Yes, I agree it's a training issue, don't get me wrong - I certainly don't care if I place - that's an added bonus

and for someone to say that I'm just in it for the NATCH or V-NATCH is totally incorrect, but is there something wrong with having that has a goal?
It took me almost 3 years to the date to get Suzy's NATCH-2, (if I didn't enjoy doing it I certainly wouldn't have struggled to get those last Chances Qs). In fact, Chances is one of my favorite classes. If someone says Chances is not a technical course, they are full of bologne

You've got to be ON THE MONEY for your commands or you are in BIG TROUBLE... I certainly enjoy NADAC or I wouldn't be doing it

. And, I compete in 4 venues with my border collie and 2 now with my 13 year old. And, I am not cut-throat about having to qualify every time - my 13 year old went off course in her Novice Standard run last weekend and had the biggest grin on her face it was hysterical. In fact, the only reason I dropped her to Novice as I said before was so she could have less jumps to take. It's going to break my heart (and hers) when she cannot play anymore as she still springs off that start line trying to get that 13 year old, 50 pound body, to get what it used to do even 3 years ago, but she still comes off that finish line smiling and bouncing. She's just not gonna willingly give it up and I'm going to have to make that judgement call for her safety.
My point was that it can be disheartening for people to go have the fun of having a beautiful run and then finding out they missed time by a second or less (and I've been there too) (maybe their goal for the weekend was to just get that one Q).
You're exactly right Danielle, if we didn't have goals or want the Q's we wouldn't be out there competing to get that Q or Title or NATCH, CATCH, ADCH or MACH, we would be staying home playing at the training facility or in our own backyards. I've got students who compete regularly and I've got students who don't care if they ever compete, however, they all get the same level of training from me. I've also got students who only do AKC or NADAC or CPE or USDAA - that's entirely up to them. I certainly don't hold it against them if they never run a NADAC course and poo poo NADAC, that's their preference, however, my classes concentrate on every venue and trust me there are a lot of serpentines, wraps, threadles, discriminations on my courses

I try to gear my classes for the week as to who is competing the following weekend and what venue they are doing. Every venue has it plusses and minuses.
So let's not be judgemental when I say that making time can be disheartening for everyone (whether Elite, Open or Novice). Everyone out that has some kind of goal or they wouldn't be out their "donating" their run money for that NQ.
Linda