Entering a dog show

[Stacy]

So, the Rally people suggested to me that I should enter Maggie in the show that's coming up at the end of August. They have Rally on Friday, so we could actually do that one day. But I'm looking at the premium. It's 60 pages long and I'm totally overwhelmed. I skimmed it, but because there's so much of it that's practically a foreign language, I didn't try to read it in depth. It's a whole cluster of shows. There are no times listed for anything (and don't even get me started on the entry form. I'm not smart enough to fill it out. 

It says the show is from 8am-11pm. With no times, how do you even know when to be there? Or where to be. Or what to do. I don't think it's even the Rally course that makes me so nervous. It's all the logistics surrounding it that I'm not sure about. How does a person navigate their first dog competition? Add to that the fact that I'm terrible at talking to strangers and asking for help (except from you guys, I'm all about your help!) and I'm a total disaster!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would think that the "Rally people" would be happy to help, considering they are the ones who suggested it, lol. 

Could you ask one of them? 

[Stacy]

Yes, though that requires speaking to people, lol. There's actually a kennel club meeting tonight that I'm going to and I printed the entry form. It's due in a week, so I don't have a lot of time to think about it. I'm a reasonably intelligent person, I should be able to do this. But it's not super intuitive. Maggie has an AKC canine partners number, but that's not one of the boxes. There's an AKC number, a PAL number (which is what I thought it was, but it turns out from googling that that's the purebred alternative listing) and a Foreign number. So I guess she has an AKC number, even though it isn't a real AKC number? It also asks her breed. Her AKC paperwork lists her as Poodle and Labrador retriever, but I thought mixed breeds were all called All American Dogs. I'm not sure what I should put down. *edit I found on the back of the form what I should put for this one. 

But I'm still stuck on what time she would be showing. I signed Willow up for a class that night and the show is an hour away. I feel like I can probably make both, but who really knows. I would think they would start with the novice dogs, but maybe they start with the good dogs and go backwards. Still, I can't imagine the Rally trial would last as long as a conformation show. New things are hard. I think if we could get through just one trial I will like it, but that first one is going to be a real struggle.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So I did a little research, and it appears that the form you have is an old out-of-date form from back when mixed breeds could not participate in trials or earn titles in most AKC events, including rally. That must be why there is no place to enter your Canine Partners number, which IS Maggie's real AKC registration number and what NOW does allow her to particpate in AKC events. https://www.akc.org/register/information/canine-partners/

So you really are going to have to put on your big girl pants and talk to someone, lol. 

[Stacy]

I googled "sample akc rally entry form" and came up with this link 

https://images.akc.org/pdf/AOR999.pdf

According to #4 you put All American Dog in the breed and then list their AKC canine partners number in the AKC number box. Her number starts with MA, I wonder if that designates it as a canine partners number (I don't have anything to compare it to.) 

I still can't figure out the times. But if I can figure some of this other stuff out myself maybe I won't look so stupid. I was looking at the counts for last year. It doesn't show rally, but Novice A obedience only had one dog entered. (Just kidding, I found the Rally numbers and there were 10 NovA dogs. We won't win!) If I'm the only one I might win! I feel like the dog show world is hard to break into. I think once I figure it all out it might be a lot of fun, but that first bit when you haven't done it before is hard. More people might want to be involved if it was... something. I've been reading through some of the new exhibitor information on the AKC website, but it doesn't answer all my questions. I need a mentor. And I actually am starting to get to know some of the people at the club, so I *do* need to put on my big girl panties and ask someone to help me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

AKC registration numbers all have a 2 letter breed code and then 8 digits. Poodle numbers all start with PR, for example. The "M" in Maggie's number may stand for "mixed". I have no idea what the A stands for, but then I also have no idea what the R stands for in Jasper's, lol. But I'm pretty sure MA must be the code for All American Dogs. 

Those big girl panties look good on you. ;)

[GBK]

I am just starting training for our new pup for rally too.  I've put two other dogs through to Excellent level, but that was many years ago :)  If I remember right, the Novice starts first and they build on the course to the more advanced levels.  You should probably get there first thing when they open. 

[Stacy]

That is so helpful to know and it makes sense to me. They’re also having obedience the same day so I wonder if that makes a difference. I’m going to ask tonight to see if they can give me more guidance. Also to ask if they think it’s stupid for us to enter. I don’t think we are very good! It also turns out that the online entry form makes much more sense than the paper one does. It at least tells you if you’re doing it wrong! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I was going to ask if they had other events happening that day. 

[GBK]

Usually they do Rally and Obedience simultaneously.  They will use different judges for Rally and Obedience.

Can't hurt to try :)  At least you will see where you are and what you need to work on.  I just joined a FB page where people post the rally courses they have competed in.  I like to practice with the signs on my own and this gives me an insight as to what the judges are setting up so we can practice a full course.  It has changed a lot in the last ten years, and I have a lot to practice!  Good luck and keep us posted Stacy!

[Stacy]

So, here's the info I got. You don't know a time. After the entries have closed you will get a schedule. And she said that they try to change it up so the same classes don't go first every day. I was sitting here thinking about it earlier, and I was really thinking that surely they wouldn't make Novice A go first, right? I mean, take the people who have never been to a dog show before and throw them to the wolves? At least make Novice B go first. I need to see what to do before it's my turn. 

I went ahead and signed up. Willow has a class that night at 6:30, and it was an expensive one, so I'm gambling that I can do both on the same day. 

I also talked to a lady who has a ton of titles on her dogs and she's also a weekend option RN. So it can be done. She said you just go when you can. There are Friday shows out there. There might even be some Wednesday and Thursday shows. This group of shows is on Wednesday and Thursday too, but doesn't have Rally those days. If we were doing obedience instead we could enter. But I'm not sure we're ready even for Beginner Novice. I talk a lot while we're going around the ring.

But I wish you guys could have seen Maggie there tonight. She was such a little social butterfly making friends with people and letting them pet her. She has really come out of her shell. She just amazes me with how far she's come. It's incredible. If you would have told me she'd be here a year and a half ago I would never have believed you. I didn't think she would recover from whatever trauma she's had. 

And Karen, I took these poodle pictures for you. I know they're terrible photos, but I think she's so cute. Even in her little baby show dog haircut.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That could be one of Jasper's relatives. He has some in KS, including his sister. That's not her, though, she has bracelets but no jacket. And all of his relatives are involved in some kind of performance sport. 
They're not going to do Novice B before Novice A. :)

[Stacy]

I suspect she is somehow related to Jasper - she at least has the same kennel name. She would have been born around the beginning of January, if I can count. 

Maybe B won't go first, but it really does make more sense that way. Why send the new kids out first? That's just not nice!