Arya Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Hi everyone, I was just curious, what do others find works best for them with their dog when they go to a trial? Do you: Take your dog out of the car as soon as you get there and set up on the ground near your ring, keeping the dog out all the time? Take your dog out, toilet him, put him back in the car until a few minutes before your turn? Go early and keep your dog out for ages to acclimatise to the ground and then put away a little while before the start? Set up a crate on the ground? Stake out? Afterwards do you: Put dog away between run through and stays? Put dog away immediately after finish? Keep dog out after you've finished? Just curious as to what people have found does and does not work for their individual dogs, and what has been successful or failure over the years. Me, nothing works really. I've tried everything. ;) But interested to see what other people do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Most of our trials in WA are at our K9 grounds - so we can all park on the edge of the oval which is about 20-30m from the rings. I have a combo van - so I open the back doors and the dogs can sit in the car and watch what is happening. They all get taken out when I arrive to go to the loo and then they get taken for vetting and then they are put back in the car where they can chill out. All my kids bar one, can get straight out of the car, walk into a ring and start working. However I usually reward a few straight presents and perhaps a dumbbell hold or depending on which dog I may practice a change of positions. My 2 year old has attention issues so I usually do a little bitt of heelwork, rewarding for attention and a SFE prior to going into the ring with her. All the kids go to the loo prior to going into the ring, the older ones go on command - the younger ones are usually a bit slower at it. After their ring work they always get jackpotted - if their work was off then I will ask for something extra on the way back to the car and they will be rewarded for this. They wait in the car until just prior to the stays when they will be taken to the toilet again and we may practice a short sit stay where they will be rewarded many times for sitting. This is probably no help to you whatsoever!! I have 5 dogs that I am trialling The oldest will be 11 in December - then they go 7, 3, 2 and 17 months. I usually only tie two of the dogs in the car - the others sit there happily waiting for me to say its their turn. Training routines when I take them to K9 are very similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 (edited) My pre-trial routine - well I am still fiddling with it a bit but mainly this is what I do (pending injury concerns when I had her out a lot earlier and made sure she was thoroughly warmed up). Usually she gets out when I get there for a short toilet break then back in the car. I'll find a place somewhere to set up her crate/peg (depends if I can be bothered taking the solid crate or if I take her soft crate - soft one she gets open but with a peg otherwise her solid she is closed in). Then I might just chill and watch and leave her in the car. We are in open so the routine usually is 3 dogs before she is due to go in she gets taken from the car to her crate. Gives her a chance to have a toilet break. I'll then completely ignore her for 2 and a bit dogs. Grab her out when the dog in the ring prior to her is doing a DOR. We then might do a bit of heelwork/attention/setting up and a change of positions which I'll reward and then its into the ring. Last weekend I varied that slightly as she had been sore so I had to get her out earlier - say 4 dogs prior and I walked her and jogged with her a bit. After we have worked it depends - sometimes I'll just tell her jackpot in the ring and then usually whoever I have videoing has the jackpot container in the camera bag outside the ring so she gets it straight away. If I am not happy with her enthusiasm then she might get back in the crate without a treat and I'll get her out in say 5 minutes and go do something and then reward (yep Ptolomy I drew the hardline today while her work was good it wasn't the best she can do!!!!!). Sometimes I might leave her there longer and then come back and do something like a set of UD articles/gloves (she is only trialling in Open but we take our UD gear to trials to practice) and reward that. She then stays with me usually till we do stays as otherwise she comes out for stays to highly strung. Occasionally she will go back in the car and then I'll go and watch others and go and get her out. We might do a few short out of sight stays borrowing whatever they have up for the real ones. Usually a tarp. That way she knows where I am going and doesn't seem to have a problem with it. I am still not settled on a routine thats working as she isn't 100% with switching straight on. This is evident as usually during the first part of the heelwork she will occasionally sneeze and start a bit off but then switch into gear half way through. Edited October 7, 2007 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Are you talking about just obedience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted October 7, 2007 Author Share Posted October 7, 2007 Are you talking about just obedience? Oh no, Obedience, Agility etc. and Schutzhund too! I do Ob myself but it's all interesting ;) I have to say I've noticed too when watching Schutzhund trials how calm and quiet the dogs often are waiting in the cars for their turns. It's all good and very interesting Ness and Ptolomy, if your dog's work is really really off and has been fine five minutes beforehand and it's something they know like the back of their paw and there is not a really good reason for poor behaviour cos the dog is happy before and after, keen to be at the trial/event and see people, do you still reward when you get back to the car? If the dog wants to be with you a lot, do you tell them they didn't do so well and make them wait? Just wondering what is best. This is not something I've tried... so I guess I was wrong when I said I'd tried everything LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Agility well she is crated then I just get her out and go - hmm I should really change that to include some stretching and massaging. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Arya - let me give you an exampe from a trial a few weeks ago. I had Ness entered in open and she decided to snack on the dandylions rather than heel. We got 4-5 paces halt fine, right turn right about turn stand (she was 3-4 paces back and stopped). In that instance I put her in a drop, asked the judge to be excused, collected my lead and she was promptly marched back to the car without further word. No treat. Nothing. I left her there went away for about half an hour I guess (time wasn't a relevant factor) I just went to watch a few other friends dogs in the ring. I then took her out and worked her again. Did a modified open on my own on another part of the grounds. She did that well so I rewarded it. I would usually have done UD scent work but it was too windy and I knew she couldn't be successful. If I remember correctly - Ptolomy might correct me I think I also did a few lots of directed retrieving. I have a dog who also demands work on her turns (so if crated/pegged) or even just standing around will whinge to interact but then when we get in the ring switch off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t(AD)pole Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 (edited) I haven't done many trials so I haven't got a routine that is the same every time but there are some of the things I've done. (for agility) When I arrive I crate her then leave her while I go and check in and find the ring I'm in etc. or sometimes I will take her with me while I do those things. Before we go in the ring I will take her so she can toilet then I will do a bit of running ground work (ie. run run run 'switch' and we go the other way...run run run 'here' and do a front cross). I might do a bit of tugging and play. If we are not needed in the ring for a bit longer then I put her back in the crate until we need to go. When we are outside the ring I will have a few treats and get her attention and maybe ask for a few tricks or easy commands that she can do. I will also do I bit of massaging and stretching (but not really that much) while waiting. Once out of the ring I reward with some treats and tugging then back into the crate. If it was a bad run (as in she was distracted) then I will give her some pats a few treats but I won't reward as much. If it is our last run for the day then I usually take her for an off leash run (provided there is an off leash area at the trial grounds) or just a walk. Usually then I'll go and watch the other rings with her. I prefer not to be waiting outside the ring for too long (before a run) but I always find im there too early and we are waiting longer then I would have liked. Yesterday at a trial, for Abbie's first run I didn't take her out until just before our run and it ended up being a pretty good run (would have q'd if she didn't knock a bar!) For our other run we were waiting outside the ring for a while and I did not have her attention. When we went into the ring she had zoomies and wasn't very focused. From my limited experience I have found that she is usually better in the ring when I don't do much of a warm up. eta: so usually all that warm up I explained would be too much. ;) Edited October 7, 2007 by t(AD)pole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 ]Ness and Ptolomy, if your dog's work is really really off and has been fine five minutes beforehand and it's something they know like the back of their paw and there is not a really good reason for poor behaviour cos the dog is happy before and after, keen to be at the trial/event and see people, do you still reward when you get back to the car? If the dog wants to be with you a lot, do you tell them they didn't do so well and make them wait? Just wondering what is best. This is not something I've tried... so I guess I was wrong when I said I'd tried everything LOL. I would only enter my dog if I knew they could do everything I wanted of them (having said that I did enter my baby in CCD at our Royal Show on Friday and no she wasn't ready - but she blew me away by winning and she worked a dream). So if the dog warmed up well and then got into the ring and I was asking them to do things they normally would do - I would not finish the round - I would excuse myself from the ring - the dog would be returned to the car and would be put away. I would either go for a walk - or I would get another dog out and would do something with this dog and would reward in front of the dog that had just been returned to the car. I would then later give the dog that was returned to the car the opportunity to do something for a reward. If they chose not to work - then they would be returned to the car and definitely not rewarded - too bad so sad! If the young dog I took to the Royal had chosen not to work - then this would have been different since it was a big ask - she wasn't ready for trialling, there were huge distractions that we hadn't trained for and I would have taken her from the ring and asked for things like a hand touch a line up, a straight present - all things that I know she could handle and cope with and all of which would have been rewarded heavily. I guess I am lucky since all my kids would walk over hot coals for the possibility of getting a reward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted October 7, 2007 Author Share Posted October 7, 2007 Tadpole sounds like you've got things working well for you sorry you didn't q that sounded like bad luck!!! I love your piccie as well, swimming with a stick Ness and Ptolomy I am going to try this! This could maybe work for me as I've not tried it before. Love the expression too bad so sad When my dog won't work, I mean she won't work CCD in the ring STILL after almost a year bombs out on the heeling but in training and just outside the ring can do UD. But loves to go. It's like a party for her seeing everyone she knows. Seems to be part of the problem I think. Too much fun outside the ring!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Hey Arya, I would highly recommend giving anything Ptolomy says a shot as from my experience whatever she recommends usually works a treat . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAX Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Hey Arya,I would highly recommend giving anything Ptolomy says a shot as from my experience whatever she recommends usually works a treat . I agree, With my dog I would do very similar to Ptolomy, keep him really fresh and excited to be out working, I like to get him out and go straight in. My trialling friend has a dog that is very full on and she needs to have her out a lot before the trial or at least crated ringside otherwise she is just feral and excited. Just work out what your dog needs and if she is better off really fresh or not. In NSW we are often unable to park anywhere near the ring pre-trial, the only option is to lug crates, gazebos and whatever else we need , I normally lug everything like a pack horse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Very interesting thread. My last dog needed to be kept fresh for the obedience ring although that was probably more to do with my lack of experience than anything else. My young lad has yet to make his foray into the world of trialling but the best he has ever worked in the show ring was after a good gallop in a free run enclosure 20 mins prior to going in the ring....I think it bodes of things to come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 [. My trialling friend has a dog that is very full on and she needs to have her out a lot before the trial or at least crated ringside otherwise she is just feral and excited. Just work out what your dog needs and if she is better off really fresh or not. I would love to get my hands on this dog and prove your friend wrong that she doesn't need to wear the dog out before going into the ring. Give me a high drive dog to work anyday - much easier than one that you need to motivate. Arya - whats happens when you go into the ring and line up at the start post?????........ now come on tell all....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sayreovi Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Are you talking about just obedience? Oh no, Obedience, Agility etc. and Schutzhund too! I do Ob myself but it's all interesting Well in that case.... For flyball, Nova i have to get out at least 5 minutes before we go in because he needs too pee on everything . I got a little slack about it once and he decided too pee right in front of the box, the captains on the day are quick to tell me to get him out because they know him so well . No real 'training' outside the ring sometimes do a few little stretches before we go in, Darcy has only competed once really so no set routine yet. For agility, Nova i take out 10 minutes before hand attempt to go to every pole/tree that he may decide he wants to go to and let him sniff/pee. Then i do a few focus and control exercises. I try to tire him out a little too knock that crazy dog out of him, i am not experienced enough to control that dog yet....give me a year then maybe i might Darcy is pretty good i try to rev him up a bit but thats pretty much it. For obedience, well i will let you know how my pre trial routine goes, i have my first obedience trial with Darcy on Saturday. Last time i was in the obedience ring good olè Nova embarrassed me completely, havent been back since Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted October 7, 2007 Author Share Posted October 7, 2007 Okay I will tell all I started off in Novice at Southern last year. Heeled beautifully would have had a really good pass but failed at the end by sitting on the change of position. Something went wrong... downhill from there. Did FOO nights at KCC worked really well. But in trial ring things have gone from bad to worse. Get to start post, dog will not under any circumstances look at me. Does everything she can to avoid looking and forgets her name, forgets how to sit, heel, EVERYTHING LOL. Not funny really. Really embarrassing considering she is trained up to UD and outside the ring will heel perfectly. Good example this weekend, warmed up on the ground with UD heeling pattern all changes of position etc. We were sitting near our ring, which I'm sure she clocked as our ring as I had been up to check for scratchngs. When she saw the first person go in and the judge begin to call the heeling pattern, she switched off at that point. When the judge was calling the heeling pattern for another dog!!!!!!! Now this judge is a lovely lady and we know her and the dog has no issue with her. It was like 'oh, it's my turn shortly I ain't paying attention any more from now on.' Initially I t hought it was nerves. I have tried leaving her in the car, taking her out, almost over familarising her with the grounds, work extensively in training in trial ring, play in trial ring, serious in trial ring, bring extra people and dogs in trial ring etc. etc. etc. Ad infinitum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In between double trial we were at the dog had a ball. I kept her out of the car and she was perfectly happy. Second trial tricked her a bit. Didn't let her see which ring we were in. WOrked her up to the start post, set off, got less than a quarter into it and then... she realised what we were doing and switched off again. Judges reckon it's me. Others reckon I look and act the same as when training. I am tempted to give up with her but theone thing I have not done is withdrawn her and put her straight back in teh car with no reward, the 'too bad so sad' comment. I thought this could well be a good tack as she does like to be out socialising now where before she was SO nervous. I am wondering if she is really tougher than she looks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya Posted October 7, 2007 Author Share Posted October 7, 2007 And really interesting to read people's pre-competing routines that are not that different for Agility, Flyball from Ob, either! All good stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staranais Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 (edited) I'm only a very new ob trialler, since we've only been in the ring a few times. But what I've done has been to leave my dog in the car until immediately before we're due in the ring, then grab him out for a quick warm up and get directly into the ring. As soon as we're done, I reward him a short distance from the ring, then stick him straight back in the car. And then get him out for the awards announcements later. Leaving him in the car as long as possible means that when I grab him out he is really eager to work. He doesn't have time to get bored and lose focus on me - which is pretty essential for us, considering he can be dog aggressive. Also, leaving my dog in the car when I'm not working him means I don't need to worry about my dog or watch him like a hawk around all the other dogs. I can just go up to chat to other people, without worrying about how our dogs will react to each other. Makes the whole experience a lot more relaxing for me - and probably for my dog too. It's worked for us OK so far. Edited October 7, 2007 by Amhailte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptolomy Posted October 7, 2007 Share Posted October 7, 2007 Arya - What sort of dog do you have, how old are they, are they clicker trained, do you use food and is this your first trialling dog? OOps - sorry about the zillion questions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J... Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 I'm very new to trialling in both areas but I'm reasonably happy with my pre-trial routines so far... Obedience, I get her out while setting up, set up and then toilet her. Give her a 5 to 10 minute run if I can. Either back into her crate or the car if its not too sunny. Out of crate/car just long enough to toilet again, have a quick play and into the ring. I've only done 2 double trials, the only one I missed a pass on was with a judge who was really slow and I misjudged and got her out too early. Gave me too much time to get nervous and too much time for her to pick up on it Agility, similar routine, but I crate her instead of putting her in the car. I'm happy to have her out with me as long as she's behaving, if its hot she stays in her crate/shade tent for her own good. I also add a warm up and stretch routine before each run and I normally spend 5 or so mins just working her to get her into working mode rather than crazy mode - thats in the morning trial. By PM she's settled down. Keeping in mind that often I travel several hours to a trial, a trial within 2 hours drive is heaven!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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