Intro to Agility

[LeeAnne McAdam]

What a great idea!!! Jack and I will try that for sure!

[Becky Wolfe]

This fall I have been playing in Intro with my youngest, Herbie and we love it. It has been a great opportunity to work on his the connection, distance, directionals and confidence without too many obstacles. This last weekend we entered weavers for the first time, which gave me an idea of where is mind was with weaves in a different environment without too many obstacles. He did get the first pole then saw the tunnel and the next tunnel but then realized I wasn't working with him.  So he came back  to me and we became a team again, he did his weaves and finished the course. I will use Intro weavers to help gauge when he is ready for Novice regular.  So we love it and it makes me think about the trials I travel too.

[Linda W. Anderson]

We would really like to offer Intro at our March 20-22, 2015 trial, but are worried we won't have enough daylight to get everything in.  According to Timebie, we should have 12 hrs of daylight on that weekend with sunrise at 6:25 AM and sunset at 6:31 PM.  I would appreciate any information clubs can offer about how much time offering Intro in all 6 classes would add to the day.  Offering Intro would not change the total number of runs offered No time added there), but it does add time for course building and walk throughs.  You can post information here or e-mail me privately at lindaezri@yahoo.com  Thanks in advance for your replies. 
Linda

[Jeannie Biggers]

Hi Linda,

I dont know exactly how much time but I do know that the course changes take like 2 minutes and usually the walk thrus are less then 3 minutes.  If I had to guess I would say it would add no more then an hour to a trial....

[Pam Kaye]

Linda,

I agree with Jeannie's estimate, but I do think it might increase your entries...

[quamashbcs@yahoo.com]

Many people do not even walk the course as the sequence is usually very obvious. So quite a lot of time saved there.

[quamashbcs@yahoo.com]

Another way to save time is to adjust the order of classes so that contacts are not being dragged on and off the field.

At a trial this weekend we finished Saturday with Intro Chances. A lot of equipment had to put back on field for Elite Chances on Sunday morning, then removed for Intro Chances, and then put back on again for Elite Regular. Clearly that could have been managed differently.

Do the course designer(s) suggest optimal class orders when they submit courses?

[Erin Wajda]

It is hard to quantify, but we added Intro in all classes this season and my gut says it only added 30 minutes to at most 1 hour to the day.

[Linda W. Anderson]

Thanks to everyone who posted about adding Intro.  We have decided to try it in the spring.  We are changing our start time from 8:00 AM to 7:30 AM and will also be timing walk throughs.  Hopefully these changes will provide enough time to complete all classes before it gets too dark.
Linda

[Sheila & the Shelties]

What a great idea!

My 18 month old is starting in Intro next month and we can't wait!   

However I have also found a different use for Intro.   My Rox is in Elite in everything but Regular (N), Weavers (we don't enter) and Chances (Open).   I promised her that after she got her Novice Triple Superior she would not have to weave again (sometimes we see them in Chances and I ask her to try, if she does them great if not we go on but still great).

I enter her in Intro Regular to practice our distance skills.  I create my own bonus line and see how we do-  the courses lend themselves to distance and we both love it!    So Intro is not just for newbies.

[Jeanne Allen]

Linda,

My club just had a three day trial and we had Intro in every class.  From a Chief Course builder perspective it all comes down to how much help you have.  If you have a lot of help the changes can be made quickly.  But if there is only the judge, myself and maybe 2 other people it takes longer. 

I know you are dealing with the amount of daylight, but starting earlier and setting a time for walk throughs will help.  The other thing I notice about my local trial is when we are done building and numbering a course and ready to let the handlers walk, most of the time there is no one there ready to walk the course.  I travel a lot to do NADAC and at all of those trials the handlers are chomping at the bit to get out on the course to walk it.

I love Intro for both the baby dogs just learning the sport and for the older dogs that can not do as much, but still love playing the game!

[Sharon Nelson]

Linda,

My club just had a three day trial and we had Intro in every class.  From a Chief Course builder perspective it all comes down to how much help you have.  If you have a lot of help the changes can be made quickly.  But if there is only the judge, myself and maybe 2 other people it takes longer. 

I know you are dealing with the amount of daylight, but starting earlier and setting a time for walk throughs will help.  The other thing I notice about my local trial is when we are done building and numbering a course and ready to let the handlers walk, most of the time there is no one there ready to walk the course.  I travel a lot to do NADAC and at all of those trials the handlers are chomping at the bit to get out on the course to walk it.

I love Intro for both the baby dogs just learning the sport and for the older dogs that can not do as much, but still love playing the game!

We have found the same thing happening, Jeanne.  When you open for walk-through they have all gone to get their dogs to run and no one even walks the courses!   They watch the setting and where the numbers are put and go get their dogs!

Sharon

[Linda W. Anderson]

Linda,

My club just had a three day trial and we had Intro in every class.  From a Chief Course builder perspective it all comes down to how much help you have.  If you have a lot of help the changes can be made quickly.  But if there is only the judge, myself and maybe 2 other people it takes longer. 

I know you are dealing with the amount of daylight, but starting earlier and setting a time for walk throughs will help.  The other thing I notice about my local trial is when we are done building and numbering a course and ready to let the handlers walk, most of the time there is no one there ready to walk the course.  I travel a lot to do NADAC and at all of those trials the handlers are chomping at the bit to get out on the course to walk it.

I love Intro for both the baby dogs just learning the sport and for the older dogs that can not do as much, but still love playing the game!

We have found the same thing happening, Jeanne.  When you open for walk-through they have all gone to get their dogs to run and no one even walks the courses!   They watch the setting and where the numbers are put and go get their dogs!

Sharon

I have only been to two trials locally that have offered Intro, but at both of them, all the handlers have walked the courses.  I think this is because they are brand new handlers.  In addition to the adjustments we are already planning, at the briefing I will ask exhibitors to be ready to walk as soon as the course are built no matter what the level. 

Thanks again to all who have posted ideas and suggestions.
Linda

[Team Twodog]

One of the MANY great things about Intro is that since many experienced handlers skip the walkthrough, those new handlers who do want to walk the course do not have to wade through crowds of others doing the same thing.

[Jan Adams Lukenbill]

Sharon,
When will you be adding Intro to the NADAC Title Checklist?  Will you be updating the NADAC rule book any time in the future? 

Me and my Chihuahuas are really enjoying the Intro classes.  Gidget is almost ready to try out Novice Regulars again.  I'm waiting until she gets 200 points in Intro Regulars.  This has been a great addition to the NADAC trials.  If it wasn't for this new class, I might have dropped out of NADAC competition or at least not entered as many classes this past year. 

Great job!

Thanks,

Jan