Why the tire is a problem in agility; a cautionary tale

[kevhof1]

Thank you for commenting. One of the reasons it was posted was to spark this discussion. She's been through hundreds, possibly thousands, of tires without mishap. This isn't the first she's hit, and many other dogs have done the same. Yet, thousands of dogs clear tires in every imaginable course configuration. I like the idea of a breakaway tire, but I would want to know more about what happens if it breaks away with the dog in it. Does the cure kill the patient?

[Sight011]

I think they should use breakaway tires! This is crazy!

[kevhof1]

This was a long run, up hill and she gets completely focused in an agility ring. This was badly misjudged.  Heart stopping moment.

[23Nellie1]

Oh my goodness! sometimes dogs get so into it that they jump early and as a result....

EVERY organization needs to have mandatory breakaway tires!!!

[rachelj2600]

dogs and tires are NEVER a good mixture.

[kevhof1]

Check out YouTube site kevhof1 for more agility video. Riley is among the best ever Tervs lifetime in USDAA and AKC.

[kevhof1]

She won her first 22" PIII Jumpers run today in Jax, FL. She knocked bars in Standard, but the tire was no problem. It was very cold and we hadn't done agility in five months, but she looked great. Not bad for 11 next month.

[Kittywhiskers1000]

OMG! That was seriously bad. Your poor dog. I feel sorry for the both of you to have gone through that. I'm glad your dog was alright afterwards and hasn't been put off agility. Other than that moment you can tell she really enjoys doing it.

[kevhof1]

It never leaves my memory either. I have watched the video again and I stop when she leaves the ground before the tire. She walked out of the ring. I cringed when she approached a tire at the next trial we went to, but she never missed a beat. She loves agility. Anyone who has watched her can attest to her passion for the game.

[Corkadoll]

Omg that made me cry, it was so scary. I am so glad she is ok. At one of our Nationals I saw a tyre fall over on top of the dog and it couldn't walk out the ring. It was so sad, the dog did recover, but it has never left my memory and I always feel myself tense up when I see the tyre coming up.

[kevhof1]

Can the bottom half of the tire trip the dog as it breaks away?

[Shanowl01]

We are lucky here in the netherlands having the break away tire ,It breaks straight away the minute the dog hits it .The top half breaks from the bottom half horizonally.

I am glad to read yout dog has had no side effects from this accident.

[kevhof1]

Break-away tires are an option. Not sure that helps as getting caught up in a loose tire can' t be good either. She swam in the Atlantic Ocean today and chased a Frisbee. Her spirit is undimmed and she loves life. She dragged me up the boardwalk to the beach!

[Ryleighgirl13]

That poor dog... I thought tires were suppose to collapse if something like that happened. I'm glad she is ok now.

[AgilityMalamute]

How terrible!!! That poor dog.

[kevhof1]

@AgilityMalamute

She is an extraordinary athlete and a resilient dog. She was sore for a couple of days and within a week she wanted to play as always. She hasn't balked at the tire since.

[machsheltie]

So scary. How is Riley? Hope she is ok....

[kevhof1]

@machsheltie

Thanks for asking. She appears to be fine and runs without a trace of the soreness she exhibited the first couple of days. Time will tell. It sure was scary.