Novice A Agility

[Brooke&Ryan]

Hi everyone!

We will be entering for Julius' first agility trial this week. It will be held in State College on December 18 & 19. Anyway...we will be entering him in Novice A Agility & also Novice A Jumpers with weaves. Our trainer says that she really feels that we're ready. We were going to enter about a year ago but just didn't feel that Julius was quite ready.

So my question is, does anyone have any maps of Novice A agility courses online or know of a place where we could possibly look at them? I know that he won't be running that exact course but I would like to see a possible Novice A agility course. I just want to get a feel for how they will be set up. Our trainer said it's really an easy setup & watching trials in the past, I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, Julius could do that..."

Ryan will be running him & I think that he would just like to see what the possible set-up will be.

Other question...once we send in our form, do we get something in the mail as to when he's running the course?

I'm sure that I'll have more questions in a bit when I'm filling in the form. Thanks ya'll.


Brooke

[Silvermarten]

I don't have answers to your entry stuff as I haven't done that yet . I think we're another year off with Henry

Here's a link with lots of courses posted : Agility Courses

Of course we'll be expecting photos from his first competition

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Silvermarten

I don't have answers to your entry stuff as I haven't done that yet . I think we're another year off with Henry

Here's a link with lots of courses posted : Agility Courses

Of course we'll be expecting photos from his first competition

Wow! Thank you so much for that link. It was just what I was looking for. I'm apparently going to be manning the video camera. Ryan is going to be getting a digital video camera next month so there will probably be a video posted instead. Dear Lord, I'm nervous now though. I can't imagine how nervous I'm going to be when it's the day.

[Patty1231]

Wow, Brooke! Welcome to competition! Yea, it's nerve racking - but now that Rocco has his CD I think (hope ) I'll be more relaxed. I'm sure Julius will do fine but even if he doesn't it's worth everything for the experience and exposure. Each time I'm in the ring with Rocco I learn something and it's invaluable experience. I've been really fortunate that the judges have always been really nice and willing to give you tips on things to polish your act.

I would imagine agility works the same as OB in notification. You should be receiving information in the mail one week prior to the competition that gives you your placement number (order you'll go through), how many dogs are in that run, and the time your course is set to start. I've found with OB they run pretty much on schedule.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to hear how it goes! I'll put those dates on my calendar and if I can I'll try to make the trip over. I'd love to see Jules run a course and finally get to meet you both. You competing both days?

[BostonRott]

Up here, nothing is received in the mail. Agility is electronic: premiums, conformations, results.

The conformation letter usually lists class sizes, start times for the first rings, and order of running in the rings. To figure out when you'll be in, use these rough numbers:

Standard runs = 1min per dog
JWW runs = 30sec per dog

Course building = 20 minutes
Walk throughs = 8 minutes

Usually up here, if there are two rings, Ring A will run Ex Std, Open JWW, Nov JWW Ring B will run Nov Std, Open Std, Ex JWW. Excellent tends to have multiple walk-throughs (because of the size of the classes), so read the conformation to see what each ring will be doing.

Another thing to look for is obstacle familiarization. This is offered at SOME trials, and is for Novice only. The dog is allowed in the ring to do each contact obstacle (on or off-leash, no food allowed in the ring) to let them see the obstacle. IF this is offered, it is usually 15-30min before the first briefings.

Since this is your first trial, you need to get measured. Have you practiced this yet? Hopefully your instructor has had you try this a few times. If not, you need a good solid stand-stay because he'll have to stand on the table without you touching or feeding him, while the judges measures him. Be sure you know his AKC number and DOB, you'll need it for the paperwork. The judge then sends in the info. If he's over 2, this is your permanent height. If he's under 2, you have to get measured again at 2 for the perm. card.

Remember that you need to complete EVERY obstacle. If he misses a jump, runs past something, pull him back and do it again. Also, be sure you understand the run-out planes of the table. If your instructor has not explained this, have her do so. Once you run past the table, the run out planes change and you need to understand where to get on w/out further deduction.

A bit of advice regarding walking courses: the first trip you take through the course should be the DOG's path. Go through the jumps (the bars should still be down during the general walk), squat down in the end of the tunnel (stick yer butt in there) and look to see what the dog is seeing. Pull the teeter down, put your heels on it, squat down......what does the dog see? This is something that almost NO instructors teach, and while it's not as critical in Novice, it's a good habit to start now, you'll need it in Excellent. As you walk through/around each obstacle, pause, look around and see "what does my dog see? What are potential off courses? Where does my dog need me to be?"

Your second trip through should now be as the handler. How does the course look to you? What do you see? Remember where your dog wanted you to be.......connect those points like dots. See where you need to be. On trip #3, figure out how you're going to get from point to point.........front cross, rear cross, etc. Then use the rest of your time to practice your pattern.

When you leave the course, don't go chat with people, find a quiet area and picture the course. Can you stand there, eyes closed, and recite your commands? For example: "Vikka sit! Ok, hup, walk it, touch! Good dog, nice touch, ok (this forces me to make her hold it.....this is for later use in excellent), out hup, hup, hup, here tunnel, scramble, touch! Good dog, nice touch, ok! Hup, hup, tunnel, hup, out chute, hup, tunnel, hup, weave, hop up lie! Ok, scramble, touch good dog, nice touch, ok! Hup, teeter touch!"

This was a practice course that we ran this afternoon (doing the Aframe twice). When you can picture the course and get the commands out AT SPEED, then you know you know the course. This means that when you get out there and start running it, your brain will already know what it is supposed to be saying.

About 5 minutes before you run, get the dog out. Find a nice open space away from everyone. Run through your verbal littany. If you have a 2o/2o contact and the dog either sits or downs when you give the command in the littany, reward!! Finally, go thorugh it again, this time moving and turning as you would on course (holding the leash of course). This gives the dog an idea of what your body movements are going to be.

I know this sounds silly and over the top. It's something I"ve learned from Elicia Calhoun (multi-world team member) and I started doing it with Froli and WOW!!! You'll not find anyone in Novice (or VERY few) really walk the course this way, or do any of the visualization/verbal stuff.........but if you start practicing now, you'll be used to it when you get to Excellent (20 obstacles instead of 15).

You have some time before you trial, try practicing this at training. You'll be surprised at how much it helps.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to hear how it goes! I'll put those dates on my calendar and if I can I'll try to make the trip over. I'd love to see Jules run a course and finally get to meet you both. You competing both days?

Thanks Patty. I'll be taking deep, cleansing breaths. Julius & Ryan are an awesome team & I know that they'll do well....BUT...the nerves are still involved.

I KNOW that we'll be competing on the 18th...we haven't quite decided if we'll be doing the 19th but I think that we will. I'll let you know as so as we sign up. We'd love to have you join our cheering section. It would be great to meet you as well!

Originally Posted by BostonRott

Up here, nothing is received in the mail. Agility is electronic: premiums, conformations, results.

The conformation letter usually lists class sizes, start times for the first rings, and order of running in the rings. To figure out when you'll be in, use these rough numbers:

Standard runs = 1min per dog
JWW runs = 30sec per dog

Course building = 20 minutes
Walk throughs = 8 minutes

Usually up here, if there are two rings, Ring A will run Ex Std, Open JWW, Nov JWW Ring B will run Nov Std, Open Std, Ex JWW. Excellent tends to have multiple walk-throughs (because of the size of the classes), so read the conformation to see what each ring will be doing.

Another thing to look for is obstacle familiarization. This is offered at SOME trials, and is for Novice only. The dog is allowed in the ring to do each contact obstacle (on or off-leash, no food allowed in the ring) to let them see the obstacle. IF this is offered, it is usually 15-30min before the first briefings.

Since this is your first trial, you need to get measured. Have you practiced this yet? Hopefully your instructor has had you try this a few times. If not, you need a good solid stand-stay because he'll have to stand on the table without you touching or feeding him, while the judges measures him. Be sure you know his AKC number and DOB, you'll need it for the paperwork. The judge then sends in the info. If he's over 2, this is your permanent height. If he's under 2, you have to get measured again at 2 for the perm. card.

Remember that you need to complete EVERY obstacle. If he misses a jump, runs past something, pull him back and do it again. Also, be sure you understand the run-out planes of the table. If your instructor has not explained this, have her do so. Once you run past the table, the run out planes change and you need to understand where to get on w/out further deduction.

A bit of advice regarding walking courses: the first trip you take through the course should be the DOG's path. Go through the jumps (the bars should still be down during the general walk), squat down in the end of the tunnel (stick yer butt in there) and look to see what the dog is seeing. Pull the teeter down, put your heels on it, squat down......what does the dog see? This is something that almost NO instructors teach, and while it's not as critical in Novice, it's a good habit to start now, you'll need it in Excellent. As you walk through/around each obstacle, pause, look around and see "what does my dog see? What are potential off courses? Where does my dog need me to be?"

Your second trip through should now be as the handler. How does the course look to you? What do you see? Remember where your dog wanted you to be.......connect those points like dots. See where you need to be. On trip #3, figure out how you're going to get from point to point.........front cross, rear cross, etc. Then use the rest of your time to practice your pattern.

When you leave the course, don't go chat with people, find a quiet area and picture the course. Can you stand there, eyes closed, and recite your commands? For example: "Vikka sit! Ok, hup, walk it, touch! Good dog, nice touch, ok (this forces me to make her hold it.....this is for later use in excellent), out hup, hup, hup, here tunnel, scramble, touch! Good dog, nice touch, ok! Hup, hup, tunnel, hup, out chute, hup, tunnel, hup, weave, hop up lie! Ok, scramble, touch good dog, nice touch, ok! Hup, teeter touch!"

This was a practice course that we ran this afternoon (doing the Aframe twice). When you can picture the course and get the commands out AT SPEED, then you know you know the course. This means that when you get out there and start running it, your brain will already know what it is supposed to be saying.

About 5 minutes before you run, get the dog out. Find a nice open space away from everyone. Run through your verbal littany. If you have a 2o/2o contact and the dog either sits or downs when you give the command in the littany, reward!! Finally, go thorugh it again, this time moving and turning as you would on course (holding the leash of course). This gives the dog an idea of what your body movements are going to be.

I know this sounds silly and over the top. It's something I"ve learned from Elicia Calhoun (multi-world team member) and I started doing it with Froli and WOW!!! You'll not find anyone in Novice (or VERY few) really walk the course this way, or do any of the visualization/verbal stuff.........but if you start practicing now, you'll be used to it when you get to Excellent (20 obstacles instead of 15).

You have some time before you trial, try practicing this at training. You'll be surprised at how much it helps.

Wow, thank you soooo much Gretchen. I've been reading up on different ways to "learn" & visualize the course. Your ideas are very helpful! Thanks again!


Brooke

[spoteet]

Good luck! If I ever get Sajan over the teeter monster, we'll be behind you

Gretchen, loved your ideas on walking the course

[BostonRott]

Just to clarify, the course-walking info isn't my idea, it's Elicia Calhoun's. If you ever see Elicia, Jen Pinder, Rhonda Carter in your area.......GO!!! The money is VERY well worth it!!!! Matter of fact, I no longer take classes, simply attend these ladies' seminars.

[spoteet]

Originally Posted by BostonRott

Just to clarify, the course-walking info isn't my idea, it's Elicia Calhoun's. If you ever see Elicia, Jen Pinder, Rhonda Carter in your area.......GO!!! The money is VERY well worth it!!!! Matter of fact, I no longer take classes, simply attend these ladies' seminars.

How do you find out about these seminars? When and where they are being held? I would love to attend some. Most of the ones I have found are for dogs that already have some kind of agility title.

[BostonRott]

In my area, there's a local club who puts a bulletin board together for area activities. I don't know what is in your area. You need to talk to your trainer, start networking, etc. The only suggestion I have is checking the Clean Run calander online.