2011 ASSA Nationals
- Thread starter Smudge
- Start date
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I'm definitely going to the 2012 one at Purina farms. Not sure about 2011, that's a bit far for me, almost as far as Tucson though I really should have gone to Tucson this year since my family owns a vacation home there. I'm hoping Nickle and Cambria will qualify for 2012
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
The 2011 is in St Louis at Purina Farms. 2012 is in Flordia.
Calliesmom
Moderator
missjenneygirl
Forums Enthusiast
Sounds like a road trip to me! I LOVE these road trips. The dogs settle in for the long haul, the van is packed like a sardine can, and the laughs go on for miles. The trip out is full of excitement and optimism. My biggest dread is how far away is our grooming site. (Not anymore now that ASSA lets members get spaces first!). The trip home is a range of emotions. We have had some wonderfully successful Nationals, and the best one, we weren't even there for. The results were phoned home by so many people ringside, that it jammed the house and cell phone!
The goal is have your dog in the peak of condition at that time. Not almost ready, and not ready a month before. So you start 6-8 months out visualizing what you are trying to achieve, everytime you see the dog gait across the yard.
There is so much to learn at the National. You get an opportunity to listen to other breeders and pick up new ideas and products. See young stud dogs during visiting hours. Spend a day at seminars, sometimes health related that effect all of us.
And then, spend time with people you only see once a year. Catch up on their family news. Go out to dinner with a breeder you admire that you want to learn from. It's all there for you...oh, and did I mention the vendors?
If you are into wearing a sheltie on your chest, head, feet, much less adorn your car, there will be something for you. Also, the jewelry is magnificent!
I remember every road trip to a National, for one reason or another.
Grab a friend and load your van!! See you there!
The goal is have your dog in the peak of condition at that time. Not almost ready, and not ready a month before. So you start 6-8 months out visualizing what you are trying to achieve, everytime you see the dog gait across the yard.
There is so much to learn at the National. You get an opportunity to listen to other breeders and pick up new ideas and products. See young stud dogs during visiting hours. Spend a day at seminars, sometimes health related that effect all of us.
And then, spend time with people you only see once a year. Catch up on their family news. Go out to dinner with a breeder you admire that you want to learn from. It's all there for you...oh, and did I mention the vendors?
If you are into wearing a sheltie on your chest, head, feet, much less adorn your car, there will be something for you. Also, the jewelry is magnificent!
I remember every road trip to a National, for one reason or another.
Grab a friend and load your van!! See you there!
Chris
Premium Member
I had hoped to go to the 2011 Nationals, but my schedule is just way too packed this year to manage it. But next year, I think I can go. I have a friend in Kissimee, so I have a free place to stay. Wahoo!!!
LOVE road trips! Both my dogs travel really well so it's nice
We'll be road trippin' it from California. I looked at yahoo maps and it looks like 3 days to Missouri and we go right thru Oklahoma near my cousins house so that'll be nice to stop and see her for a bit. I'm really excited since I've only had show dogs for a couple years now and my boy is finished. I soo want to enter him in breed just to say he's been shown at Nationals
I recently added a puppy so he's going for the futurity. It's my 4th national but the first where I'll have a dog showing! 
Where are people staying? I have seen a list and I know one is the host hotel but the others nearby don't have many good/decent reviews when I've checked online. I really don't want to end up at a skanky hotel and while I don't want to spend a fortune I don't want to go cheap and regret it every night when we go back to the room. There is a hilton (I think) that takes dogs about 20 miles away but I'm not sure how traffic would be getting to and from the show grounds everyday. Does anyone know that area? I also saw a post from Kathy on the yahoo group email that you can rent travel trailers or RV's and the company will deliver, set up and pickup the RV for you. That way you'd be on the showgrounds but I'm not sure how it compares price wise to hotel'ing it.
Thanks for any suggestions
Tami
ClantyreSheltie
Forums Sage
I plan to be there, but the scheduling is horrendous. I know that ASSA is a "conformation" club, but come on. I want to enter River in everything, which means taking an extra day off of work to be there for whatever they scheduled on Saturday. Argh. I will be skipping futurity to run agility.
It's still going to be totally fun.
And one thing I learned in Georgia? BRING A BLEACHER SEAT!!! My butt hurt so bad, at one point I ended up sitting on the floor and leaning against the bleachers, which got me yelled at by somebody who said that wasn't allowed. 
Probably the same person who kept announcing "AKC prohibits unentered dogs from being on show grounds." Which is totally wrong.
It's still going to be totally fun.
And one thing I learned in Georgia? BRING A BLEACHER SEAT!!! My butt hurt so bad, at one point I ended up sitting on the floor and leaning against the bleachers, which got me yelled at by somebody who said that wasn't allowed. Probably the same person who kept announcing "AKC prohibits unentered dogs from being on show grounds." Which is totally wrong.missjenneygirl
Forums Enthusiast
HI Tami,
The trailers are all gone. The 26' motor home is $1200.00, and the 29' is $1350. In looking at the floor plans it would be very tight for th 4 people or the equivalent of two hotels rooms. The Holiday Inn is $109.00 a night, and frig and microwave is each $5 extra a day. Dog fee is $30 for the week.
TravelLodge was reasonable, but I don't recall the amount. Again, dog fee $30. Comfort in was $79.00 a night, has micro and frig, but right now they are saying $10 a night per dog. I am trying to get that changed to one flat fee, like the other hotels. I explained to them how their competition is handling it, and they are going to loose a lot of business if they don't adjust it. That's my up to the minute report.
The trailers are all gone. The 26' motor home is $1200.00, and the 29' is $1350. In looking at the floor plans it would be very tight for th 4 people or the equivalent of two hotels rooms. The Holiday Inn is $109.00 a night, and frig and microwave is each $5 extra a day. Dog fee is $30 for the week.
TravelLodge was reasonable, but I don't recall the amount. Again, dog fee $30. Comfort in was $79.00 a night, has micro and frig, but right now they are saying $10 a night per dog. I am trying to get that changed to one flat fee, like the other hotels. I explained to them how their competition is handling it, and they are going to loose a lot of business if they don't adjust it. That's my up to the minute report.