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!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Teachers who make you feel stupid, need to get a life!  You are a smart person, so just do the best you can, and move on.  It will take a while to get all the 'tricks' down and feel like you know what's really going on so  don't sweat it.  If you miss something, so what! Truly.  I am hugely in favor of what you guys are calling balanced training for the dogs.   I think if you have a 6:30 class that you really don't want to miss, plan on leaving in order to go whether you are done or not.  Just going and being part of it that first time is huge.  I would have suggested just you going to see what it's like before signing up, but that is my idea of preparing - I'm a bit slow.

[Stacy]

The one thing I will say about that class is that I think I have a much thicker skin than I did 10 years ago. There was once a time when not only would I not have finished that class, but I probably would have left there and not gone back to the kennel club, and maybe not to dog training anywhere again. I might have been a bit of a delicate snowflake. It's good to have toughened up a little bit. 

I probably should have just gone to watch this first show and entered the next one, but I am so limited in shows I can actually go to that I decided to go for it. I'll send you the link if we end up as a blooper on youtube.

I'm much more likely to actually go since I paid my 32.95. Otherwise I can see myself coming up with half a dozen excuses why staying home is a better option. I do like the idea of just leaving when I need to to go to Willow's class. It's a loose lead walking class with the same guy who did Maggie's private lessons. I'm really excited about this one. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I like your adventurous spirit and positive attitude. 

[Stacy]

Ha! Thank you. I hope I'm not one of those people who make my life sound more exciting on social media than it is. I'm a total homebody. It would be nice to find my tribe. I've been accused of being a hermit, and I don't want to be that. But I don't really want to go anywhere without the dogs either. Maybe dog sports are the perfect solution. I can talk to anyone about the dogs in ways I wouldn't talk to them without the dogs. They aren't my emotional support dogs, but they do make me brave.

[Stacy]

We got our judging schedule in the mail, and I'm starting to get nervous about doing this. I know it will be fine, but new is always scary.

Novice A has 5 dogs entered and they go dead last, after Novice B and all the good dogs. Rally intermediate has 24 dogs entered and they start at 10:50. According to the judging regulations they're supposed to run at 20 dogs/hour. Then there are 10 dogs in Novice B and it starts "after noon" according to the program. Then the 5 Novice A dogs. Obedience beginner novice A starts at 1:15 in that ring, so we should be finished by then. I'm dragging my mother along for moral support, but I hope we find some dog person I know to give a little guidance. 

This is all on leash, so as long as she doesn't poop in the ring nothing terrible can happen. I just have to keep reminding myself of that! Everyone was new at this once, right?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Just doing it is huge. HUGE. 

Yes, everyone was new at it once, and nothing terrible will happen. 

And I'm pretty sure that no matter what happens, the feeling of accomplishment and pride afterwards will be amazing. 

I so admire you for doing this, Stacy. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Even though this was meant for agility people, it really resonated with me, and I think it will with you too. 

[GBK]

Good Luck Stacy, you have this!  Yes, the first time is stressful.  I had never competed in anything before with my dogs when we first did Rally.  I think I hardly breathed the first few times :)  But it was fun and it is what got me hooked on dog sports.  Can't wait to hear the results and how you enjoyed it.  Do the walk through like you have your dog next to you.  Stop at each station and talk and hand signal to your invisible dog.  This helps me visualize and time how the course will go.  There are only 5 of you, take your time and Have Fun!