Oh, Oh. Show n Go in 2 weeks.

[BlackPuppy]

This creeped up on me. Balto has his RN and I was going to start training for Advanced and Obedience, but somehow we slept through the holidays.

Do you think people would get mad if I entered the SNG even though my dog is clearly not ready?

I suppose in 2 weeks I might be able to get a halfway good heel going, seeing that he does it in Rally with verbal praise - uh - on leash, anyway. But the living room is kinda small.

[Branca's Mom]

What is the SNG?

The only thing I would really have a problem with is if you entered and your dog was not solid on the sits and downs and he/she came and caused problems with my dog. If that is the case don't do that portion of the trial.

[BlackPuppy]

Yes, good point. He's pretty good with that, but I don't know if he could make the entire time. If not, he'd just walk over to me, anyway.

[Kayos and Havoc]

I would go. SNG's are for ring training and proofing and even if he is not quite ring ready you can work on exercises he does better and proof those. And show him how fun the ring time is in a lower stress setting.

I have one in 2 weeks as well! It will be Havoc's first venture into the ring as we are trying to get ready for rally novice this spring and obedience in the fall. I will do rally novice and pre-novice with him.

Have fun!

[Branca's Mom]

OH, SNG = SHOW N GO... LOL


Hello! Wake up Tammy!!

I did a couple of them with Urro when we were getting ready for trial. Not many around here anymore.... unfortunately

[Liesje]

I would just do it. I've seen plenty of dogs in SHOWS that are not at all prepared.

I'm putting my 4 month old pup in an AKC conformation match on Saturday, lol. He is terrible on leash, hates being stacked and man-handled, and is definitely not the "type" of dog that would ever earn AKC points, but whatev.

[Kayos and Havoc]

Good socialization opportunity for the pup!!!

[IliamnasQuest]

I would go to every fun match available and work at whatever level you can. The distractions are absolutely invaluable! That's one of the downfalls in the area I live in - hardly any matches. Most of the time we have to travel 150 miles to a MATCH, let alone a competition.

If they offer rally courses, you could try the Advanced Rally course and do it parly on-leash (taking the leash off when you think he's settled). When we have run-throughs we don't require anyone to follow specific rules - just do what is right for your dog. If he's not good at the stays you may not want to stress the other dogs in Novice Obedience, but you could do the individual exercises and skip the stays.

Show N Goes, Fun Matches, Run-Throughs .. they should all fit what YOU need, not what the rules state. The only fun matches that require specific exercises are the "official" AKC style fun matches that clubs have to put on once a year or so as per AKC rules. But even at those, if you explain that your dog is only ready for part of the exercises, no one is likely to argue with it. Most people putting on these matches are active trainers who understand completely where you're at! *L*

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

[BlackPuppy]

Okay, I guess I'm going to do both Rally Advanced, and Novice Obedience. Maybe I'll get some group stay opportunities in our Obedience class. I've been doing a lot of work on stays; in the park, at the front door, in the van with the door open. He's a smart little guy. The SNG is at my dog club, so at least the mock judges will know me.

[selzer]

At a fun match where instead of ribbons we were vying for a percentage of the entrance fees, I entered Arwen for Rally Advanced, though neither of us had worked on ANY rally advanced signs -- this was before we went for her CD. And I entered Heidi for Rally Novice and she had only some basic obedience classes about six months prior. (I was set to bring Rushie, but he had two legs to his title and could not be entered in Novice at the match and he had never been worked off lead.)

Arwen qualified -- even though she never jumped before. And because the other RA did not qualify, Arwen took first place.

The puppy, Heidi took fourth place and made more of my money back that Arwen because there were seventeen entries in her class. No one was upset that they were not ready.

Also, when I took Tori the Terrible to a match she tried to drag me into the next county when I passed a few guys. People were ok with that. I was more of a basket case because I was doing Arwen in obedience and Tori in Rally at the same time in the same place and with no help, and was parked far, far away.... They did try to work with me on that.

However in a show, if your dog is not ready, you can get a NQ'd before you finish your run, which happened to Tori. I dropped the leash twice, he felt the dog was unmanageable. NQ right out of the gate. The next day we got our second title leg so she was not, not ready, her handler just had a problem.

Matches are cheaper, more fun, and less stress. Unfortunately, one of my friends dogs knows the difference and NQs in shows and does great in matches.