RE: thinking about a dog - impact on contests?
I wish I could take my fluffy child to competitions, unfortunately for me though, our national governing body takes a dim view of dogs at fields, and no doubt some pinhead would send me packing if I tried.
...also he loves chasing models, I slow fly with him at the local park and he barks his head off. I don't think I could concentrate with him barking through the schedule.
Might be a good way of telling whether I'm 175m out or not though.