Double run thought?

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

I have a set amount of money that I spend at a trial so 7 or 8 runs wouldn't matter to me at all.  This weekend I am running 4 dogs in both TNG and tunnelers.   I guess because all of my dogs run differently, it doesn't get boring because I have to figure a way to run all 4 of them.  What IS tough is ONE walk through for all 4 dogs because I DO have to figure out what I am doing with each of them in the limited amount of time.  And then switching my mindset between dogs and remembering which dog I am running.... 

[Anne Etherton]

I really appreciate double run format in chances.  I can figure out how to make it work the second time frequently.  I run two dogs who are in different levels and are just different.  I can't remember being bored ever.

Anne

[Amy McGovern]

The big deal is the extra time a getting people to work. I run 3 dogs on the same course, and often a 4th never gets boring because i am staying in the moment with the dog, and each dogs handles differently.

Try running them differently each time, add more distance, run silently there lots of ways to keep the mind active and engaged.

I am NEVER bored with agility (okay maybe here and there - but it's rare)

Agreed!  I used to run 3, currently have 1-2 (depending on if my son is at the show too) and they are all different.  I don't get bored!  In fact, I find myself more annoyed at myself sometimes for running the course with dog 1 the way that I need to run it for dog 2 (they are very different!).  So I work to challenge myself for both of them!  And now with a puppy coming, we get challenges in a whole new way again!

[BeckyAH]

I have a set amount of money that I spend at a trial so 7 or 8 runs wouldn't matter to me at all.  This weekend I am running 4 dogs in both TNG and tunnelers.   I guess because all of my dogs run differently, it doesn't get boring because I have to figure a way to run all 4 of them.  What IS tough is ONE walk through for all 4 dogs because I DO have to figure out what I am doing with each of them in the limited amount of time.  And then switching my mindset between dogs and remembering which dog I am running....

Time is also a big, big, factor in why I don't like running all 3 dogs in one double format class - at least anywhere there aren't separate walk through.

Part of it is having time to come up with appropriate strategy, but some of it's also just plain' fair to do the dog' issues.  I tried all 3 of mine in T'n'G.   EVEN WITH them in different height classes,  and levels, being that it was a small trial and there was a single walk through, so they got pulled,  had time to pee (barely) and then hit the course.

Some dogs do fine with that.

Mine need a little more to figure out where they are, what we're doing and to connect with me.

That one isn't a double run format issue though, except in as much as this entire too hurried process would then be repeated.

Which would jack them up higher.

Not an issue later in the day, but first one? Yeahno. Not for me and mine.

[BeckyAH]

But also my fun factor/value matters, and there really is a limit to how many times I can see that same course and care to run it. And it's fewer than 6.   Bored probably isn't the right word, but even with variation in dogs it just becomes 'done'. Either I'm getting it, and cool, don't need to repeatedly do it - or I'm not and I REALLY need to train it, rather than stress my dogs out more.

I *don't* dislike double runs, and use them quite a bit (especially in chances) and support my clubs doing what works for them.

But I'm likely to spend less/run less on a double run trial than not, because of how I select my entries.

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

I have a set amount of money that I spend at a trial so 7 or 8 runs wouldn't matter to me at all.  This weekend I am running 4 dogs in both TNG and tunnelers.   I guess because all of my dogs run differently, it doesn't get boring because I have to figure a way to run all 4 of them.  What IS tough is ONE walk through for all 4 dogs because I DO have to figure out what I am doing with each of them in the limited amount of time.  And then switching my mindset between dogs and remembering which dog I am running....

Time is also a big, big, factor in why I don't like running all 3 dogs in one double format class - at least anywhere there aren't separate walk through.

Part of it is having time to come up with appropriate strategy, but some of it's also just plain' fair to do the dog' issues.  I tried all 3 of mine in T'n'G.   EVEN WITH them in different height classes,  and levels, being that it was a small trial and there was a single walk through, so they got pulled,  had time to pee (barely) and then hit the course.

Some dogs do fine with that.

Mine need a little more to figure out where they are, what we're doing and to connect with me.

That one isn't a double run format issue though, except in as much as this entire too hurried process would then be repeated.

Which would jack them up higher.

Not an issue later in the day, but first one? Yeahno. Not for me and mine.

I totally get that.  This weekend, I ended up running 2 dogs in the elite level first.  There was enough time between them so that was fine and the one that needs the most time to warmup was one of those.  Then I ran one in the open level because she is able to go a bit more back to back without the rest.  The final dog, I ran in the novice level where there were a few more dogs to be able to give him a breather.  They just had to wait to score the elite until I was done.  I also had someone holding the first 2 dogs so I could switch them out, then she also went and grabbed the next dog that I needed.  That was EXTREMELY helpful!   In other shows, where they don't separate the levels, we just make sure everyone gets enough time.  People understand when you run multiple dogs that you need a bit of times to get the dogs ready. 

[Lorrie Stelz]

Yes, I love double run format, and I think most of us do here in the central plains.  I never hear people complain about them and I do think it helps the day go by faster, especially when we only have a one ring trial. As was mentioned, each dog we run has different strengths or challenges, so I am not bored running 2 dogs 4x on the same course.  And, as someone mentioned, change it up, do something different, do more distance work, etc. to provide yourself new fun/challenges.

[Amy McGovern]

I think those on the coasts may not understand the driving time that those of us in the midwest have to do at a show.  That definitely positively affects my view of double runs!  The fact that the day is several hours shorter is HUGE.  It lets me enter all of the runs instead of only some.  And still get home such that I can work the next day.  My typical drive to a show is 5 hours so ending at 2 or 3pm instead of 5 or 6 pm is a BIG difference.  Someone earlier in the thread asked why that matters.  Because we don't all live 1 hour from a show!  The midwest is very different than the east (where I trial sometimes in the summer when visiting my relatives, so many shows all within an hour!).

-Amy

[Lorrie Stelz]

I agree with Amy. I drive as far as 9 hours one way to 2 locations up to about 5 to 6 times a year. My normal drives are 3-9 hours away. It does matter what time we finish on Sundays for drives home. And for a majority of us, we do have long drives out here. My trial last weekend was 3 hours away, but a bunch of my KC friends cane and their drives were 6 hours.

[Maureen deHaan]

First off - It was just a question - I was in no way suggesting that ALL TRIALS had to be this way - I just wanted to know if it had ever been considered  AS AN OPTION for those of us who host trials - need to offer 8 runs a day to make ends meet and dislike double run but need to offer it (which is probably just me - but I would like the option)

Secondly - I may live "on a coast" (Not really sure what that means btw bc I live in upstate NY which is not a coast - I live in the mountains) - but I DRIVE between 3 and 7 hours  regularly to trial - I live in NY but I travel to Maryland  easily 1x a month if not 2x to trial all year long.

(For me to get to Maryland it takes between 5 - 7 hours depending on traffic and which site I'm going to - and if I have my RV it can be longer)- I also trial in VT regularly & RI (3+ hours each)State College, Pa (5 hrs) Buffalo NY (6 hours - in the same state!) and NJ (2 hours) and local NY shows (1.5 hours) and I host trials that are 45 minutes from my house

In the winter there are no trials in NY, NJ, or VT - maybe 1 or 2 in RI  - So if I want to trial and run on dirt, which is my preference over turf, I have to go to Maryland - (6 hours average) I understand getting home late - bc I get home late from the Maryland trials  and I get up for work monday morning just like everyone else.

So please don't assume we in the east have only an hour to drive - many of us drive as far as you folks in the midwest -