance and was treated respectfully, he will leave anxious to try again another day. If a participant leaves feeling he was not treated fairly or with respect, he will question if he should enter that event again.

 For the enjoyment of everyone involved and the future interest of the sport, please consider the importance of sportsmanship and demonstrate it through your actions and words.

 Doug Ljungren, AKC

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