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Apologies for the length of this post, but I know there are a lot of people that have just taken up agaility, like me, and thought you might find this useful.
Yesterday, Ruby and I took part in a fun, local agility competition that had been organsied by 4 local clubs. We were encouraged to take part by our instructor as it was just for fun and would give us our first insight into what goes on at a competition. We've only been doing agility since the beginning of September.
We were entered in the Pre-beginners group - we couldn't take part in the agility as we haven't yet done the A Frame or the Dog Walk at full height, but could take part in the jumping and the steeplechase.
There were about 40 dogs entered in the Pre-beginners. The agility was first so we had the opportunity to watch everyone else - they were really good - most of them had a refusal of some kind, but the judges were takling into account the ability of the dogs and the handlers. From talking to all of the other competitors it appeared that most of them had been training for at least a year so I started to get very worried about our ability after 3 months!
Then came the jumping and our first experience of competition. We walked the course and found it very daunting. We have only really done 5 obstacles in a row and were now faced with 19!! The competition began and we waited nervously for our turn. We were called to the ring and one of our instructers was there to hold Ruby so that I didn't have the added worry of her failing to 'wait'. Then we were off. She jumped the first jump and refused the second. My heart sank!. We were given loads of encouragement but she wasn't having any of it! Then our other instructor shouted across that the jumps were at the wrong height for us - we had been put in the wrong group and I hadn't realised
. The judges agreed that we should be given the opportunity to start again at the right height, so we had another nervous wait.
At this point I was very keen to just go home! I was embarrassed, and concerned that Ruby would loose her confidence and ruin the work we had done in training. We were told firmly that we should take our second try and that Ruby would be different at the right height. I felt a bit bullied but decided I should try again.
Our time came round again, and even more nervously we entered the ring.
She jumped the first row of jumps and through the first tunnel. She carried on around the course, listening to my guidance. She wasn't perfect and needed lots of encouragement that she got from me and all of the other competitors who were cheering when she went over every obstacle. We completed the course and I found out after that we were awarded a clear round!
It was a great feeling to reach the end, and to have achieved so much of the course smoothly.
We went on to take part in the steeplechase - we weren't clear but she did brilliantly and I'm so proud of her for what she achieved.
At the prize giving Ruby and I, and another girl who I train with and is at the same level, were given a special prize for taking part and getting our dogs round the course. It was a lovely touch.
I think what I took from this event is that to be good at agility takes a lot of time and dedication, and it really is the taking part that makes it fun. Having seen the dogs that had been training for a year I now have a better (and more realistic) expectation of what we should be aiming to achieve.
The other competitors couldn't have been more friendly and encouraging. I'm so glad I took part, and Ruby had a ball!
To everyone else out there that has just embarked on agility training to be able to take part in the Cockapoo Olympics next year - keep it up and be prepared for us to still be refusing jumps come September next year. And there's always the possibility that Ruby will go off and do a lap of honour too! As Mick has said all along, it's just for fun!
Happy training everyone!
H
x
Yesterday, Ruby and I took part in a fun, local agility competition that had been organsied by 4 local clubs. We were encouraged to take part by our instructor as it was just for fun and would give us our first insight into what goes on at a competition. We've only been doing agility since the beginning of September.
We were entered in the Pre-beginners group - we couldn't take part in the agility as we haven't yet done the A Frame or the Dog Walk at full height, but could take part in the jumping and the steeplechase.
There were about 40 dogs entered in the Pre-beginners. The agility was first so we had the opportunity to watch everyone else - they were really good - most of them had a refusal of some kind, but the judges were takling into account the ability of the dogs and the handlers. From talking to all of the other competitors it appeared that most of them had been training for at least a year so I started to get very worried about our ability after 3 months!
Then came the jumping and our first experience of competition. We walked the course and found it very daunting. We have only really done 5 obstacles in a row and were now faced with 19!! The competition began and we waited nervously for our turn. We were called to the ring and one of our instructers was there to hold Ruby so that I didn't have the added worry of her failing to 'wait'. Then we were off. She jumped the first jump and refused the second. My heart sank!. We were given loads of encouragement but she wasn't having any of it! Then our other instructor shouted across that the jumps were at the wrong height for us - we had been put in the wrong group and I hadn't realised
. The judges agreed that we should be given the opportunity to start again at the right height, so we had another nervous wait.At this point I was very keen to just go home! I was embarrassed, and concerned that Ruby would loose her confidence and ruin the work we had done in training. We were told firmly that we should take our second try and that Ruby would be different at the right height. I felt a bit bullied but decided I should try again.
Our time came round again, and even more nervously we entered the ring.
She jumped the first row of jumps and through the first tunnel. She carried on around the course, listening to my guidance. She wasn't perfect and needed lots of encouragement that she got from me and all of the other competitors who were cheering when she went over every obstacle. We completed the course and I found out after that we were awarded a clear round!
It was a great feeling to reach the end, and to have achieved so much of the course smoothly.
We went on to take part in the steeplechase - we weren't clear but she did brilliantly and I'm so proud of her for what she achieved.
At the prize giving Ruby and I, and another girl who I train with and is at the same level, were given a special prize for taking part and getting our dogs round the course. It was a lovely touch.
I think what I took from this event is that to be good at agility takes a lot of time and dedication, and it really is the taking part that makes it fun. Having seen the dogs that had been training for a year I now have a better (and more realistic) expectation of what we should be aiming to achieve.
The other competitors couldn't have been more friendly and encouraging. I'm so glad I took part, and Ruby had a ball!
To everyone else out there that has just embarked on agility training to be able to take part in the Cockapoo Olympics next year - keep it up and be prepared for us to still be refusing jumps come September next year. And there's always the possibility that Ruby will go off and do a lap of honour too! As Mick has said all along, it's just for fun!
Happy training everyone!
H
x
