Agility Trial Oct 20, 2012 - our first trial - Part II

[pomtzu]

Explain please, as I am a dummy when it comes to understanding points, etc in events such as this.

How can he not have a qualifying run, yet still take 1st place???

See - I really did read what you wrote, and didn't just look at the pictures!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I think you both did an excellent job. Willy looks like he's been doing agility all of his life. He did look very tired or maybe just bored with the whole thing on the last run though. I also don't know anything about the point system. I did read everything you wrote too. Congrats again Willy!!!

[Freedom]

How can he not have a qualifying run, yet still take 1st place???

See - I really did read what you wrote, and didn't just look at the pictures!

It really is tough to understand. If you get a qualifying run, you earn points. You need points to progress to higher levels.

We took 1st place because no OTHER dog in our group / class did better than we did for time! We run in Novice (newbies), Veterans (dogs older than age 7), 11 inch height (height of the dog at the withers) and jump height of 4 inches.

It is not easy to guide your dog properly! The "only" thing Willy did wrong was the jump where he hit the bar and knocked it down. The other stuff is all handler error. I mean, yes he got too tired to move for the last 2; but the other small dogs we were grouped with faced the same issue. And some of them had course faults in Jumpers, which made them even lower down the list than we were.

He didn't do the weave poles -- I KNOW he can't do them at speed, I have to slow him down; I was so excited and running myself I didn't do that in Regular 1, so he blew that. In Regular 2, I learned that lesson (probably for LIFE now!) and made sure he walked slowly - and he did them all first approach!

He missed the correct obstacle at the trap (twice, 2 different courses). That also is me. I had to learn to direct him. I have to either crowd him over to the far one, or move out and away to "pull" him away from the far one so he takes the one nearest me. I actually did get him through the traps a few times, but not EVERY time.

As for Tunnelers and Jumpers, Willy is a s-l-o-w dog. We took 168.02 seconds to get through tunnelers. The fastest dog of the day (a sheltie, in the Elite division, been doing this for YEARS and started as a puppy with Performance Puppy) got through the same course in 20 seconds! Amazing! Elite Division has to complete the course in a faster time than Novice, but even with the faster time, that sheltie just FLEW! The dog finished way below the standard course time. The owner literally stood int he center and moved in a circle IN ONE SPOT, directing the dog with hand signals. Just breath taking to see!

And no, not all the courses are the same except for time. Only Tunnelers did not change for this trial day. The other runs, each Division had a completely different course.



So we did not have ANY qualifying runs, which means we did not earn any points to advance to a higher level. But neither did any other dog in our Division and Class etc.


Hope this helps!

[pomtzu]

Got it. Thanks! I still think Willy did a GREAT job.

And those Shelties - they can run like the wind and are just so darn smart too. My son used to have a Sheltie, and wants another some day. Great dogs, even if their barking can drive you mad sometimes!