What is your favorite trial?

[Calliesmom]

I can definitely tell you what I DON'T prefer, all because I've NQ'd in each of these venues at least once.

• Covered horse arenas - So many interesting smells!
• Conformation/Obedience/Agility trials - Why do they ALWAYS have to clap during a long stay?!?!?
• Indoor Arenas - they echo.
• Indoor fairground exhibit buildings - old & musty with all sorts of interesting odors
• Outdoors - who pooped during the last round?!?!??!?
• Venues with back-to-back rings - especially if you are doing a recall with your Novice A dog, Neechee, and in the adjoining ring an Open B dog named "Ichi" is being called. (facepalm)
• Venues where the food stand is adjacent to the ring you're showing in.

I may be able to think of a few more if I put myself to it. So, yeah, it very well may be that there is NO PREFERENCE in venues to me - they all have sucked at one time or another.

what does that leave?

 

[Calliesmom]

I know you're talking about obedience, but I liked your question so I'm going to chime in with an agility answer

I prefer trialing outside, but really prefer it when the weather is somewhat temperate, or if there is at least some shaded area to park/crate. In Charleston we had huge trees and shaded areas for parking and even in early summer it had a nice breeze. Here the only outdoor trial is in a huge open park, and though I like being outside, there is no reprieve from the sun and the trials go through the entire summer.

Turns out not many people like to trial outside around here, so my second preference is indoor soccer arenas (2 rings, please!) with ample parking close to the entrance and open/safe fields around the building where you can exercise your dog.

We recently trialed in a soccer arena but it was close to a busy street, and there was very little grassy area so it was always crowded with other dogs. There was also no good way to get to the car (we prefer crating out of the car).

I'm not a huge fan of equestrian arenas because the dirt can be so unpredictable, and lastly, I HATE indoor trials on rubber matting. We don't even bother to go.

Horse arenas are really the best option here, you don't want to be uncovered- and except for Sheltie Nationals- the only place we've done agility so far. Outdoors and grass with no shade- even in March in Florida was a little tough heatwise. We practice on grass though so the pups didn't care about that part.
Callie got to do rally at two indoor venues (community center, fairground building) and one horse arena. Cran got to do indoor rally for his second leg.
the pups were indoors at the Exhibition hall in Florida- obedience and rally were supposed to be outside but weather moved that part inside.

at this point, I'd say venue doesn't really matter.
decent crating area, nice restrooms and parking are very helpful.
I'd have to say good trial secretary is the most important part of a trial.
I've already been turned off from entering a trial because of that issue.

 

[2GoodDogs]

Amen to that! A good trial secretary is HUGELY important! We have someone very good now and our complaints to compliments ratio at the last trial was something to crow about!