Congratulations to User name: Mary, who was the winner of Friday’s contest. The # 23 was drawn, and she had all the questions correct. I didn’t even have to draw another number. 
The correct answers to Friday’s contest:
- Technically, the “chute” is only part of an obstacle, that is called by another name. Which is? Closed Tunnel is the most common term. Collapsed or Collapsible Tunnel is also used. (Someone said Sack Tunnel…is this in a certain venue?)
- True or False. In a trial, there is someone in the ring crew who is responsible for checking that the fabric chute is straightened before the next dog runs. True. They do this in between each run. But they won’t (to my knowledge) run out in the middle of a run to straighten it if the wind moves it. But usually competition chutes are heavy enough to not move around that much, and they should have pockets for flat sandbags that help to keep them more secure.
- True or False. A good method of encouraging your dog to go through the long material section for the first time is to put food inside it. False. Food should never be put inside this obstacle, as you want to encourage them to run straight through the chute and not stop. Hesitating can cause them to get tangled. The best way to introduce this obstacle is to fold back the chute, and/or lift it up so they can see light at the end. Then slowly lower the material onto their backs, so they can start to feel its weight as they run through. Reward is given at the end.
- True or False. You will not encounter this obstacle until you’re in the advanced agility stages of competition. False. It is used in the beginning levels of agility trials, in most every venue that I’m aware of.
- No right or wrong answer for this question: What is your “call word” of choice for this obstacle? (i.e. something that you name it, for your dog to hear and discriminate with). People had various answers for this, but by far the majority was Chute , Tunnel, Go Through, and Go Chute.
I did not post all 40 of the contest entries, as it would just be a long boring list. However, many of you added some interesting notes, in addition to your answers (thank you! I love ‘em!). I’ve copied and pasted some of them in a comment for everyone to enjoy. Please click on the upper right “comments” link in the upper right corner to view them! (and add any more that you’d like to add).
June 1st, 2009 at 9:20 am
I did not release all of the contest entries, as it would be too long. But some of you added extra notes and information that was fun to read, and I’d like to share some of them here below for everyone to read…
“Did you know that “Chute” means “Fall” like falling in French?” -Sideway
“AKC also requires that if the closed tunnel is used more than once on a course, the fabric chute must be straightened after the dog goes through it the first time and before the dog takes it the second time.” -Jester
“My dog is highly drawn to tunnels, I use the same word for chute/closed tunnel as I do for any other tunnel, and that is ‘tunnel’.” -John
“My dog can find it anywhere on course when I yell “Chute” and find the opening when approaching from any direction including the fabric end. Note: this use to be her worst obstacle when in novice (usually afraid of going through), until I made a game of finding the opening from any direction now it’s her favorite.” -Carol Ely
“I once said “Tunnel” after normally saying, “Chute”. My dog did it, but hesitated for a brief moment before she took it. May have bee a fluke, but I think I’ll try to remember “Chute” from now on.” -Rachelle Stracke
I call it “Chute!” In reality, “Shhhhhhoooooot!” -Nancy
“I started with open tunnels, then when we moved to the chute, someone would hold the end of the chute open. Gradually, the person would lower how high they would hold it to get the dog acclimated to the touch and feel of the fabric and pushing through until finally they can go through without the helper holding the chute.” -James D.
“never put food in the closed or regular tunnel, smell remains too long.” -kajama
June 1st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I have seen the chute adjusted when blown to the side by high winds. Would have been dangerous if it wasn’t. Common sense decision made by AKC Judge.
What is really fun is when the wind blows the chute open just as your dog enters and he leaves you in the dust trying to catch up. With a large dog its important to train them to charge through with their heads down.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
How do you train a big dog to run through a chute with his head down? (outside of putting food down, which I know is not good).
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
By sending to a food target or toy on the ground about a stride from chute exit. I never put foot directly on the ground, use plastic lid and let the dog see me put food on it, then walk him into position and release..
This is done after the initial training everyone mentioned. Its also good to practice with a wet (damp) chute once in a while.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Oh, that makes sense! Thanks.