1st Rally Trial ......................

[LuvourGSDs]

Ok, thinking about entering our 1st rally trial (AKC) in Apr. ! Is this something you can do well when only having 12 weeks of class ?

Just wondered if the novice course is pretty easy or tricky ?

~Thanks~

[Branca's Mom]

Can you? Of course! I could most likely take a dog I had spent a couple days with and "pass" a rally novice class. Though... goodness knows it wouldn't be very pretty but since you can guide with your hands thru the entire course, it could be done. I have seen people do the entire course looking like they had a treat in their hand leading the dogs head the whole time! Not exactly the look you want, but depending on the judge, you might very well pass!

Now.... having said that, would I want to do that? Heck No! LOL If you have done a 12 week course, your dog is heeling nicely, solidly sitting and downing on command, finishing right and left, or can follow your hands around your body, then you should be able to do a nice rally course if you are just doing it for fun. If you want high scores, then I would spend more time to get the heeling spot on which is the main place to lose points in rally novice. Have you gone and watched a trial yet? If not, I would probably do that before entering the first time.

Tricky? Depends on the judge and how they set up the course. Some set them too tight and they don't flow well. Others are easy as pie.

Good Luck!

[Liesje]

What Tammy said. The novice stuff really is easy. The hard part is the handlers' nerves, and the dog being OK with the environment (tight course, judge following/watching, dog show environment that is loud and chaotic, being OK with both indoor and outdoor rings).

Kenya is doing Excellent A this weekend and there are two signs we haven't really worked on yet, lol.

[amjrchamberlain]

The above said, it can be a great way to jump in and get your feet wet in the world of dog trialing. Keep the trial time fun (both inside and outside of the ring) and just have a great time running your dog and watching others while they run through.

And don't be overly disappointed if, for whatever reason, you do not qualify. There's always next time! Stuff happens.

Have fun! Please let us know how it goes!

[Kayla's Dad]

I agree with everyone else, 12 weeks will get you through the course. Along with the heeling, the tight leash is something to be very aware of.

If you and your dog have not been working or walking around a trial atmosphere setting, you might want to consider doing a fun matches/workshop (or two) first. Being at a trial can be entirely different than classes where you and your dog may be around the same dogs for the entire class.

I have Kayla in her first agility fun match and Lancer in his first obedience and rally fun match this weekend. Hope to do a few before actually putting in a trial.

If you go for it, good luck and have lots of fun.

[selzer]

It's a great time, you should do fine. Walk the course a few times without the dog.

My first attempt, I NQ'd with Arwen because I blew by a sign. The judge told me and I was mortified. I had to rush and get Rushie from the car and pull his collar off and get him in there next, and he took first place.

For novice A, the judges will generally tell you what they do or do not want to see -- usually tight leashes.

Whatever you do, DO NOT CORRECT YOUR DOG in the ring. That is the quickest way to NQ. I have seen people do this. It isn't pretty. If you sit on the sidelines and you see it and look at the judge, they make a mark and then stop marking at all, and you know.

Another good idea is to wait until the end and ask the judge, whether you qualified or not, where you lost points. If there are tons of people and dogs, they may not have the time, but usually, especially with Novice A, they want to give you the information.

I had taken 1 and 2 with Babs in the first two days of a show and on the third day (different judge), I got 4th with Arwen and only qualified with Babsy. I thought she did great. I have pictures with her leash looped around her ear (not on purpose) but certainly not a tight lead, so I could not figure why we got an 89, I asked.

She told me that she LOVED my dogs, she wanted to get them a new handler. She told me then that I had did the 1 step, 2 step, 3 steps back, with only two steps back on the three steps with both Arwen and Babsy. So I dropped ten points on each dog. In the run through she mentioned this, and I should have been more careful. So listen to the judge in the run through, they tell you what they are looking for.

Most of all, have fun!!! Novice A is a blast. I titled three dogs in Novice A, Babs, Arwen, Rushie, and got a leg on Jenna too. (At a three day show I did Babs and Jenna one day, Babs and Rushie to finish him, the second day, and Babs and Arwen to finish both of them on the third day.) Your best chance for placements is in Novice A because your competitors and their dogs are all as green as you are. In Novice B, you may be going up against obedience and agility champions. Placements are harder to get, but it is still fun.

Trust me, If I can do this, ANYONE can.

[LuvourGSDs]

Thanks Sue & others.

Going to give it a shot & only do 1 day, @ the AKC trial coming up in Columbus, OH next month !

Wish us luck...........