J... Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I've done 2 obedience trials - I did get a bit nervous (forgot to breathe for most of the first heeling pattern but I'm still alive! ). However, I've entered Darcy in her 1st agility trial and I swear just thinking about it makes nervous! Hate to think what I'm going to be like on the day :D How does everyone deal with trialling nerves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I recently had my first agility trial (we went appalling) like you i was shaking while thinking about it i was that nervous. Got there and i was oddly calm but then i got into the ring and i started shaking.....didnt help that my dog didnt do anything right LOL Pretty much i had a give it your best shot mentality :D With everything after awhile the nerves get less but are always there. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms James Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 We're not trailling yet, but I'm guessing I'll need a truckload of valium when I do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShellyBeggs Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I was always nervous before a trial and would end up throwing up and feeling sick. And of course the dog picks up on the nerves, wonders whats going on and gets edgy too and generally all goes down the toilet from there. I found it helped to imagine it was only me and the dog there. I also thought of the worst possible thing that could happen, I could trip over into the fresh poo my dog just done and then while I was getting up my dog could have bitten the judge and run off. The more I thought about what I was worried about, the stupider it all seemed. So in the end the worst logical thing I could come up with was I would fail some element of the trial.....likely the recall. And so what, wouldn't be the first dog, likely not the first dog on the day either.......and in the end that is what we were there for....to learn and improve. So just remember, anything that could go wrong with your trial, has already happened to a gazillion people before you and a gazillion people after you and likely everyone there has been through it already! Cheers Shelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopuppy04 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 (edited) How does everyone deal with trialling nerves? haha - I don't! You should see me before an obedience trial - i'm almost in tears from the nerves :D But I can't help entering as I always feel soo elated after entering the ring!!! Only experience makes it easier . The first time I went for my CCD title - I was shaking like a leaf - a friend videoed it for me and you can actually see my legs shake whenever I stop walking! The best thing for me is to keep telling myself that i'm doing this for fun - no-one is challenging me to get my title in x trials, so who cares - go out, have fun and enjoy it for what it is .... that has helped. I also try and put all my energies into staying 'positive' and 'happy' for the dog which helps immensely. Now I find i'm actually quite calm! For agility - nowhere near as stressful - I think it is because we are actually 'on the move' with the dogs. Not to mention you can talk to them! I find it a lot easier and less nerve racking in that sense.... having said that - I am always going to forget at least 1 obstacle what it is called!!!! ! You'll be fine.... concentrate on the dog and just think of how much fun you will have :p ETA: I now always go into a trial NOT expecting a pass but just to 'have a go' (but in the sense that I know my dog is ready).... this takes a lot of stress off! I go in and decide that whatever mistake my dog makes i'm going to laugh about it and not cry over it :p Edited May 22, 2007 by leopuppy04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 I tried to make sure that doggie was training at 110% so that when the nerves etc came into play we dropped in performance but could still pass. It also helps to pretend that you are someone else!!! Someone that isn't nervous! i.e. march around that ring pretending you are k9!! (sorry k9, lol). I am hoping that I am better this time around as I have done some big scary horse shows since my last dog trialling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdude Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Strangely, I've never been nervy in a trial, even my first! Different story when each of my kids were born though. I worked on a dairy farm at the time of my first childs birth, and thought that I had seen enough live births to last me a life time. I was very mistaken! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) Simple answer - not very well - usually get dragged kicking and screaming into the ring . Just kidding but if I hadn't given a friend a whole pile of entry forms to do trial entries while I was away I still wouldn't have entered open and wouldn't have her CDX . My first trial in novice I only entered to keep a friend company then walked out with a 187 and second place on count back. Agility I don't find as stressful as I think its a much more intrinsically rewarding activity for the dogs and whatever happens its usually fun. Not sure I can say the same about heelwork and obedience necessarily. Edited May 23, 2007 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Jones Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 This book may be helpfull to some of you, I had a flick through it at a friends house and it seemed ok. Conquering Ring Nerves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glorybea Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Hi all went into Robertson book store and that book sold for $34-99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glorybea Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 sorry should have added it was $19-99 onine Glorybea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippi Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Hi Feralpup I was so nervous my first agility trial I spent the whole day in the toilet and nearly missed my run. Even so, we managed a quallie and a first place, and I could hardly remember a minute of it. Subsequent trials I haven't been nearly as nervous. I think part of the nervousness with the first one is not really knowing what to expect or what you are doing. Just remember it does get better after the first one. Good Luck, I'm sure you will be fine - just treat it like a training session and have fun. Which trial are you entering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesomil Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 I have been in a fair few obedience/agility trials and for me, the nerves havent got any better with time and experience. I still get very shakey, feel like throwing up and wonder why i put myself through the stress of it all. I think the problem is that you have a whole heap of people watching you and you want to do well. So i try and tell myself that we are all having fun and the outcome doesnt matter. I also try and pretend that it is a traniing session. I have a trial on tomorrow and my self talk isn't helping just yet . I was awake at 3am this morning worrying and i have butterflies in my stomach already. Ridiculous really !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) LOL Jesomil I felt exactly the same last night/early this morning and mine doesn't even count towards a title since she already got that title last year . Edited May 25, 2007 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAX Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 I don't get nervous in agilty either, it's over before you know it and no time for nerves. I am always too busy trying to remember the course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t(AD)pole Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 My first run I was super nervous but after that I was fine. How many runs are you entered in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J... Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement - so nice to know I'm not the only one :D Hi Pippi! I've entered at Warringal, both AM/PM Novice Jumping and also decided to have a fun run of Gamblers. We did some agility last week at class (we mostly do jumping) and she took to it really really well, so the Gamblers will just be a run. At least there's not too much to remember course-wise there and I can pick and choose what she can do (other than the gamble). Didn't want to do both agility and jumpers, given she will only *just* be 18 months, plus the thought of memorising two courses was just too scary. I have enough trouble with one Are you coming along to Warringal? Edited May 25, 2007 by feralpup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t(AD)pole Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 The thing I found the hardest was remembering the course. I got lost several times! Numbers mean nothing if you don't know what number the last obstacle you took was. Good luck! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippi Posted May 26, 2007 Share Posted May 26, 2007 Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement - so nice to know I'm not the only one :D Hi Pippi! I've entered at Warringal, both AM/PM Novice Jumping and also decided to have a fun run of Gamblers. We did some agility last week at class (we mostly do jumping) and she took to it really really well, so the Gamblers will just be a run. At least there's not too much to remember course-wise there and I can pick and choose what she can do (other than the gamble). Didn't want to do both agility and jumpers, given she will only *just* be 18 months, plus the thought of memorising two courses was just too scary. I have enough trouble with one Are you coming along to Warringal? :D Nope, won't be there. I am retraining contacts at the moment - so our career , is on hold for a little while. But I'll be thinking of you. Good Luck. Let us know how you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopuppy04 Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 Are you coming along to Warringal? :D Hey Feral pup - i'm going to Warringal (must put entries in, must put entries in ).... Just look out for me and the fuzzy blue dog - we'll be in Novice Jumping/ agility and you can laugh at our antics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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