Are you competitive?

[Silaria]

It was funny- some people that compete in AKC came to this trial and competed in Novice- obviously they did way better than us It seems like there should be some intermediate level for people who already know what they are doing

You would think there is an intermediate level, but there's not. I remember when I first did CPE, I signed up for Level 1 (Koji couldn't do the teeter yet). But my gawd, everything was sooo easy. Ditto for AKC Novice. But that's only because I had a year of NADAC under my belt by that point.

Some venues do have a "Fast Track" option to move up faster. TDAA and CPE spring to mind. TDAA has rules to Fast Track a dog with experience from other venues through the Beginner and Intermediate levels.

CPE allows you to start as high as level 3. (Page 9 of the 2011 CPE Rule Book, http://www.k9cpe.com/forms/2011rb.pdf.) The rule book states that only dogs with titles in other venues should start at Level 3.

Basically, check out the rules for each venue before you register. Each venue handles experienced dogs differently.

As for AKC's Novice B, it really isn't "helping" anyone who comes into AKC with titles in another venue. Novice B runs the same course as Novice A. The only difference is the number of people you are competing against for a placement.

 

[Silaria]

Just to pull this back a little to the "Competitive" aspect of this thread.

I have learned that I get very competitive, against myself, when I get close to a title. Getting close to that TACH, especially 2 weeks ago when I had the chance to earn it, thought I lost it, and then actually DID earn it made me a MISERABLE person to be around because I was so busy fussing.

I don't know if I've said this in this thread yet but I've stated in other threads, I'm calm and "run for fun" when I'm no where near a title. If I know I'm close to earning a title, OMG to I start to get highly competitive - again, not against the other dogs, but against myself and my desire to (1) be perfect and (2) earn the title.

It is very difficult to reign in.

 

[k9kreationz]

CPE allows you to start as high as level 3. (Page 9 of the 2011 CPE Rule Book, http://www.k9cpe.com/forms/2011rb.pdf.) The rule book states that only dogs with titles in other venues should start at Level 3.

Oh wow. I didn't realize you could start so high. But I know I started CPE before AKC, so we had no teeter. It was for the best that we started so low. I'm kinda glad CPE has that. It's too bad I can't just skip forward. Unfortunately, the rules state that once I start a level, titles or not, I can't move up unless I complete each level.

No one quote me, but from what I recall with my own experience. NADAC, USDAA, and AKC you all have to start at the bottom regardless of any titles held in other groups.

 

[k9kreationz]

It is very difficult to reign in.

It is. I know I was putting pressure on myself for those first MACH points. Now that I have some, I'll probably chill out until I get close to finishing up either the MXJ or AX titles. LOL. Then, like you, I get all crazy again.

One thing I'm trying to do.....in class, I told Koji to relax, calm down a bit. Then my trainer said, "now you calm down too". She sees that I get frantic on the course, esp when we have to redo things, which in turn, makes Koji just as frantic. It's like we feed off of one another.

I sooo gotta learn how to control that. I think it'll help me with the "title" issue you have too.

 

[Silaria]

Oh wow. I didn't realize you could start so high. But I know I started CPE before AKC, so we had no teeter. It was for the best that we started so low. I'm kinda glad CPE has that. It's too bad I can't just skip forward. Unfortunately, the rules state that once I start a level, titles or not, I can't move up unless I complete each level.

Honestly, where you start in a new venue depends on the dog. If you have a good dog, you can blow through all of level 1 in one weekend and level 2 in 2 weekends.

Personally, even though the courses are easier, I'd want to start a new venue out in the Novice category to get a feel for how it works and runs - but that's just me. Edan's good enough that we'd fly through a novice class pretty easily.

 

[Sharon]

Are you competitive

Honestly, where you start in a new venue depends on the dog. If you have a good dog, you can blow through all of level 1 in one weekend and level 2 in 2 weekends.

Personally, even though the courses are easier, I'd want to start a new venue out in the Novice category to get a feel for how it works and runs - but that's just me. Edan's good enough that we'd fly through a novice class pretty easily.

Some of the Novice courses I have seen are almost the same as the Excellent courses minus a few jumps or tunnels.I think seeing some of the TDAA Superior courses with the 6 weaves is a piece of cake.

 

[k9kreationz]

Honestly, where you start in a new venue depends on the dog. If you have a good dog, you can blow through all of level 1 in one weekend and level 2 in 2 weekends.

Personally, even though the courses are easier, I'd want to start a new venue out in the Novice category to get a feel for how it works and runs - but that's just me. Edan's good enough that we'd fly through a novice class pretty easily.

So true, so true. I mean, after having to run my arse off in NADAC (due to the very wide open courses), Novice AKC was a breeze (tighter courses meant having to run less, and I had enough handling experience to be able to do it easily).

I have to admit, after seeing more and more venues, I had asked myself at one point, "which ones are more competitive". But then, I also realized, I guess that depends on your "goals".

In NADAC, a lot of it's speed, distance, and handling, especially in the upper levels. Not something I had at all back then.
Then I see AKC courses. They kinda just go in circles in the upper levels, especially JWW. I don't see as many places within a course where I go, "oh gawd, how in the world am I going to do this". I think more like, "will I get that FC in over here, to get there". The only really hard courses I have seen are from two different judges where I walk the course and I'm stumped.

I haven't seen upper levels of anything else, so I can't really comment on them. For me, I think the tighter the courses, there's only so much handling you can do. With the more spread out ones, now you have to do more distance and handling and make sure you're in the right place. I say this, because Koji had no distance and we were struggling in NADAC. Then we breezed through AKC because I could handle it and him so much better. Just thinking out loud in my own situation.

Every venue seems to have different handling challenges. I think that's why I'm happy leaving AKC once I get a MACH and go to USDAA. Maybe if I get more distance, I'll go back to NADAC. I miss the open courses with more handling and distance challenges, but at the same time, yeah, I don't miss the running. LOL.

This is one reason I wanted to try all the venue's. They're all very different.

 

[Sharon]

Are you competitive

So true, so true. I mean, after having to run my arse off in NADAC (due to the very wide open courses), Novice AKC was a breeze (tighter courses meant having to run less, and I had enough handling experience to be able to do it easily).

I have to admit, after seeing more and more venues, I had asked myself at one point, "which ones are more competitive". But then, I also realized, I guess that depends on your "goals".

In NADAC, a lot of it's speed, distance, and handling, especially in the upper levels. Not something I had at all back then.
Then I see AKC courses. They kinda just go in circles in the upper levels, especially JWW. I don't see as many places within a course where I go, "oh gawd, how in the world am I going to do this". I think more like, "will I get that FC in over here, to get there". The only really hard courses I have seen are from two different judges where I walk the course and I'm stumped.

I haven't seen upper levels of anything else, so I can't really comment on them. For me, I think the tighter the courses, there's only so much handling you can do. With the more spread out ones, now you have to do more distance and handling and make sure you're in the right place. I say this, because Koji had no distance and we were struggling in NADAC. Then we breezed through AKC because I could handle it and him so much better. Just thinking out loud in my own situation.

Every venue seems to have different handling challenges. I think that's why I'm happy leaving AKC once I get a MACH and go to USDAA. Maybe if I get more distance, I'll go back to NADAC. I miss the open courses with more handling and distance challenges, but at the same time, yeah, I don't miss the running. LOL.

This is one reason I wanted to try all the venue's. They're all very different.

Cheryl you crack me up!!!

 

[helps]

Did I write this post? Your feelings sound exactly like mine, especially when running Lexi. I get so nervous at trials that the entire run always feels so chaotic. I'm always rushing and I cause Lexi to make mistakes.

Training is a different story, I'm relaxed and Lexi is awesome. Just last night we ran a WAO course and she only made one mistake. If that had been a trial we would have been eliminated immediately, I'm sure, because of my nerves.

I wish it were as easy as wishing I could change. Every trial I try to tell myself to relax--but it's so hard! I get so nervous.

Aww, I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling this way. Yup, chaos is the way to call it Sometimes I make mistakes even at the training, tho. It's just that I don't feel the pressure.... at trials I feel like I was at school trying to pass an exam. lol I need to learn how to relax, that's the most important. I hope it will go well next weekend. As you say, yep, it's not that easy at all, telling myself to relax is one thing, feeling really relaxed another. People told me it'll get easier w/ time. BUT now it's important for me NOT to overthink it, not think about my opponents and winning.... As for the mistakes, our runs are usually okey ....I mean, one knocked bar or one refusal.... only 1 mistake= 5 faults. Still it makes me even more sorry, because other way-slower dogs are usually running clean. But that's my problem, I guess I shouldn't aim for winning, I should just try to do my best and try to enjoy the runs, learn along the way.

You're right, it's not easy - going to the start line, I always feel like my heart is gonna skip out of my chest, I'm shaking on the inside. Hopefully one day we'll learn how to relax ourselves....