Stay training. I still need to share about the seminar!
Griffin’s training is coming together very well, even with all of his time off this year. We’re looking at event listings and our calendar for the next few months to try and decide which events to do.
Unless you know how to look, it can be quite hard to find events. When I’m looking for competition obedience events in my area (Columbus, OH), here’s the process I use.
1) Check AKC listings. The American Kennel Club website is a little difficult to use. By clicking on the right tabs you can end up on the page that lets you look for events. Click here for a link to that page. Click on the state/s you would travel to. Above and to the right of the US map, click on the Search For “Obedience” box. If you would also like to search for rally – click on that box as well. After you have clicked on your state and obedience, click on the “search” button that is above and left of the US map.
This opens up a new tab that lists the event, who is hosting it, opening date [when you can submit an entry] and closing date [when your entry must be received by], event date, classes offered, judges, etc. I look for the city/club hosting events (to pick ones that are closer to where I live), the dates of the event, and the classes I want to enter. Sometimes if I’m looking for a less-offered class I will search the page (ctrl+f buttons) for the specific class.
I know the clubs closest to me – but I fink the AKC page is often updated much sooner than the club websites. Once I see an event posted on AKC I can then go and look at the club website to get the premium and any other information about the event.
Pretend group stay for red dogs only.
2) Check the UKC listings. The United Kennel Club is not as common as AKC and I know I’ll have to drive a little further for those events. Some of their beginner classes may be more appropriate for a beginner dog starting out and they are more likely to have 2 trials in one day than AKC (meaning more participation options).
Click on their events page. I find it easiest to then go to the “Search by” box (under the “Dog events, displayed by month” heading) and click “by state”. Then go to the search box below that and click on your state. You will get a listing for all of the show/obed/rally/agility UKC listings for your state – read carefully as it’s all events combined. You can then go to the club sites to get the premiums. If you live near enough to borders to travel to other states you will need to do an additional search for those states. The site does let you do a search by type of event, date of event, etc.
3) Check the CDSP listings. Companion Dog Sport Program isn’t as common in this part of the country – I know I’d have to drive out of state to participate. This program is a little different – more similar to UKC than AKC. Food can be used in the ring between activities which may help make it a better introduction to the ring for some dogs.
Visit the event listing page and click on your region. Trials will be listed – usually you have to go to the club/host’s website to get the premium.
Note – this isn’t currently being offered in Ohio – if anyone in the area is interested, let me know – we’ve considered hosting trials.
4) Other:
Sometimes I look at WCRL rally (World Cynosport Rally – formerly APDT). It’s not as interesting to me as obedience, but will be a good start to off-leash-away-from-home for Griffin. Their event listing page lists events by date – you can do a search by state.
C-WAGS (Canine Work and Games) is a mostly-regional program – unfortunately for me their scent programs are more popular than their obedience programs. There’s not enough time for me to do everything so I haven’t looked at this one as much. They have an event listing page – be sure to read carefully about what events are being held at each trial.
What’s next? Well – we’re looking at a few events, waiting to hear back about a few other commitments, and diligently working on our challenge areas to be ready to actually go to an event soon!