Talk to me about NADAC...

[DogIsMyMantra]

and I don't mean how it's missing equipment or some trials are poorly managed (because that all depends on who's running it and I know one of the trials I'm considering is put on by the same people who run very good USDAA and AKC trials).

I found out yesterday that the USDAA tournament trial I was entered in was abruptly canceled and am looking for a replacement. The only AKC trial that weekend within reasonable driving distance is at a site where I won't run Bella. (poor surface) I don't get much time off and want to do agility when I have the chance! I'm not looking to compete long term in this venue, but think some of the games (tunnelers and weavers especially) would be a fun change for Bella and I.

What level would we be able to enter?
How does it differ from USDAA/AKC (other than no tire/teeter)?
I assume I have to get her measured and registered?
What is "Regular 1&2"?

 

[Sharon]

Nadac

and I don't mean how it's missing equipment or some trials are poorly managed (because that all depends on who's running it and I know one of the trials I'm considering is put on by the same people who run very good USDAA and AKC trials).

I found out yesterday that the USDAA tournament trial I was entered in was abruptly canceled and am looking for a replacement. The only AKC trial that weekend within reasonable driving distance is at a site where I won't run Bella. (poor surface) I don't get much time off and want to do agility when I have the chance! I'm not looking to compete long term in this venue, but think some of the games (tunnelers and weavers especially) would be a fun change for Bella and I.

What level would we be able to enter?
How does it differ from USDAA/AKC (other than no tire/teeter)?
I assume I have to get her measured and registered?
What is "Regular 1&2"?

You can get her registered on linenso you can get a number and yes, she will have to be measured.You will eihter run profcient or skilled.You would do Novice just like AKC and I did standard Reg 1&2 and you run the course if its 1-16 forward and Regular 2 they reversed the numbers and you ran it backwards.It was pretty intersting to see.I thought Hoopers was a joke till I saw it ran and it looked like lots of fun and watching the Elite people run it was amazing.It was quite hard.It is a very relaxed venue so you should have alot of fun.

 

[k9kreationz]

Regular is the same thing as Standard. As Sharon said, 1 and 2 just mean which rounds. You typically run them back to back. (Elite Reg Rd 1, Elite Reg Rd 2, Open Reg Rd 1, etc, etc) and yes, the second round typically is the same course, but backwards (I hate that at times cuz I forget where I'm going, lol).

You do have to start in Novice (I dislike this rule, cuz it seems backwards when you have higher titles in other venues), however, after 30 points, or 3 Q's, you can move up to Open.

Tunnelers is fun, it's ONLY tunnels. Nothing else.
Weavers, in Novice, has 2 sets of 6 weaves and only tunnels and hoops. Nothing else.
Chances is basically a Gamblers course (but you run it in numerical order like a standard course).
Touch N Go is only contacts, hoops, and tunnels

I'll be honest, I can't keep everyone straight, so I'm not sure what level you are at with Bella. NADAC differs from AKC in that it's very open and is built for speed (I'm assuming USDAA is like AKC, more tight).

In NADAC, you have to be clean to Q. However, you get 3 tries at the weaves (if you restart, you have to go to the beginning again) and there are no refusals. Also, your dog can run off the course and come back (w/o taking any objects) and still Q. I know, sad, but fun!

It really is a more laid-back fun type of trial.

I havent' done USDAA, but the big things I see in comparison to AKC is 1. NADAC isn't as tight, it's built more for speed/distance. 2. Chances is WAY harder in NADAC (especially in the Novice level). 3. you can have refusals in NADAC. 4. You have to be clean to Q in NADAC (all levels including no time faults) 5. NADAC people are a lot more friendlier and laid back (sometimes this can be bad though, as AKC is a lot more organized IMHO).

And lastly, the most important thing ever......
Dogs run naked!!!! No collar, nothing.

AND second most important thing
There can be ONLY ONE dog off-leash at the same time.
So, where in AKC, you can sit there w/o a lead and wait till the other person finishes and leaves the ring....you canNOT in NADAC. You'd get E'd right away. You enter the ring on-lead, you do not remove the lead until the judge says "good luck", you leave on-lead.
(I'm stressing this one because I've seen a lot of AKC people get E'd after a beautiful run because of a collar or taking off the lead too early)
However, again, most judges are pretty laid back, as are the people. They will tell you to take of a collar if anyone sees it (we watch each others back and just say this is your first trial - even if you've trialled in other venues - and they will be very lenient with you, lol)

I think that's about it. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[DogIsMyMantra]

Thanks for your replies. That's all very good to know. I had no idea regular 1 and 2 were the same course reversed. That's kind of an interesting concept.

It sounds pretty similar to USDAA (more flowly and no collar), but it is good to know not to take the collar off until given the okay. I totally would have screwed that up!

 

[k9kreationz]

Thanks for your replies. That's all very good to know. I had no idea regular 1 and 2 were the same course reversed. That's kind of an interesting concept.

It sounds pretty similar to USDAA (more flowly and no collar), but it is good to know not to take the collar off until given the okay. I totally would have screwed that up!

Just be there for the general briefing. And when they ask if anyone is new, raise your hand, they'll explain all the rules (well, the important ones that get you E's). The judges are typically pretty laid back and sometimes even very fun.

Oh, the one reason I explained about how they run regular, is because you'll be sitting around for awhile. Usually I have to wait 1.5-2 hours while Elite/Open runs. I usually work those classes to make the time go by faster, lol. But it does take awhile to run them back to back (although, overall it is faster).

You'll have to let me know what you think later. I definitely think it's not for everyone, kinda like any venue, right Sharon (I'm just messing with you).

 

[DeafSheltieMom]

other differences...

I think Cheryl told you most of the important differences about NADAC... you do have to start out in Novice, but like Cheryl said, you can title with just 3 Qs in all of the classes and move up. There are extended titles in each level, but if you are already fairly experienced, moving up will give you more challenges. The courses/Q times do get much harder in Open than Novice. Novice courses are pretty easy. It is really to get people used to the games and for newbies.

One thing, though... the only classes with jumps are Regular (standard), Chances, and Jumpers. All of the other classes are run "on the flat". For Weavers, you run with hoops, tunnels, and weaves, and for Touch and Go, contacts, hoops and tunnels. Hoopers is run entirely with hoops, Tunnelers, just tunnels. All have their interesting quirks and challenges. Tunnelers can be a massive rush, especially at the Elite level where time is of the essence, and you and your dog have got to be really fast and efficient. Beating your fast dog to a cross to avoid an off course tunnel can be the most exciting challenge of the day.

NADAC is definitely much flowy-er, and faster. The courses are designed for speed and distance, and handling. And the trials are fun and laid back.

Another important difference is that you are allowed to train ONE thing in the ring (you are 'E'ed, so no Q). I have a SuperDog that flies off contacts at times, so when he flies off that first contact, there won't be a Q anyways, so I can bring him back to do it again (training). You can do that with any obstacle. Some people train distance when they've messed up a part of the course, some work on their start lines (you cannot make a move back to your dog once you leave them, not one step. If you do, it is training and an E). You can't spend a lot of time training (the judge will ask you to move on) but at least you are allowed to do it.

Another interesting thing is that in Tunnelers, Touch and Go, and Hoopers, all classes essentially run the same course. The main difference is the time you need to Q (and in Hoopers, the number of tests you need complete to Q). In Weavers, it is essentially the same course, but in Elite there are two sets of 12 weave poles + 1 set of 6 weave poles to complete, in Open, 1 set of 12 and 2 sets of 6, and in Novice, 3 sets of 6. The rest of the course remains the same (the course is tweaked slightly to accomodate the differing lengths of the weaves). And in Chances, the course remains the same, but the tape is moved in for both Open and Novice.

I've noticed that the Chances courses have gotten more challenging, even in Novice, than when I first started. It really forced me to work on our distance, and independent obstacle performance.

Have fun at your trial!
-dayle