AAC vs NADAC

When I first started Hunter in agility around 4 years ago I entered an AAC trial. I liked it - but I was so new and inexperienced. They're were so many fantastic handlers that I felt intimidated. I was taking agility classes with a group that trialed in NADAC - so I entered my first trial in that venue and also really liked it! I've made so many really close friends that I still have today! I trialed solely in NADAC until the last year. I felt there were too many changes in NADAC. I was really disappointed that the teeter was taken out of trials. Distance is really pushed in NADAC and let me tell you, watching some of those handlers directing their dogs from that distance line - well - it's a thing of beauty!!
However - I LOVE running with my dogs! It's why I started agility - to bond and be a team with my pups! Now - you can still run with your dogs in NADAC - of course, but the courses are made for distance.
When I made the decision to start trialing Trapper in AAC (just about a year ago) - a lot of my friends told me I was "turning to the dark side!" huh??? There are fantastic things in NADAC that I really love - and the same goes for AAC. I find the courses in AAC tighter - you have to be very quick with your commands - you cannot take things for granted. My personel opinion is that for me and my dogs - at this time - AAC is more challenging!
There are no refusals in NADAC. Believe it or not - I love that refusals are in AAC. It makes me think more on course about trying to get a more flowey run and to really watch out for traps. They're some incredible "Elite" dogs in NADAC who are truly awesome, but I just don't feel right when they stop - refuse a tunnel or jump or spin and spin in front of an obstacle and still have a qualifying run.
NADAC is wonderful especially for a new dog as the courses are more open and the games like tunnelers and touch n go are great for motivation and contact training if needed!
I really like the fact the NADAC is VERY strict on having control of your dog when entering and exiting the ring - always on leash and you cannot play tug with your dog until you are well out of the ring.
I think that AAC has the same rule - but to be honest I don't believe that it's enforced much. Because of NADAC I always enter the ring and exit with Hunty and Trappy on leash - then we play - whichever agility venue we play in.

I love watching the handlers in AAC - a few in particular that if I can - I'll always stop and watch because they're so cool and quick and awesome to watch. I try to learn off of them as much as I can!!

I will still trial in NADAC in the future for sure - but for now my concentration is on AAC. It's what I'm really enjoying right now and I can't wait for Regionals in June to try and qualify for Nationals here in Calgary. My first regionals this past June in Lethbridge was the thrill of a lifetime for me. It was so well organized and so exciting for Trapper and I!!
Who knows - maybe I'll even enter Hunter at Regionals next year - if she still seems focused as she was at the Wee Wed trial this past week - you never know!!!

If "turning to the darkside" means being challenged in a different way, being pushed to try and be a better handler, making new friends and enjoying something new - then I don't mind!

To each her own! :o)

Yes!!! Hunter acheived her ADC title!!

Well - the Wee Wednesday trial tonight was great!! My Hunty got her last Starters Standard leg! Yippee!!! She got her title - ADC (Agility Dog of Canada) and she got a beautiful Training Troop titling ribbon! I usually don't collect ribbons unless they're special - this one is!! And she had no sniffies!! Wow - she ran really well! We didn't get her Snooker - as she jumped one of the red's twice - but until then she ran great! Trapper was only in Advance snooker and he ran wonderful!! Fast and clean in the opening - and we racked up a lot of points - but then he missed his weave entry in the closing!! I didn't care - he ran terrific so I was very happy!!
I love Wee Wed trials as they are very relaxed and really a lot of fun!

But I love to Sniff!!!!!!

Tomorrow night I entered the Training Troops Wee Wednesday trial. I've entered Hunter in Starters Standard and starters Snooker. I've entered Trapper in Advanced Snooker! For the last year I've really concentrated on Trappers training and trialing as he really enjoys it and does really well at agility!
Hunter is my happy go lucky, fly by the seat of her pants kind of agility dog. She doesn't love agility - at all. She does it for me and because I'm out there running and she wants to be with me. She's a hunting dog. If we trial in a barn and there's smells out there she'll go find them. Don't get me wrong - when Hunter is on and focused - she's dynamite! She's even won a few "Top Dog" awards at a few trials in the past.
Tomorrow night is a good test for her as the barn we will be in has had a lot of horses in it recently and we'll see if there are little "treats" left behind from them! I would love to enter Hunter in Regionals next June to try and qualify for Nationals so I'm going to enter her in a few trials here and there over the next few months and see where she's at! There's no pressure for her at all because I just want her to enjoy herself when she's out there! I never correct her during a run as she's very sensitive and usually shuts down. She has also always had problems with her weaves! She'll pop at 10 - not everytime - but a lot of times!!
So - tomorrow with be a great test for her with sniffing and the weaves! We'll see how she does!

Travelling for Agility

I just got my confirmation for the Dogs at Large trial (DAL) in Edmonton the weekend of December 5th. Great news!! AAC trials have been soooo hard to get into recently!! It may be because the AAC Nationals are in Calgary in 2010! Everyone wants to get their trialing in!



I only have Trapper entered and am travelling on my own for that weekend! I'll bring Hunter too though just cause I love having both kid's with me as much as possible! I'm actually really looking forward to being on my own though! It's like a little mini vacation!! I also just bought a new laptop and am looking forward to using it on my agility travels!



There's also a Wee Wednesday trial this coming Wednesday and I'm entering Hunter in the Starters Standard and Starters Snooker! Trapper will be in Advanced Snooker so we'll see how those runs go!!

This will be the first full trial since Trapper finally got his last Advaced Standard last weekend and has moved up to Masters!! We were having a very difficult time with the Table, but it is rarely used in Masters so I'm so relieved!! - Yippee!!!!