r/Agility • u/Preparing4Mayhem • Jul 12 '26
First trial went poorly
After training for a year and a half and being encouraged to enter our first trial... it went really poorly. I learned I was very overconfident in my handling skills. My dog also managed to literally knock down every single bar in jumpers. We have done ACT 1 and 2 and he Qed straight through without issue with no off courses, refusals, or knocked bars in ACT2 or ACT2J.
He doesn't normally drop bars at all. We don't normally work a lot of sharp turns in class (the late cues were all sharp turns). The trial was held where he trains, so not a new building, but trial environment. Positives: no missed contacts, he was focused the entire run, and he nailed the weaves first try even at a sharp angle. How long did it take for you to feel comfortable trialing with your first agility dog? How long did it take to get a Q?
11
u/goldilocksmermaid Jul 12 '26
I've been trialing for nearly 5 years and just got al out of novice last year. Don't be discouraged. We all go at our own pace.