No Novice Drafting Title for Moxie

[AngelBunny]

On Sat, Oct. 20 Moxie and I entered the 18th DMDCA draft test. Hosted by the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Nashoba Valley, the event was held at the Canine Sports Center, Goshen, CT.

What a nice place! The day was gorgeous, too. Little bit on the warm side by the middle of the afternoon, but a lovely day to be outside. We had pouring rain the night before that ended in the wee hours of Saturday, leaving Saturday to dawn cloudy and cool. The sun started coming out around 8am, making for a sunny rest of the day (with the exception of a rain shower during the last group's freight haul).

This was the first draft trial I'd seen and our first trial as a participant.

I was highly disappointed by Mox and my failure to earn her novice drafting title. The fault lay with both of us.

You get marked Pass or Fail on nine categories including Other (aggression, fear, uncontrolled behavior, fouling ring or freight haul, food/toys carried/offered during test, dog leaves ring). If you fail on any one of the categories, you fail the test.

The categories are divided in Basic Control, Harness & Hitch, Practical Draft Work, 3 Minute Group Stay, and Distance Freight Haul, with Other the last category.

She shown on basic control and recall which is simple, basic obed--heeling, slow, fast, right turn, halt, recall, and group stay.

Moxie failed the harness part of harness & hitch. She saw something on the outside of the ring (a rope strung bet posts) near the check in table (I don't know what) and was on her way to examine it when I pulled back on her leash, checking her. (You can't do this--restraining your dog via leash isn't permitted. It would've been perfectly fine for me to verbally tell her to Leave It! but it wasn't fine to restrain her by her leash.)

F on the harness portion of harness & hitch.

The wheel of her cart bumped the wall of what's called "the narrows" in this trial's case, two, 5" long sections of picket fence set 32" apart. (That really was my fault--I had her stopped in the middle of the narrows and took a step too close to one piece of fence as I stepped out of the narrows, so she followed me. The cart bumped the fence. I should have stepped out directly straight, not off to one side slightly.

This was a particularly frustrating failure--since we've been practicing on marrows set 30-31" apart that were 10', 12' and 15' long and she navigated these perfectly more often than not.)

F on maneuvering.

She also marked on the freight haul. It wasn't a pee--she marked. Sniffed; stopped abruptly; squirted out a few drops, with one of her hind legs hiked high; then, job done, immediately started off again.

F on freight haul.

While we passed on the other categories, team Moxie couldn't have been a pretty sight in the ring.

She was all over the place, sniffing, going here and there to examine one interesting smell after another. She paid little attention to me which meant we were zigging and sagging around the ring, redoing things.

The ideal is to follow a neat pattern, halting, starting, backing, weaving around items, circling to the left, circling to the right. Not us--Mox was all over with me following her, since you can't pull your dog with your leash and Mox didn't care to listen to my voice commands until she saw fit.

I enter shows with the expectation of doing well. I don't want to waste my time or the judge's time. When I got to the trial, looked at and walked the course, I didn't see any reason why Mox wouldn't do well--we've worked on and practiced what I saw.

Alas! it was not to be.

So, the trial for us was a learning experience, not a titling one.

Drafting people are very very friendly. Everybody said hello to me when I got there. The judges are very nice and kind--they really want you to pass. (One of the judges just about jumped up and down when a dog did something well and was as crushed as the crowd when a dog didn't--and she did this the entire day.) They tell you what they want you to do at every station, even though you've already walked the course. Judges and spectators clapped and cheered for every dog and handler leaving the ring.

You get a copy of the judges' score sheet.

The biggest thing I learned is that I must practice drafting Mox were there are other dogs. I would have thought being around dogs and working was old hat for her, but that clearly wasn't the case.

The other important thing I learned is to pretend the leash isn't there--do everything verbally.

After the trial a group of us talked to the judges. One of them told us that in her 15 years of judging trials, about 37% of dogs earn their novice titles at any given show. (At our trial, about 31% of the open and novice dogs titled.)

As an example of how nice drafting judges are, in the comments section one judge noted, [Moxie] is a girl with a mind of her own! She knows it all--keep working for next opportunity!

[frontierrots]

ah gee! I'm so sorry! I know you've worked hard at this

I'm sure you'll get it next time!

and I'm sure you've thought of this but re: the leash. Have you practiced with it attached to your waist and not hand?

I wish we were just a smidge closer, I'd help with the "other dogs" part

Pats to Moxie anyway

[Ayoka]

Aww that's too bad, what little drafting experience I have made me think that it must be decievingly difficult to trial, so many things going on!

I love a sport where you KNOW the judges are there to help you and one did give you a lovely compliment. Keep up the distraction work - I can;t wait to hear about your next trial.

[Rottlva]

Well, I still think it is cool that you tried, and you are working towards this goal. Keep up the good work, and perhaps next time will be the charm!!

[mjones77]

Awwwww....so sorry that Moxie didnt get her title, but you both definitely had a great practice run. I am sure you two will get it the next time!

[targonrotts]

there's always next time!
it was a good learning experience and it's nice to hear they were all nice to you and encouraging.
good luck on the next one!

[debbiej]

you mean "not yet"... now with this experience under your belts, you know more of what to expect, and what to work on! I think drafting would be a lot of fun and a real challenge, and would like to try it someday. It's good to hear that the people involved were so helpful too.

[brunie's mom]

I think it's great that you and Moxie tried.
I've seen drafting on t.v., and yes...it does look so easy I'm sure the dogs have spend months if not years practicing.

I know that you and Moxie will do better next time, or the time after that
How often do you have drafting trials around your area?

Gina

[Helen B.]

Sorry to hear it don't work out this time but I'm sure the title won't be far off.

So you had a bad day, shrug it off, learn for this experiance and you both will be fine. Mox and you are a team and good thing will happen.

[Dieselpup]

AngelBunny: PLEASE, PLEASE do not give up on your dream. Keep working with Moxie. You two can do it.

I know what you're feeling.

Dec. 2006 my then 10-month old Busta entered his and my first Novice obedience trial. I worked hard with him, getting up early in the a.m to practice, taking him to various venues to work, then spent a lot of money for two weeks of private training.

What do you think happened??? The little stinka ran out the ring. He spotted a dog outside the ring that he had to go chat to, so during the recall exercise he ran clear to hell out the ring. DISQUALIFIED.

I was so upset I was near tears. I locked that dog in my car (windows partially up on a cool day) and roamed the show grounds by myself.

This was such a terrible let down. Everyone who saw us working thought Busta would have won the Novice class because he did consistently good work.

Well, I entered again a few months later, he placed 2nd, but the judging wasn't fair. HE SHOULD HAVE NQ'D again because he behaved like a total ass.

Third time was a charm: he placed 4th under a tough but fair judge. I was very proud of him.

I kept working with him, and I was working by myself, with no one to help except advice frm this forum. He's the first dog I've ever trained and the first pup I've ever raised.

Hang in there. You can do it!

[MarieM]

Sorry you and Moxie did not do well but from all your past posts I'm sure it will happen. Thank you for giving those of us who know nothing about drafting but have thought about it a good 'play by play' on what to expect.....