New Course Design !*&%&*

[DeafSheltieMom]

When I looked at the posted Feather course, I recognized it as one we just ran a few weekends ago (minus the ending tunnel).  Tesla and I sucked at it in the direction posted :-(.  But we rocked it going in the reverse direction!  I learned where to stand and how to direct the funky box from our disaster the day before.  Here is the link to her Reg 4 run:



It was fun, but yes, it was challenging.  And it helped that we had double-run format to learn from our mistakes the day before.  There wasn't anything in the course that wasn't seen before... it just all happened in the SAME course :-)  The funky box was our downfall.  Handling error!

-dayle

[ricbonner]

Round 3 at champs was the rendition of feather.

https://www.nadac.com/Rd3Std.pdf

If you didn’t handle this course it sucked royally.   If you handled it and directed your dog well then it flowed great and the path was always there, but you couldn’t fall asleep on this one


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Round 3 was Cody's highest placement at Champs before the finals- 7th.  Nearly every course at Champs I felt favored Cody's skill set.

[BeckyAH]

I think, based on looking at maps - because when I ran one of those technical courses my Q rate wasn't stellar, either - that neither the dog's path, nor the skills required, are even remotely 'new' for NADAC - and I don't mean going back 10 years to points there are teeters on the course, either.  I've been running for all of about three years in trials and I've seen all those lines, and all of those handling challenges before. 

The flow is still there for the dog - it just requires more active handling, more crosses, and really good timing.  Those things are not easy.  The courses are not easy.  But I just keep not seeing anything there that is reminiscent of anything but NADAC, or that truly requires new skills - either for handler or dog.  Less forgiving of mistakes in using those skills, some new application of skills, but I don't see anything there that's worth freaking out or stressing about.

Then again I've pretty well decided that short of a teeter on the course - or some other obstacle I have not trained at all - I'm just not stressing out or freaking out about agility at all.   I'm not saying this is good, but I just refuse.

[KarissaKS]

Not going to lie, but I feel the fact that I compete in multiple venues helped me a lot with the courses at Championships this year (same as how I felt that my NADAC skills gave me an advantage at AKC Nationals in the spring, it goes both ways). I've always felt that people who focus on only one skill set are going to struggle at some point or another. If you never test yourself with new challenges then of course things are going to seem very difficult when you encounter a variation from "the norm."

Another variable to keep in mind is handler speed. Those who can run as fast as their dogs can get by with a lot less training. Those who cannot run as fast as their dogs must rely on training skills that allow them to handle challenges from a distance. There are folks out there handling a lot more technical challenges than those posted from a considerable distance, so it can certainly be done if one chooses. The dog's path is as smooth as you make it. That is our challenge as handlers.

[mephalon]

I also would like to know about June time changes.  Will it be more or less time?

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We’ll be posting details soon. 

But it will be based off of 8 different trials across the country running the same courses.  And those  dog times  will determine the times for the following year.


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Chris- Just curious if this analysis will be based on reviewing the entire trial result catalog (Qs and  NQs)?  Currently I know NADAC does not see NQs as all we send to NADAC post trial are the Qs spreadsheet. 

M

[Foomin Z]

I really wanted to stay out of this...and I'm not sure anything I say will be valued.... Some of the comments make me sad. NADAC "was" about DISTANCE, DIRECTIONALS, and SPEED not the handler running with their dog all around the course. Running with your dog is what happens in the other venues. Do we want to be like other venues ? What happens to the dogs body is the most important to me. And jerking them around a congested course is not fun. Why would anyone with fast dogs want to slow them down. My Sheltie is fast but smaller so he doesn't have trouble, he nearly always has a perfect weekend. I like a challenging course but it needs to be fair to the dogs body and not causing harm to my fast BCs.

No one is forcing you to run the course as is in any venue. If you look at the course, and think it may be harmful to your dog, then don't run it. Sure, you paid your entry fee ahead of time, but everyone did that, and everyone is taking the chance the course will be favorable.

Also, "running with your dog" is not the absolute of what happens in the other venues, and it doesn't NOT happen in NADAC. "Running with your dog" is a personal training choice.

[Chris Nelson]

I also would like to know about June time changes.  Will it be more or less time?

Sent from my KFASWI using Forum Fiend v1.3.3.

We’ll be posting details soon. 

But it will be based off of 8 different trials across the country running the same courses.  And those  dog times  will determine the times for the following year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chris- Just curious if this analysis will be based on reviewing the entire trial result catalog (Qs and  NQs)?  Currently I know NADAC does not see NQs as all we send to NADAC post trial are the Qs spreadsheet. 

M

It will be based on any run that is clean and no bobbles.

So yes NQ from time faults will be included.

But the dog has to be connected and running the entire course in order for it to count


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[Foomin Z]

Round 3 at champs was the rendition of feather.

https://www.nadac.com/Rd3Std.pdf

If you didn’t handle this course it sucked royally.   If you handled it and directed your dog well then it flowed great and the path was always there, but you couldn’t fall asleep on this one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

See, I disliked that course most at champs because it was so much like an AKC JWW layout. I had no issues running it. I pretty much ran it in boredom on auto-pilot. I just didn't like the reminiscent flavor.

On the other hand, round 4 was awesome and fun. So many "near misses" that could happen with tunnel suckers. Very thrilling for me and my sucker. 

[Lorrie Stelz]

I agree, that was not a favorite course of mine at Champs.  A bit too much babysitting.  I liked Round 4 as well!  That was fun!

[AndreaEntin]

I liked round three from champs. It was a split for me.  My old man Bang was clean with all the bonuses.  I slightly over handled Linkin and pulled her off the hoop after the aframe...my fault.  Can't say I disliked any of the champs courses.  I take what they put in front of me and make the best of it. 

I am looking forward to some more challenging courses.  Bring it Chris and Amanda 

Andrea

[RobertStewart]

I agree! Bring it! Ready for anything!


Robert

[Audri, Cee Cee, Lily, Toto, and Calypso]

Absolutely Becky.  I have an abysmal Q rate in Regular so those changes in Regular are huge for me.  Now if they want to make Chances harder .... go for it, but I suspect there would be a huge outcry if they did that.  All in all if my dog an I are having fun I don't worry about Q rate.  We will see what the new challenges are and go from there.

Gina

HA!  I feel chances are already hard enough!  I have had only 1 chances Q in a year with Toto!  :-)

[BeckyAH]

Absolutely Becky.  I have an abysmal Q rate in Regular so those changes in Regular are huge for me.  Now if they want to make Chances harder .... go for it, but I suspect there would be a huge outcry if they did that.  All in all if my dog an I are having fun I don't worry about Q rate.  We will see what the new challenges are and go from there.

Gina

HA!  I feel chances are already hard enough!  I have had only 1 chances Q in a year with Toto!  :-)

I got THREE chances Qs this year.  I am very proud of myself    My goal used to be a natch.  At t his point I'm downgrading to elite versatility and 1000 lifetime points.

[Audri, Cee Cee, Lily, Toto, and Calypso]

I think it would be fun to see more challenging Chances courses!  (ok, don't everyone yell at me).  LOL!  I LOVE Chances and have a blast with them.  I'd love to have an all Chances trial!  haha! 

I'd love an all chances trial just to try to get one stinkin chances Q! Times 13!

I am with you!  I can't BUY a chances Q on my little terrier!

[Foomin Z]

I think it would be fun to see more challenging Chances courses!  (ok, don't everyone yell at me).  LOL!  I LOVE Chances and have a blast with them.  I'd love to have an all Chances trial!  haha! 

I'd love an all chances trial just to try to get one stinkin chances Q! Times 13!

I am with you!  I can't BUY a chances Q on my little terrier!

Oh, there's another program to implement: buying chances Qs. *sigh*