Bummer, forced agility break (nothing serious)

[k9kreationz]

I love that what you consider a "break" is just us waiting for the next trial! Our club puts on 7 trials a year, and then after that there is just one other club less than 5 hours away (and even that one is 4 hours).

LOL. Well, when I can find a trial every weekend and now there's really nothing...it's definitely a "break". I consider a break at least 3 or more weeks between trials. hehehe. When's your next one? Yikes on the distance. Jeez, if I went at least 1-1.5 hours out, I'd find more. But I'm tired of all the driving and typically, over the weekend, that's at least 1-1.5 tanks of gas and when they're costing $45 to fill up, yeah, add that into the mix of money. Ouch! I need a more fuel efficient agility-mobile.

We are taking a contact break though right now. We have a 3-day trial this weekend and we're not doing Grand Prix or Standard because it is a 100% chance that Bentley will miss his dogwalk contact.

That's good. For me, trials are a way to test Koji's contacts. Because he can be really great in class, then at a trial, it's a crapshoot. Heck, even one week btwn classes and he forgets. I'll be working on contacts at home everyday. I'm perfecting my own training too, cuz we all know I suck, lol.

I haven't blogged about it yet, but we're trying something new with Bentley's contacts and I'm absolutely loving it. The second we started it Bentley just "got it". He's doing awesome. He's hitting the yellow in stride about 95% of the time...but we're still using our "prop" so we're not ready for trialing.

That's awesome. As you said, you need to try different things. Can't wait to see some videos of his new contacts.

Anyways, after this trial this weekend, our next one isn't until mid-April (Lexi's debut!!!)

Oh, you answered my question from above. Woohoo!!! You better get her debut on tape. I can't wait to see the crazy fast girl run!!!

 

[k9kreationz]

I usally do not trial in the winter months unless it is close to home.There are alot of one ring trials in NH but they fill on opening day so I do not bother to enter them.For me when it starts to get warmer and when it does I tend to do more trials and in the past year we have found some nice places that are close and indoors.

I have noticed that when I take breaks, longer ones, even from training, Koji seems more focused. Like he WANTS to do agility again. And definitely where you are, I can understand not wanting to trial in the winter. Heck, I'm a big wuss and it's only gotten down to the 50's here. Brrr..

Do you see a difference if you take time off? Versus if you don't?

 

[k9kreationz]

I'm so excited for the snow I want to take Crouton somewhere to see her first snow!! I need to find out where it's going to snow in a good area she can run around or be super scared. We'll see.

Looks like it's warming up and turning to rain. So, you probably just have to go up to the mountains. I think the snow is going to be low (I heard like 500ft). I would love to see my dogs in snow. Wonder how they'd do. Probably wondering why they're out in this cold stuff.

 

[k9kreationz]

I was forced to take a break from trialing from October-February because finances were too bad. I'm just now getting to start back next month.

Just curious, did you save up to do trials? Or did your finances change so that you can get back into it?

At this point, I'm not even sure I want to pay for training. Ugh!

 

[k9kreationz]

I average about 1 trail every month and a half, most of them local to me so there isn't an expense for hotel rooms. (If I go to CPE in Washingtonville, OH I tend to get a hotel room even tough its only 1.5 hours from my house. I hate getting up at 4:30/5:00 AM to get there on time; that's earlier than I get up for work.)

Usually my time off from trialing is from mid-November thru mid-February (both of which are my club's TDAA trials). With the holidays and the weather I tend not to trial. This year's New Year's Day trial was an exception rather than the rule since my in-laws are usually visiting over New Year's.

I usually get a bonus from my job and that money pays for my trials. Last year it was enough to cover about 8 trials; some 2 day, some 1 day.

I'm like you. I wake up at 6am for work as it is. To wake up at 5am for agility, on the weekend, sucks. I guess its hard to take breaks here, honestly, I could trial every weekend if I wanted to either drive or pay for it. It just all adds up so fast.

I wish I had a bonus, that'd be nice. I could put it into my agility fund. As of right now, I'm trying to figure out what I can save for....coming up in April/May. Oh, there's a 5-day trial during Memorial weekend, I have to add that into my budget. I think I calculated that it'd cost $180 including parking, but not gas. ouch. Gas may add in another couple hundred. Maybe not. Holy moly.

 

[k9kreationz]

Hey sometime a short break can do wonders for both dog & handler. Have fun with the new Club and enjoy helping out... we are having our first inclub fun run this saturday, it got decided that we were gonna try to have one free club members only fun event every month at our last meeting, this will be the first one, and I for one am looking forward to it. We decided to use it as an oppertunity to try and teach some of the members how to do different games, snooker & gamblers in a semi formal but not really compedative enviroment, we will be offering some small prizes though just to keep it interesting.

That's what I was thinking too, help the club out. That way, I'm doing something, but yet, not spending money (well, minus gas).

This weekend, I'm volunteering at an ASCA trial both days. That'll cover my mandatory 4 hours and probably 12 more for the annual fee. I may also NOT compete during the CPE trial (couple reasons for that) and just work gaining a lot more hours and free entries for later AKC trial.

I'm amazed at how much agility stuff you can do when you're not trialing. Oh, did I tell you guys that with the club, you can train at this facility, just put $5 in the box and go do what you want. Again, just gas money, but at least I have access to actual equipment. I could do that too.

 

[Phebe*DD]

I'm like you. I wake up at 6am for work as it is. To wake up at 5am for agility, on the weekend, sucks. I guess its hard to take breaks here, honestly, I could trial every weekend if I wanted to either drive or pay for it. It just all adds up so fast.

I wish I had a bonus, that'd be nice. I could put it into my agility fund. As of right now, I'm trying to figure out what I can save for....coming up in April/May. Oh, there's a 5-day trial during Memorial weekend, I have to add that into my budget. I think I calculated that it'd cost $180 including parking, but not gas. ouch. Gas may add in another couple hundred. Maybe not. Holy moly.

LOL! I have to be at my desk by 6:30 am, so I'm up by 4:30, Mon-Thurs.

Those entry fees really add up quickly. I just sent in for a 3-day USDAA in March and it was $160. I already sent $135 for an AKC trial in March.

 

[Silaria]

I wish I had a bonus, that'd be nice. I could put it into my agility fund. As of right now, I'm trying to figure out what I can save for....coming up in April/May. Oh, there's a 5-day trial during Memorial weekend, I have to add that into my budget. I think I calculated that it'd cost $180 including parking, but not gas. ouch. Gas may add in another couple hundred. Maybe not. Holy moly.

Funny I should mention bonses; we actually found out TODAY what our bonus and merit raise was. Let's just say that I'm set for the year for any trial I want to attend.

I keep saying I work so I can play agility so I guess its only right that work fund it.

I may also NOT compete during the CPE trial (couple reasons for that) and just work gaining a lot more hours and free entries for later AKC trial.

Something to think about, Cheryl... when going to a trial to work its nice to be able to get a break from working to run a dog. I use to go to our CPE and USDAA trials to just work while Edan was training and it was actually very exhausting just working all day. You may want to enter 1 or 2 classes (like Jumpers and Colors for example) just for some fun runs and to break up the day. I know when I ran Edan in USDAA and CPE instead of working all day it made the day a lot more enjoyable.

Just IMO. You know what's best for you.

 

[k9kreationz]

LOL! I have to be at my desk by 6:30 am, so I'm up by 4:30, Mon-Thurs.

Those entry fees really add up quickly. I just sent in for a 3-day USDAA in March and it was $160. I already sent $135 for an AKC trial in March.

Okay, 6:30am is just WRONG!!! To get up at 4:30? Just cruel. LOL. How do you do it? I hope you're a morning person by nature.

Per day sure adds up fast, doesn't it?

 

[k9kreationz]

I keep saying I work so I can play agility so I guess its only right that work fund it.

I need a job that works less and pays more money, lol

Something to think about, Cheryl... when going to a trial to work its nice to be able to get a break from working to run a dog. I use to go to our CPE and USDAA trials to just work while Edan was training and it was actually very exhausting just working all day. You may want to enter 1 or 2 classes (like Jumpers and Colors for example) just for some fun runs and to break up the day. I know when I ran Edan in USDAA and CPE instead of working all day it made the day a lot more enjoyable.

Just IMO. You know what's best for you.

I never thought of that. My only concern would be this. 1. Koji doesn't do too well sitting in his crate all day....alone. 2. I'd feel bad to drag hubby to a trial just to watch Koji (although, that is what he does...and gets lunch), however, 3. I have a trial that I'm working only this weekend, so I'll know for sure if I hate it or not (meaning need to run my dog once in awhile).

I'm sure I'll feel the itch to run, but I'm also sure I'll feel 100x more relaxed not worrying about Koji too. We'll see. Maybe I will enter in a few at CPE (since they have a ton of games). It'd be nice to get out of L1. LOL. What do I need for my titles to get out of L1. 1 more standard run and 1 Jackpot (maybe that's doable this time.....or not, lol). Then I can fully move to L2. I may just do those to get my L1 titles.