What do I do at the Trial?: Getting Ready

To make sure you arrive, make sure you have printed out the location instructions from the Premium if you’ve never been to the trial site before. Also make sure you arrive in PLENTY of time before the first run of the day. There is a fair bit to do before you run your dog, and even if you are not running the first course of the day, you may be responsible for a volunteer job during it!

• Leave your dog in the well-ventilated car and find a place to sit somewhere around the field you will be running in; leave some stuff there to hold the spot.
• Go to the check-in desk and register for the trial. You must show your AAC dog ID card. You may be given a catalog listing the events and the running orders. Make sure you verify the events you think you are in with the person at the registration table! A printout of the courses is usually also available at this time. This is also a good time to check and see what volunteer jobs you have been assigned [see more below on the various jobs], or to sign up for volunteer jobs [a MUST!].
• Also, find out where and when dog measurements will be. If this is your very first trial, your dog will need to be officially measured by 2 different judges. The dog must be over 2 years of age for the measurement to be recorded on the ID card. If she is under 2 years old then you must get her measured at each trial but the measurements will not be recorded. If your dog is over 23", a single measurement is required and he does not need to be 2 years old.
  • Usually, but not always, measuring happens first thing in the morning, before the first run of the day. You will need to have the dog’s AAC card for the judges to fill in. Once these 2 measurements have happened – and they agree with one another – the card can be laminated and you no longer need to have your dog measured.

  •  Remember the judge will be a dog lover, but likely a stranger to your dog and could be a man or a woman. It is your responsibility to be able to stand your dog and have a stranger touch the shoulders (to find the shoulder blades) and then put a bar (or wicket) over the shoulders. The judge cannot (and will not) measure a dog that will not stand still. It is a good idea to bring some treats.

• Finally, ask about equipment familiarization. Most trials allow Starters dogs [which are dogs who have not yet earned any title] to try out the contact equipment [A-frame, teeter, dog walk] before the trial starts. The people at registration should be able to tell you if this is possible [it should also be in the Premium], who is running it, and when you can do it.
• Go back and set up. Your dog should always be on leash unless she is running a course or in her crate or x-pen [shorthand for those wire "play pens" that are technically called "exercise-pens" … you don’t want to know how long it took me to figure this one out! (-; If you are running in the summer, try to find a spot where the dog can have some kind of shade. Crates can be helpful for providing weather protection. Introduce yourself to those setting up around you. Who knows? Maybe a more experienced trialer will take you under their wing?
• Find out where the warm-up jumps are.
• RELAX!  It's going to be fine (-: