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CAPITAL COMETS DOG SPORTS CLUB
FOUR PAWS, TWO FEET, ONE TEAM!
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Practice
Governance
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Become a member of Capital Comets
NEW MEMBER APPLICATION
Please complete this application form to express your interest in becoming a member of the Capital Comets Dog Spors Club. Applications for membership are reviewed by the Capital Comets Board. Once you’ve submitted this application form, a member of the Board will contact you to confirm you have read and commit to the Membership Benefits and Club Expectations Policy and the Capital Comets Dog Sports Club Code of Conduct, will answer any questions you might have, and explain the final steps of the application process. Please do not forward payment until your application has been approved.
Please note, if you apply for a practice membership, you will be required to attend a “tryout” practice before we can confirm acceptance of your practice membership.
For the first 12 months, applicants approved for membership will be matched with an experienced club member as a primary point of contact, who will be available to provide general support. Within the initial 12 months members do not have voting rights and will not be able to stand for election to a Board position, but will otherwise have full membership status. At the end of the 12-month period, the club member who provided support during this time will provide a recommendation to the Board regarding full and continued membership eligibility.
CODE OF CONDUCT & waiver
Approval of your membership affirms you will adhere to the Capital Comets Dog Sports Club Code of Conduct and to the following waiver.
WAIVER CLAUSE
This waiver is directed to The Capital Comets Dog Sports Club, (hereafter called “the Club”). In consideration of the Club, I hereby (for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns) RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE the Club of and from any and all matters, suits, actions, claims, judgments, damages and demands whatsoever which I now or hereafter may have or shall have by reason of any loss, damage, injury or death (howsoever caused and whether caused by any act, default or neglect of the Club) resulting from me being in and about any such event carried out or sponsored by the Club, and I hereby assume all risk of such loss, damage, injury and death and I further agree to Indemnify the Club and save it harmless from any cost, damage, claim or expense resulting therefrom.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
A Practice membership (i.e., CAD$180) is for a single handler and one dog. Additional dogs can be added for CAD$40 for each additional dog.
A Family Practice membership (i.e., CAD$300) is for two handlers with one dog each. An additional handler and dog can be added for CAD$120. Additional dogs can be added for CAD$40 per dog. Handlers covered by a Family Practice membership should live at the same address.
Junior Handler membership, Non-practice membership, and Social membership are independent membership categories. They cannot be combined with a Family Practice membership.
Capital Comets membership application
CAPITAL COMETS AGILITY PRACTICE
TUESDAY
Capital Comets offers weekly practices for members year round at the Saanich Fairgrounds at 1528 Stellys X Road in Central Saanich on Tuesday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, except in August and over the December holiday season. Most practices take place indoors in the Agriplex building on packed sand. When weather permits in late spring, practices move to outdoors.
Tuesday night practice is a time for members of the club to train their dogs and spend time with like minded people. At each practice the equipment is set up in an unique way, giving members a chance to work on different skills. The practice format changes every other week: two courses, usually a Jumpers and a Standard course are set up one week, and the next week three short sequences of obstacles are set up to allow handlers to practice particular skills. Participants can choose to follow the numbered set up or focus on specific skills, such as gambling or perfecting their dogs performance on contact equipment (the teeter, A frame and dog walk).
The club welcomes new members to come to practice who can demonstrate that their dog has reached a level of training and skill to safely use all the different equipment independent of instructor help. All members at a practice have equal time (multiple 1 to 2 minute sessions) to try each course or short sequence. Practice nights are a great way for handlers to develop, rehearse or refine their dogs’ skills, whether in preparation to trial, or just to have fun working with their dogs.
To participate in club practice nights, a person has to be a club member with practice privileges. To obtain more information about participation in Comets practice sessions please contact the Agility Coordinator, or Secretary.
Dogs must be at least one year of age in order to participate in practice night, and they must be approved by the Agility Coordinator prior to taking part – this includes young dogs being added by existing Comets members. To participate, dogs cannot be reactive/aggressive toward people or other dogs.
At the discretion of the Agility Coordinator, full members are welcome to bring younger puppies to practice night to work on familiarization to the venue or socialization around people and dogs. As a courtesy to fellow club members please remember that not every dog loves a puppy and ensure that your training takes place at a reasonable distance from the practice set ups. As noted above, prior to being accepted for Tuesday practice night, puppies are not permitted to use the equipment set out.
Participants must be willing to help with the set up and/or take down of equipment, so that the workload doesn’t fall on just a few.
THURSDAY
Comets Thursday night training sessions provide an opportunity to train your dog with direct peer support.
Full members may qualify to participate in peer-supported practices at the Saanich Fairgrounds at 1528 Stellys X Road in Central Saanich on Thursdays. These practice sessions take place between 5:00 to 6:25 PM, and 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Practices take place indoors in the Agriplex building on packed sand. These sessions have a limited number of participants to maximize the benefit of each practice within the time allotted. Waitlists will be established if the demand by club members to participate exceeds the spaces available.
Your peers participating along side of you will be more than willing to provide support if you request it. That includes placement of toys or food targets, supporting restrained startlines, videoing your sessions on your phone, giving feedback when you ask for it, etc.
Please see session descriptions below prior to requesting participation in any session. For further information, or to request participation, please email the Training Coordinator.
FOUNDATION PROOFING (5:30 – 6:25 PM)
This session is ideal for young dogs being introduced to agility, as well as older dogs intending to build stronger foundations skills. Reasonable recall is preferred but does not need to be perfect to start. To participate, dogs cannot be reactive/aggressive toward people or other dogs. Although drills and sequenced obstacles will always be available, there is no expectation to perform any of them as numbered. You may choose to focus on only one or two obstacles to train each session if that meets your needs. The key in this session is to focus on developing or reinforcing skills and behaviours you wish to train/proof. Limited to 12 dogs.
Participants must be willing to help with the set up of all equipment so that the workload doesn’t fall on just a few.
ADVANCED SKILLS PRACTICE - National/International level (6:30 – 8:00 PM)
Open to experienced agility dogs normally competing at the Master level. Limited to 12 dogs.
Sessions introduce complex handling including, layering, distance work and difficult weave entry/exits etc. to safely handle at speed in the latest national and international course designs introduced in agility competitions world-wide. To participate, dogs cannot be reactive or aggressive toward people or other dogs. Criteria for participation include the dog being able to safely perform each piece of equipment at reasonable speed. That is, skills should be present to allow the dog to run a drill or course and be able to change direction quickly, while being able to maintain speed and precision and performing all obstacles safely.
Participants must be willing to help with putting all equipment back in the lockers following the session so that the workload doesn’t fall on just a few.
Membership & Governance
Capital Comets Dog Sports Club is a non profit society registered with the provincial government and as such has a set of bylaws registered under The Society Act of British Columbia.
These bylaws define membership and the process of becoming a member and outline the need for and proceedings at an annual general meeting. In addition, the bylaws guide the annual election and duties of the executive committee.
In addition to the bylaws, the club also has established a code of conduct which outlines the behaviours (canine and human) which the club has decided are necessary to ensure members’ and their dogs safety and the enjoyment of club activities, and also reflect responsible dog ownership.
Members may participate in all club affairs and activities and in weekly practice sessions. If you are interested please complete a membership registration and fee payment application.
Members who own or operate a for-profit agility training business are not eligible to stand for election or be appointed as directors of Capital Comets.
Agility Training in Greater Victoria
There are a number of qualified dog agility and obedience trainers in the Greater Victoria area. The following list represents a number of trainers and clubs that are known to Capital Comets. Please note that this list is not intended as an endorsement and links are provided for information only.
Agility Organisations
Capital Comets operates in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Agility Association of Canada (AAC). However, club members do participate in events conducted by other organisations and may they may be members of other clubs or associations. Below is a short list of agility organisations of interest to Capital Comets members.
Agility Equipment
There are manufactures of dog agility equipment in Canada, the USA, and Europe. The following list represents several equipment suppliers that are known to Capital Comets. Please note that this list is not intended as an endorsement and links are provided for information only. Second hand equipment is sometimes advertised on the Capital Comets Facebook page. It is also possible to make some dog agility equipment yourself.
BOARD
APPOINTED COORDINATORS
- Agility Coordinator – Gerry Sloan
- Clothing Coordinator – Sandi Howarth
- Concession Coordinator – Pat Kean
- Documentarian – Philippa Sloan
- Equipment Coordinator – Brett Kelley
- First Aid Coordinator – Patrice Abbott
- New Member Support Coordinator – Heather Alexander
- Ribbon Coordinator – Amy Schmitt
- Social Coordinator – Nancy Heath
- Timing Coordinator – Susan Nightingale
- Training Coordinator – Ray Bronson
- Trial Committee Chair – Ali Edgell
- Website Coordinator – Brad Temple
Message Us
Get in touch below. Ask a question. Find out where to see dog agility in action. Become a member. Suggest a change to our website.
ccsecretary@capitalcomets.ca
Capital Comets Dog Sports Club
PO Box 157
Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1R3