Jason and I had a conversation today about the trial this past weekend.  I have really high expectations.  I expect to Q every time and do it in style.  Sometimes being that ambitious gets me fantastic results.  Other times it gives me an opportunity be hard on myself.  You say…“You got 3 out of 4 Q’s in your first trial…you should be stoked!”.

We did well this past weekend.  And looking back I got to see that what I was about this weekend was winning.  Not being great.  I’m not sure how to explain the distinction other than to go back to what Susan Garrett said on her blog about the lady that won first place but didn’t meet her criteria in her run or the post that really stuck with me about her own trialing experiences with her dogs.  She said that someone came up to her and asked her why she did so poorly in these trials. 

Susan responded saying that’s exactly what they were – trials.  They are practice for the big, important runs.  She could handle the dog along the course in a way that she’s absolutely sure they’ll take the right obstacle, OR she could handle a new, creative, interesting or tricky way to challenge the dog.  Maybe the dog won’t respond perfectly or Q – AND opportunity is created to learn something new!

That – to me – is being great.  And great isn’t the same as winning.  In fact, sometimes not winning is great.    If I had Q’d all for of my runs this weekend, my ego-bubble wouldnt’ have been burst and I wouldn’t have crashed back down to Earth.  I would have gone to run-throughs tonight with the big ol’ ego taped to my forehead and I wouldn’t have “gotten” anything new.  By failing, I went tonight with a whole new view of what Lilli and I were up to creating.

We qualified for the standard run with a 90 and finished 2nd.  I was amazed.  I thought for sure we didn’t qualify.  On the jumpers run, I thought we did a lot better – although I had the same issue on the weaves. I was really pleased with our finish.  However – we didn’t qualify becasue of a knocked bar on the 2nd jump.

I debated a lot over that lead out.  I could have handled it from the inside and it would have left me on the outside of course onside the weaves.  That’s fine, but I’d have to run all the way around the wide side for the next several jumps.  So instead, I decided to lead out on the first two jumps and do a front cross onto the 3rd jump.  That plan seemed great – until I pulled off the front cross early and she didn’t take the 2nd jump.  It was all jumbo from there.  I expected that she’d take the rest of the jumps that we missed no problem.  I’m not sure what happened later in the run.

Anyway – here are both runs.  Overall a mess – I was really disappointed in my handling.  Great learning experience.  I think the second run was an improvement over the first even though we didn’t Q.  I got to practice and experience moving past a bad first run and starting over fresh.

This is the Novice Standard Run.  We qualified with a 90 and placed second.

This is the Novice Jumpers with Weaves Run.  We didn’t qualify because of the knocked bar on the 2nd jump.

Here are our first 2 runs ever.  I’m really surprised how much leeway is given in Novice.  You can make mistakes and still qualify.  I thought for sure we had blown it in each of these runs, but it turns out we took first and scored 95 in each.  That’s just crazy.

Anyway here you go.  Please feel free to pull it apart.    Suggestions and laughter are welcome!

This is the Novice Standard run.

This is the Novice Jumpers with Weaves run.

So here are a few things that I learned this weekend – first hand experience with agility trials.

10. 6 month cut off – Only a couple people mentioned it to us…(and none of them mattered because they weren’t the judge) but no dogs under 6 months old are allowed.  Leilani was there – she just turned 10 weeks, so just a little under 6 months…

9.  Lots of leeway in Novice - Man, there is a lot of leeway in Novice.  You can jump over the wrong jump, go through the wrong end of the tunnel, then reset and go back on course and it’s only a 5 point fault!  Don’t know who did that this weekend…

8.  Meeting before the start - Not really shocking, but cool to know.  The judge meets with the handlers before each run and goes over the rules and answers any questions. 

7.  Don’t line up too early - Several people this weekend that we were chatting with shared that we shouldn’t line up for our run too early.  There is a lot of tension in the starting area, barking and people riling up their dogs in preparation.  Wait until you see your buddy set up (see Pick a Buddy below) and then head into line about 5 minutes before your run.

6.  Pick a buddy - We ran next to the same dogs/handlers both days this weekend.  So while I was waiting to run, we chatted and I said that I’d keep an eye out for her when she went up to line up that way I knew I was coming up soon.  We ended up chatting all weekend and “being buddies” the next day too.  Turns out we were also competing for 1st and 2nd spots all weekend too. 

5.  Take Videos - If you have a friend or partner with you, ask them to video each of your runs.  It’s amazing to look back at what “actually happened” versus “what I think happened” in each run.  I can go back slowly and over and over and see exactly what happened in each problem area.  We use the Flip Mino Series Camcorder as an inexpensive and really portable option.

4.  85 is Q – You need 85 points to Qualify in AKC Novice.  This article is really simply written and explains the differences between AKC and USDAA points and qualifications.  I definitely need to read it a few more times!

3.  Weaves are freebies – This detail is covered in the above article but it’s a super cool point to know so it deserves its own number in the countdown.  You don’t get marked off for missing or messing up on your weave attempts.  As long as you complete them, there is no penalty.  You just lose time from having to do them over and over, and over…(wonder who had to do that this weekend…)

2.  Don’t stick both stickers…- When you check in to a 2 day trial, or a 3 or 4 day trial for that matter, each day that you’re registered for runs, you get a sticker to put on with your number on it.  Don’t stick all the stickers to yourself the same day.  I know that sounds funny, but really.  I saw 2 stickers and put one on my hat and one on my pants thinking that – Wow I just got an extra one… – yah, no.  Thankfully I could just wear the same hat on Sunday!

1.  Knocked Bars are auto NQ – On our last run, the Novice JWW, we knocked the second jump bar.  Someone came and told us that knocking a bar was an automatic no qualify.  I had no idea.  I also didn’t find this on the above article, but a couple blogs referenced this rule.  If anyone has something more “official” or any more detail on this, please post it in the comments, I’d love to read it!  I chose this one as the #1 thing to know this weekend since it was the only reason I didn’t get 2 double Q’s this weekend and run the tables – even though it was C.R.A.P.

If anyone has any more cool rules or tips the newbies could use, please share!  I’ll read over them and make a new list of the best tips.  Lilli and I had a blast this weekend – Jason mostly avoided being bored out of his mind.    I look forward to our next trial in a few weeks.  Hopefully we’ll be a little more seasoned and prepared by then…

First of all, I’m very grateful at how generous everyone we’ve met has been.  Our agility trainer, Kristin Spillane, was there and stopped to hang out with us for a while.  We saw several of our new agility friends from the OTCPBC and had the opportunity to watch several of them run.  Even though we are newbies to their crowd, they have all been very welcoming and friendly.

My experience today reminded me of my first Ultimate Frisbee tournament.  Everything looked new, the crowd was laid back and people had cool setups for their stuff – which instantly made me want to get a cool dog pen and an RV and camp out for the weekend.    Another thing I learned was that all different levels, ages, sizes and breeds go and play.  Some people ran perfectly and others couldn’t connect with their dogs and all went downhill on the course.  It reminded me that agility is all about connection.  Connection and focus with my dog.  My mindset carries on to her – my nerves or frustration or relaxation and fun.

We’ll take some video of the trial later this weekend and post it. We plan to go back sometime this weekend to get Lilli measured for her first trial. I feel like we’re finally ready.

Lilli was a dream today – very friendly and patient all day around tons of dogs running the courses and having to watch from the bleachers.  I’m thankful for all of the help and advice and encouragement we’ve gotten over the past year.  Agility really is a great sport.