Our first agility trial!

skypirate · 08-17-2010, 03:32 PM

So here's goes: Labor day weekend is going to be me and my dog Elvis's very first agility trial. I'm going mostly to get a feel for what trialing is like, and to see how far our training has gotten us so far. It's a 3 day NADAC event, and I have him entered for 2 tunnelers and one jumpers -just some fun stuff. The Tunnelers are friday night, and the jumpers is only on saturday. I'm pretty clear on some of the first day trial stuff: checking in, setting up, the runs, etc... but my question is: do I have to stay all day, or all weekend? If I check in friday, do I have to check in again Saturday morning? I have the tenative run order from the premium and it says my class in jumpers won't be till mid-afternoon, and then the rest are chances and things we aren't entered in. After our run, should I stay the rest of the night, or would I have to stay till Sunday even? Thing is, we are driving out of town for this, and if I didn't have to stay Saturday night that would save on hotel expenses but I don't know how the ribbons and such are given (granted that he and I Q

)...

I guess my biggest question out of all of that: what is etiquette for showing up to a trial late, or leaving early? I would definately make sure we weren't there too late and miss our run, but just to know that we had time to spare would be nice.

Second question: My boyfriend would be going with me to all of this, and we'd plan to bring his dog with us too, who is a little older and does not run agility... So that he didn't stay cooped up in a hotel room all day, what are the chances we can bring him to the trail for socialization but not have to run him?

pawzaddict · 08-17-2010, 09:32 PM

I have no advice or answers sorry

But good luck!

**Cali** · 08-18-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skypirate

I guess my biggest question out of all of that: what is etiquette for showing up to a trial late, or leaving early? I would definately make sure we weren't there too late and miss our run, but just to know that we had time to spare would be nice.

I would get there as early as possible. You'll need to get your dog settled in, walk the course, warm up your dog, etc. Leaving early you could probably do, but I'm not completely sure on that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skypirate

Second question: My boyfriend would be going with me to all of this, and we'd plan to bring his dog with us too, who is a little older and does not run agility... So that he didn't stay cooped up in a hotel room all day, what are the chances we can bring him to the trail for socialization but not have to run him?

People bring dogs who aren't running all the time. Its most common to bring puppies to expose them to the atmosphere but as long as your boyfriend's dog is well behaved I don't see an issue with bringing him. Are you bringing a pen for him to stay in? Do you know if there is any shade? If not are you going to bring a canopy to give him (and your dog) shade? He needs to be properly confined out of the way. =]

Good luck!

skypirate · 08-20-2010, 06:18 PM

Thanks! I would hope that leaving early won't be a problem: I'm sure we're not the only ones that can't be there all three days.

**fawkese1** · 08-20-2010, 10:15 PM

ooo good luck

Lonewolfblue · 08-23-2010, 12:08 AM

As far as I know, I believe you have to check in each day, and only need to be there when your trials are being run. Other than that, if you are done for the day, you can leave. If it's anything like the AKC trials, you have to check in before your trials, and can leave once you are done with all your trials. Don't need to stay there the entire time.

CheyAut · 08-31-2010, 05:19 AM

At my club's shows we only need to check in once, and the check in times are in the premium (often the night before during early set up and the morning of the first day before the runs). You can leave as soon as you're done. People bring other dogs all the time, myself included

Good luck and have fun!