Everything A Newbie Needs To Know About Trials

[bethany.cole2013]

I'm about an hour and a half (give or take a minute or ten for traffic lol) south of Louisville, KY. I'm considering going to a training club maybe once a month to learn a few things. I've also been following a lot of Leerburg's obedience training stuff and it's really helping and coming in handy.

[Franksmom]

I'm 45 min. north of Louisville, I wondered when you mentioned March if you were talking about the big cluster show in Louisville.
If those are your plans and your first show, you might want to think about showing on Thurs and Friday during that show it always seems less crowded on those days then on the weekend.
I train at a place off the Gene Snyder but it's east of Louisville so might add even more time to your drive.

[bethany.cole2013]

Originally Posted by Franksmom

I'm 45 min. north of Louisville, I wondered when you mentioned March if you were talking about the big cluster show in Louisville.
If those are your plans and your first show, you might want to think about showing on Thurs and Friday during that show it always seems less crowded on those days then on the weekend.
I train at a place off the Gene Snyder but it's east of Louisville so might add even more time to your drive.

Yes, that would be the show that I am talking about. And thanks. I have requested the necessary information and registration packet from the show secretary already. I will definitely keep those days in mind when I put in the information on the registration form. And yes, Gene Snyder would only add more to the driving time. I'm still on the search for good training clubs that would be somewhat close to me, so if anyone knows of any that may be closer to Hodgenville, KY please let me know.

[FlyAway]

If you can't get to a trial, check out some of the YouTube videos.

akc beginner novice obedience - YouTube

Especially Louie here who scored a nearly perfect 199.

You Tube

You Tube

[gmcwife1]

Great thread, my 13 yr old is going to train our GSD for obedience

[Stosh]

Our AKC obedience training club puts on pretty large obedience, rally and agility trials and practice show 'n go days in the weeks previous to a trial. See if the club that's putting on the trial has some of them so you can give it a try beforehand. I've been a ring steward at many trials and the most common mistakes I see with first timers is that they take the lead off the dog before they enter or just as they enter the ring, rather than waiting for the judge to tell them to. Sounds like a little thing but it can mean a DQ if the judge is that picky. It's not inappropriate to let the judge know it's your first trial and they're usually very helpful. Try not to be nervous and remember that everyone wants to see you and your dog do well.

[Stosh]

Sorry for the typo- I meant NQ. Although it would be nice if they gave everyone a DQ cone as you exited the ring

[bethany.cole2013]

Originally Posted by Stosh

Our AKC obedience training club puts on pretty large obedience, rally and agility trials and practice show 'n go days in the weeks previous to a trial. See if the club that's putting on the trial has some of them so you can give it a try beforehand. I've been a ring steward at many trials and the most common mistakes I see with first timers is that they take the lead off the dog before they enter or just as they enter the ring, rather than waiting for the judge to tell them to. Sounds like a little thing but it can mean a DQ if the judge is that picky. It's not inappropriate to let the judge know it's your first trial and they're usually very helpful. Try not to be nervous and remember that everyone wants to see you and your dog do well.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Beginner Novice exercises done while on leash? Also on another note. Showing equipment. It states in the rules that you can't use a training collar such as a prong collar. But, would a choke chain collar be considered a training collar and be inappropriate to show in? If so, what do you guys use to show your dogs in?

[gagsd]

For AKC, I just use a fursaver or a martingale.
Choke/slip collars are OK. Be aware that in AKC, a correction in the ring is really not acceptable. Leash must have a "j" loop hanging down from collar.

[Karla]

Yes, the BN is done on leash, except for the recall and sit/stay exercise.

A choke chain is allowed. I use one because I don't like the flat buckle collars messing up the neck fur.