Aim When Going To An Agility Comp

[JulesP]

When you go to an agility comp what is your aim?? Obviously winning and passing is the ultimate!

But would you rather get the pass (& not place) or win the ring (and not get a pass)??

Obedience it is a bit of a downer when you place but don't get that pass, wondered if it was the same with agility or whether agility is a bit more like horse show jumping, were you are going hoping to place.

Hope that makes sense.

[poodlefan]

I don't want this to become a separate heights debate but running a 300 dog, beyond Novice all I hope for is passes, with increasing amounts of time to spare within the qualifying time. I also hope to handle well/better, to meet the challenges of the course and to show my dog a good time.

I'm not saying its impossible to beat the larger high drive dogs but it doesn't happen often enough to make a place in large trial a realistic goal. I also have a long way to go before I'm that good a handler.

With class sizes as large as they are, passes are fine by me. This is one competitor who won't be changing breeds to try and get into the places. It's nice to beat the other dogs in your class height or in larger heights though.

You can't win the ring without a pass anyway. The top speed without accuracy and all the bars left up simply doesn't cut it in my book. It's meaningless.

Edited April 28, 2008 by poodlefan

[Pippi]

I usually have different aims when attending a trial and it will depend on what I have been working on before any particular trial. My main aim is to see an improvement in something I have been training/working on, either my dog or myself. To get a pass for me is the ultimate aim, that is what we are training for (and having fun of course). Getting a place is OK but I value the pass more. Now if I can just achieve a pass AND a place, WoooHoooo, that is icing on the cake.

[leopuppy04]

It depends what i'm working on. If I think my dog is more than capable of passing (after walking the course) that is the aim

Sometimes - it is to get through the tricky spot without any hassles

Now - my aim is mainly for the dog to be running with speed and enthusiasm.... or whatever we have been training on eg: holding the wait etc.

For obedience, my first ever open trial was - I just hope I stay upright and that the dog and I have fun!

A pass is always icing on the cake - but I tell ya - my mantra for the last open pass was more along the lines of "please let us pass today, please let us pass today"! LOL!

[JulesP]

LOL I seem to remember you sitting on the ground muttering 'he is going to fail his stays, he is going to fail'. And then something about expecting the worst and then being pleasantly surprised!!

[leopuppy04]

LOL I seem to remember you sitting on the ground muttering 'he is going to fail his stays, he is going to fail'. And then something about expecting the worst and then being pleasantly surprised!!

yes - nerves do wonderful things to my confidence

[Reddii]

At this point in our career a win is nice, but realistically a pass is sooooooo much better. I'm lucky with my girl that if I manage a pass we will usually be either there or there abouts in Starters where we are running - she's pretty quick, but doesn't get silly, makes it pretty easy if I can remember the course!!!!

[Sayreovi]

Before i walk the course my aim is a pass, after i walk it the aim may be to complete a section successfully.