Matchsticking

[kclinch]

Who here has heard of or does matchsticking before traveling and a show?

Do you all think it is cruel? Abusive?

Thanks...

[spidey]

I don't think it's cruel or abusive necessarily, I just think it's unnecessary and a bit silly. I train my dogs to understand a cue which means "if you've got to go, now and here is the time and place", and thus far I have never had an accident in the ring or car (and I have travelled thousands of miles with my dogs, we regularly drove from Texas to Canada). IMO, matchsticking is done by people who can't train or can't be bothered to teach their dogs a cue word (which is really very easily done), who can't plan enough time to get their dogs out and about so they can take care of business in their own time, or who feel they need to have control over every single aspect of their dogs (which I think is creepy).

[abbrevertal7]

What is matchsticking ?

[fbkeays]

I have been showing dogs for a dozen years. I never felt the need to match a dog until last year. I did a road trip up to Canada and was already three weeks from home. We were staying in a hotel that the neighborhood gave me the creeps. It was very dark, out of the way area. Fizbin hadn't pooped since the day before and it was after 11pm.
I had been out walking him for an hour. I was with a friend who is a smoker. I finally was at my wits end and I could tell that Fizbin wanted to go, but wasn't or couldn't. Fizbin has always been pretty good about going on command too.
I asked my friend if she had matches, she did. I had never matched a dog before. As soon as I did it, Fizbin pooped a big pile. He was very happy to be about 5 pounds lighter. I was happy because now I could go and get some sleep. The night before Fizbin was very restless.
I now keep a book of matches in the car. For emergancies- pooping and stuck out in the middle of nowhere. I have matched one of my dogs perhaps two more times in the past year under similar situations.
I don't think it is cruel or abusive if done once in a great while. If a dog should be going poop, given ample time to do so and isn't, and there are good reasons (not just for personal convience)for having the dog be empty, then matching is a fairly bengin way of getting it done.

[Gunsey'sMom]

I am also in the dark here- not looking for a how-to on how to do this, but it sounds like the matches are used in some way to get the dogs to poop? Do you kight them under their butts? LOL.

I would have to agree with Francis here. I have had to get by without the use of this and it obviously hasnt killed us here. We have gone on 12 hour road trips with Gunner (uncrated) and not had a problem- but then we also had to stay in a hotel with him and it was near impossible to get him to poop there. I was up 2-3 times a night to take him out so I could be sure he wouldnt crap in his kennel (although I think it was more for my satisfaction)

I think if it came down to another situation like that I might ask someone about it and try it if I was comfortable enough doing it- if it was something I could do without feeling like I wouldnt mess up at at harm my dog- because I would feel like we would both benefit from him not carrying around a "load". If it wasnt though- I have survived thus far not even knowing about this and am sure we will get by without having to do it.

[Da05128]

Originally Posted by spidey

IMO, matchsticking is done by people who can't train or can't be bothered to teach their dogs a cue word (which is really very easily done), who can't plan enough time to get their dogs out and about so they can take care of business in their own time, or who feel they need to have control over every single aspect of their dogs (which I think is creepy).

I've had to match a dog before while travelling. While my dogs all have potty commands, at times while travelling we lose our regular routine and things can get 'backed up'. I don't think it's silly or unnecessary to provide relief to your dog. Not to get too personal here but if you hadn't gone for a couple of days wouldn't you want some relief?
It's not meant to be a regular practice (I've done it twice in 6 years) but it sure came in handy in those two instances.

[fbkeays]

Matching is when you use a paper match and stick it in their butt. I really don't think there is anything special about the match but the handy size and often avaliable. I think that the presence of a foreign body causes the dog to want to poop to remove said foreign body. I know that when I take my dog's temperature, he really wants to poop during the process.

[bigdogweilerx2]

Originally Posted by fbkeays

Matching is when you use a paper match and stick it in their butt. I really don't think there is anything special about the match but the handy size and often avaliable. I think that the presence of a foreign body causes the dog to want to poop to remove said foreign body. I know that when I take my dog's temperature, he really wants to poop during the process.

I hope it's not lit is it?

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by bigdogweilerx2

I hope it's not lit is it?

Of course not.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by spidey

I don't think it's cruel or abusive necessarily, I just think it's unnecessary and a bit silly. I train my dogs to understand a cue which means "if you've got to go, now and here is the time and place", and thus far I have never had an accident in the ring or car (and I have travelled thousands of miles with my dogs, we regularly drove from Texas to Canada). IMO, matchsticking is done by people who can't train or can't be bothered to teach their dogs a cue word (which is really very easily done), who can't plan enough time to get their dogs out and about so they can take care of business in their own time, or who feel they need to have control over every single aspect of their dogs (which I think is creepy).

My dogs understand their cue word and often give me 'courtesy squats' even when they don't need to evacuate.

I have used a match two or three times in 9 years... sometimes dogs are not comfortable off their own turf, and therefore will hold it... when that turns into 3 days of holding it, I'd rather provide my dog relief than not...

This took place twice with a young dog who was new to showing... and once with an adult dog that was new to me - in both cases, the dog wasn't completely comfortable environmentally, and this had nothing to do with my laziness, lack of planning or a need to be a control freak... I've never had an issue just travelling with a dog, only when going to shows a couple of times... which can be a very stressful environment for an unseasoned dog.

I don't know why it works, I don't really care... all I know is that my dogs were much more comfortable afterwards.

[Gunsey'sMom]

sometimes dogs are not comfortable off their own turf, and therefore will hold it... when that turns into 3 days of holding it, I'd rather provide my dog relief than not...

This is what happens with Gunner when he holds it. We will be on a trip or such and he will take a really long time before we will turn his poop loose- almost like he's saving it for when we get home!

[spidey]

Doing it once in a while when a dog's backed up is not what I was talking about above.

[Gunsey'sMom]

Oh no, I didnt think you were. I definately see how people could abuse this as well- being in a hurry or impatient, ect.- or as you were saying just not wanting to train a cue word ect.

I realized after the first winter I guess with Gunner, that I had never trained a "potty" word- and found myself in the freezing cold wandering around waiting on him to poop! No fun at all, so I had to get in the habit of a cue word wich then took awhile.