New Awards with Novice/open chances

[Ed and Tres]

The last 2 post about the new Achievement cups make for interesting choices for NADAC handlers.

If you and your dog are challenged by Chances and it is the only class that you are not at the Elite level you have this cup that you can attain but requires you get 130 Novice Chances for Silver and 130 Open Chances for Gold.

I'm assuming all your Elite points get double counted for these cups. So you get Silver and then only run Chances and when you get your 130 Open Chances you now get Gold.

Choices:

Do you extend your time in Novice and Open to get 3 more Qs past Superior to improve, and also you get a Cup?

Or Do you try to improve at Chances by moving up to Elite Chances to try to get your 130 Elite Chances and a NATCH?

[Chris Nelson]

Purely from a numbers standpoint, at least 60% of folks competing don't stay in the lower levels beyond the basic title (30 points).  So that's something to factor in as well.   I personally like to get superiors because I think it's a better progression of skills for the dog, but a LOT of people move up as soon as they possibly can

[BeckyAH]

The last 2 post about the new Achievement cups make for interesting choices for NADAC handlers.

If you and your dog are challenged by Chances and it is the only class that you are not at the Elite level you have this cup that you can attain but requires you get 130 Novice Chances for Silver and 130 Open Chances for Gold.

I'm assuming all your Elite points get double counted for these cups. So you get Silver and then only run Chances and when you get your 130 Open Chances you now get Gold.

Choices:

Do you extend your time in Novice and Open to get 3 more Qs past Superior to improve, and also you get a Cup?

Or Do you try to improve at Chances by moving up to Elite Chances to try to get your 130 Elite Chances and a NATCH?

In my case you sigh in relief, move your butt back down to novice for chances and see how things go,  with intention of moving on to open if/when I get those other 10 novice chances, and if/when I get the other open 10 on to elite again. Frankly, as rarely as I trial and my dog's age, I"ll be surprised if I get gold, much less natch with her.   I don't travel for trials, and she's not a spring chicken.

...and, as Chris said, I am a person who traditionally (again because I don't trial THAT much) move on as soon as I'm eligible to do so.   so it is + 10 to he lower to titles, not + 3.  It'll help my skills either way but mostly I'd just like something cumulative that recognizes we got the natch points in regular and jumpers at elite.  So some kind of cumulative award in her career will make me happy.

Next dog, I'm aiming for NATCH with.  She's benefited greatly from ME knowing more of what I"m doing (and also not being tiny, tbh)

[KarissaKS]

I'm curious -- Are clubs planning to recognize these new awards? If so, how? Will clubs have to purchase new ribbons? Anyone planning on providing bars?

[dogrsqr]

That is the dilemma in my opinion.  As NADAC has added awards (all around, these new achievements etc.) some people expect clubs to give some type of award.  This prompted me to look at all the awards that are available and wonder where we draw the line on a club level.  Do clubs give ribbons/bars for versatility, superior versatility, triple superiors, triple triples, lifetime points etc? I’m not trying to sound like an ogre and am happy to celebrate everyone’s completion of goals but just wonder what awards clubs give out for which accomplishments.

Gina

[Pam Kaye]

I once got a ribbon for a major (non-NATCH) achievement that just said something like "milestone in agility".  About a 20" ribbon with a nice big rosette.  Maybe something sort of generic like that?

[ricbonner]

That is the dilemma in my opinion.  As NADAC has added awards (all around, these new achievements etc.) some people expect clubs to give some type of award.  This prompted me to look at all the awards that are available and wonder where we draw the line on a club level.  Do clubs give ribbons/bars for versatility, superior versatility, triple superiors, triple triples, lifetime points etc? I’m not trying to sound like an ogre and am happy to celebrate everyone’s completion of goals but just wonder what awards clubs give out for which accomplishments.

Gina

All of the hosting Clubs where I have attended trials only offer something special for a NATCH.  Some offer title ribbons, most do not.  I have not seen any of them offer anything special for any other awards.  And I personally don't have that expectation and I don't see that in other exhibitors either.  As an exhibitor, I would rather the clubs spend their resources on providing the best surface, best equipment and most supportive welcoming atmosphere that they can.

[Linda W. Anderson]

Our club, Star City Canine Training Club in Roanoke, VA, give out A LOT of ribbons.  In addition to Q and placement ribbons, we give New Title, Versatility, Outstanding, Superior, All Around, NATCH and Versatility NATCH.   This year I ordered tabs to add to these ribbons for each of the 8 classes and 4 levels.  I just added a nice rosette (not quite as big as the NATCH ribbon) for the 2 Achievement Cups with tabs that say Silver/Gold.  Personally, I support trials that give nice ribbons for special achievements since I have spent a lot of money accumulating the points for those titles/awards.  I was really disappointed with one club I trialed with when one of my dogs earned a NATCH there and was told, "Sorry, but we have already given out all our NATCH ribbons," and I never did receive one.  In addition, I have ordered my own ribbons for other big titles.  I think a club can go over board spending money on ribbons, but I also know our exhibitors appreciate them.
Linda

[BeckyAH]

I like ribbons.  Ribbons make me happy.  I'm cool with 'New Award' generic ribbons  (though I like fancier ones).   I, personally, absolutely do not expect a *bar* for those awards,  but I might actually make my own and bring it along for club members to sign.    It's a big deal for me, but I know it's not a NATCh, and suspect that is also true for other's.

[Foomin Z]

The last 2 post about the new Achievement cups make for interesting choices for NADAC handlers.

If you and your dog are challenged by Chances and it is the only class that you are not at the Elite level you have this cup that you can attain but requires you get 130 Novice Chances for Silver and 130 Open Chances for Gold.

I'm assuming all your Elite points get double counted for these cups. So you get Silver and then only run Chances and when you get your 130 Open Chances you now get Gold.

Choices:

Do you extend your time in Novice and Open to get 3 more Qs past Superior to improve, and also you get a Cup?

Or Do you try to improve at Chances by moving up to Elite Chances to try to get your 130 Elite Chances and a NATCH?

I moved up as soon as I was able every time. I figure I can leave the other titles in the lower levels for when my dogs get older, since NADAC allows people to move their dogs down at any time with no notification to the head office. They'll still get to play when they are older, but the courses will be shorter and more appropriate for their activity level.

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

That is the dilemma in my opinion.  As NADAC has added awards (all around, these new achievements etc.) some people expect clubs to give some type of award.  This prompted me to look at all the awards that are available and wonder where we draw the line on a club level.  Do clubs give ribbons/bars for versatility, superior versatility, triple superiors, triple triples, lifetime points etc? I’m not trying to sound like an ogre and am happy to celebrate everyone’s completion of goals but just wonder what awards clubs give out for which accomplishments.

Gina

Some of the clubs that I trail with have BEAUTIFUL title ribbons.  With my dogs, especially when I was new, I tried to get my titles there.  Other clubs don't have the super nice title ribbons, but give beautiful ribbons for things like the triple triple, and triple triple superior versatility, and I must admit, I worked to get those titles there.  I spend A LOT in trial fees each time I enter, so getting a nice ribbon for a major accomplishment is something that I like to have.  For my versatility and superior versatility, if they don't have a special ribbon, I just take one of the new title ribbons and use that.