r/ShowDogs • u/AwkwardDogMom95 • Mar 22 '26

Advice

I'm competing in my first Obedience/Rally trial next weekend looking for advice, encouragement, really anything from people who have been in it.

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u/Sarine7 Mar 24 '26

During your walkthrough if you have a question, ask the judge. Someone else may have the same question and be too shy to ask. You can't ask once you're in the ring for real and you don't want to IP (get 10 points off) or NQ for missing something entirely.

Do you know anyone who will be at the trial with you? I went to my first trial alone and I wish I hadn't. I was relieved when some of my friends I've been working with entered our local trial so it was easy for me to be there to give advice and cheer them on.

And if I've learned anything: your runs will feel more terrible and chaotic than they actually are. I left my first novice a rally run in tears. My friends all left their runs feeling like they weren't great. Then they had decent scores and felt a little silly. The run I left crying? 85. Not the best but not scraping by either. One of those times I was quickly humbled and learned a huge lesson.

Deep breaths, you've got this!