what is your preferred venue?

Sharon · Sep 18, 2011

Venues

Also having started in NADAC, I don't get the big deal about not having a table or teeter. NADAC is for speed, distance, discrimination. I would think tables and teeters (and chutes too) slow dogs down. To me, it's just a different way of wanting to run a dog. I always feel like AKC is "too slow". I probably should've went to USDAA, but I wanted titles on my dogs pedigree.

As for Hoopers. Um, I'm not exactly sure of the skills needed, but I would think discrimination, direction, handling of your dog, speed, and distance. More so for the Elite group. And especially since everything out on the course are Hoops and nothing else. Reminds me of Jumpers with only jumps....I get lost easy.
To some people it is a big deal about the table and seesaw in NADAC.They train on all the equipment and want it.You put all that time and effort in training it.I know I want it.I also think Hoopers was a joke when I first saw it but changed my mind quickly when it was ran.It was pretty inpressive to watch.It looks easy but it wasn't.

Sharon · Sep 18, 2011

Venues

Silaria said:
We are going to have to agree to disagree on this topic Sharon.

I'm not hijacking this thread to debate the pros and cons of TDAA and that is what is happening.

It is just a question being asked and not hijacking a thread. :biggrin2:

HopeShelties · Sep 18, 2011

We have rubberized everywhere here in AKC, but not like what I encountered in the NADAC trial here. I did NOT like the black solid rubberized type contacts they had here. My dogs thought they were very bizarre.

k9kreationz · Sep 18, 2011

HopeShelties said:
We have rubberized everywhere here in AKC, but not like what I encountered in the NADAC trial here. I did NOT like the black solid rubberized type contacts they had here. My dogs thought they were very bizarre.

Oh, I understand. Yeah, NADAC does all black and then there's only a line that shows where the contact zone begins. Not sure why they do that, but it was weird the first time I trialed.

ortegah · Sep 19, 2011

HopeShelties said:
We have rubberized everywhere here in AKC, but not like what I encountered in the NADAC trial here. I did NOT like the black solid rubberized type contacts they had here. My dogs thought they were very bizarre.

Yeah that's what I meant. I'm all for the painted rubber surfaces, but not for the weird black mats that are on the NADAC obstacles.

ortegah · Sep 19, 2011

k9kreationz said:
From my experience, there IS a lot of waiting around. Check in at 7:30-8am. First dog on the line around 8:30. Because of the big 16" group, and that I'm usually at the bottom, I don't run until about 9:30ish. Then my standard run walks around 11:30ish, and again, I'm at the bottom, so I don't run till about 1:30ish. Coming from NADAC, it's hard to wait that long and not run more runs. And it's not like I can do much....because my group is so big, I'm having to wait around. Seriously, it's usually about 60 dogs and I'm running at about 45-50ish. Bleah. At one big trial.....I was #68 out of 72. Talk about stressed about missing your run, but bored out of your mind waiting too.

I mainly mean the beginning and end times of a show. Yes, it's a lot of waiting, but I always seem to be running around regardless. But the biggest shows I go to are at Dream Park in NJ. They run 990 runs per day which in my opinion is a whole lot of runs and I'm rarely there past 3pm so to me that's a nice day. Doesn't seem too long to me. Also, when Trax jumped 20" that class at Dream Park was never less than 90 dogs. Now THAT'S a big class! :lol:

Still I've never had a super long day there. Maybe I'm just lucky with the trials I go to.

ortegah · Sep 19, 2011

k9kreationz said:
I had to laugh at your first sentence. Because I think the exact opposite about AKC. Too many people, too few runs. And what's the point of FAST and T2B? LOL.

The last NADAC show I went to, we got there at 8am. There were literally 40 dogs at the very most. We ended at 5pm. That was crazy long for so few dogs. Sure it seems laid back, but just a tad too laid back in my opinion :wink2:

Oh and FAST is just like a gamblers course, well at least it's close to it. I only enter FAST or time 2 beat if it's a special price for all of it, and then I use those runs to reinforce(train) in the ring :biggrin2:

Coming from NADAC I will say this much. Um, I think everyone is going rubberized soon, so expect that on all equipment. Most places I run nowdays have rubberized equipment (that includes AKC and USDAA). Not sure if that's on their list of "rules" or what.

The rubber in NADAC is a totally different rubber than AKC has. I'm talking about the black matting, not the painted rubberized surfaces.

Also having started in NADAC, I don't get the big deal about not having a table or teeter. NADAC is for speed, distance, discrimination. I would think tables and teeters (and chutes too) slow dogs down. To me, it's just a different way of wanting to run a dog. I always feel like AKC is "too slow". I probably should've went to USDAA, but I wanted titles on my dogs pedigree.

I was always told it was about safety on those obstacles, but perhaps I heard wrong.

k9kreationz · Sep 19, 2011

ortegah said:
The last NADAC show I went to, we got there at 8am. There were literally 40 dogs at the very most. We ended at 5pm. That was crazy long for so few dogs. Sure it seems laid back, but just a tad too laid back in my opinion

Okay, that seems very long for 40 dogs. We typically run about 150 (I think) in that time. But then again, I am at an AKC trial from 7-3pm. The big difference in my mind though, is that I run 5 runs in NADAC and only 2 in AKC. So I always feel AKC is wasting my time. Darn titles. LOL. Oh, and if I want to run T2B or FAST, then extend that time to about 6ish.

The rubber in NADAC is a totally different rubber than AKC has. I'm talking about the black matting, not the painted rubberized surfaces.

Y'know, I never realized that, but you're right. Some of them are just painted rubber surfaces. However, I have seen the mesh matting in AKC trials too. I think it just depends on 1. what they can put on their existing contact obstacles (if they have slats, I don't think you have the meshy stuff) and 2. what they can afford or decide to buy. Now I'm going to check them out in my walk-through. See what club has what. Hehehe.

Also having started in NADAC, I don't get the big deal about not having a table or teeter. NADAC is for speed, distance, discrimination. I would think tables and teeters (and chutes too) slow dogs down.

I was always told it was about safety on those obstacles, but perhaps I heard wrong.

Oh, it is about safety, 100%. But what I meant was......was that for myself, I could careless about the table or teeter. In fact, I'm all for getting rid of the table. I hate waiting those 5 seconds. :biggrin2:

Hmm....maybe I need to hurry up and get my MACH so I can move onto USDAA.

k9kreationz · Sep 19, 2011

ortegah said:
I mainly mean the beginning and end times of a show. Yes, it's a lot of waiting, but I always seem to be running around regardless. But the biggest shows I go to are at Dream Park in NJ. They run 990 runs per day which in my opinion is a whole lot of runs and I'm rarely there past 3pm so to me that's a nice day. Doesn't seem too long to me. Also, when Trax jumped 20" that class at Dream Park was never less than 90 dogs. Now THAT'S a big class! Still I've never had a super long day there. Maybe I'm just lucky with the trials I go to.

You're VERY lucky.
In the AKC trials I have been to here, we run about 330 dogs on average. Show times from first dog on the line to the last....w/o T2B or FAST is about 8:30-4:30. With the other classes, add on another 1-2 hours.

ortegah · Sep 19, 2011

k9kreationz said:
Okay, that seems very long for 40 dogs. We typically run about 150 (I think) in that time. But then again, I am at an AKC trial from 7-3pm. The big difference in my mind though, is that I run 5 runs in NADAC and only 2 in AKC. So I always feel AKC is wasting my time. Darn titles. LOL. Oh, and if I want to run T2B or FAST, then extend that time to about 6ish.

Oh I understand that you get more runs and that's definitely a plus. I just like to be able to go home and spend time with my family afterwards so I'm really only looking at starting and ending times, not what fills the middle in.

Y'know, I never realized that, but you're right. Some of them are just painted rubber surfaces. However, I have seen the mesh matting in AKC trials too. I think it just depends on 1. what they can put on their existing contact obstacles (if they have slats, I don't think you have the meshy stuff) and 2. what they can afford or decide to buy. Now I'm going to check them out in my walk-through. See what club has what. Hehehe.

Most of the shows I go to use equipment from MAD agility and they use the painted rubber surfaces. I'm just used to that kind of surface now.

Oh, it is about safety, 100%. But what I meant was......was that for myself, I could careless about the table or teeter. In fact, I'm all for getting rid of the table. I hate waiting those 5 seconds. Hmm....maybe I need to hurry up and get my MACH so I can move onto USDAA.

Yeah but USDAA has a table and teeter as well, AND you have to have a down on the table. At least in AKC now all they have to do is be on the table. That definitely makes the runs go faster than it used to.