Where to go

[aardogs]

Upcoming WTT and ripnpaws have got me thinking about things. I will now publicly admit that I am jealous of everyone going to tryouts, especially the people my age. I am excited for them and want them to do well, but yes I am jealous because Panic and I will never be able to go, regardless of our skill level which may or may not be up to par with some people going. I'm not even sure if I would WANT to go--but just the fact that I don't even have the option bothers me. We always want what we can't have, right?

It often leaves me wondering where I should go in this sport. WTT and WC are traditional things that people work towards when they decide that they want to be competitive and reach high levels in agility. It seems to be the pinnacle of dog agility, at least from my experience in the US. It just seems to be something ingrained in the culture of the sport: you are competitive, you want to do well, you aspire to WTT.

Well I am competitive and I want to aspire to higher levels in the sport. So where do I go? Obviously there are a multitude of options besides WTT, and the first step for anyone would be working towards success nationally. I know I am not out of luck when it comes to finding a competitive outlet and striving for success. I still just can't help but feel upset that I can't reach that particular level, especially when I have people that don't know Panic does not have a pedigree tell me that I should think about going to WTT with him. No, I should not think about going to WTT with him because I can't and it would just make me feel annoyed.

All of this is okay though. If that particular events was so ridiculously important to me I obviously would have gotten a dog with a pedigree. But its just agility, and I want to do agility with Panic. I am enjoying the journey with him and I honestly think we can be competitive in the sport regardless of our ability to go to a particular event.

I would love to go to World Team Tryouts one day. I am getting a puppy from a breeder. Those things are not related. I think it will take a special dog to take to tryouts, and having a pedigree does not equal the ability to compete at such a level (or any level for that matter). And I certainly wouldn't put that kind of pressure on a dog that hasn't even been conceived yet!

At this point I will get off my soapbox, because overall this entry doesn't seem to have much of a point. Good luck to everyone competing this weekend, Tori and Rev, Kelsey and Ace, Shelby and Swift, Sarah and Tess, and everyone else that is going that I can't think of. (By the way, is there a list anywhere of competitors? I know there was last year.)

Comments

[aardogs.livejournal.com]

Panic is the first dog I've ever competed with, my first first agility dog was little white dog Maxie, then I did agility with our golden but also didn't compete. So I guess I am still pretty new to the scene.

[hycaliber.livejournal.com]

Well, *most* people (and there are always exceptions) have had a few dogs before they have a dog to take to tryouts. I had two before I had the right dog. You can also go to the European Open, the WAO, and IFCS. FCI is like the creme de la creme imnho and you can use the other venues to prepare yourself for that kind of environment. Just because you can't go to WTT doesn't mean all is lost!

It's an awesome event, I won't lie. I've been 6 times and loved each and every year more then the last. You really only want to go when you're ready though - so start doing those high pressure events like Regionals and Four Stars and Nationals to train your brain!

[aardogs.livejournal.com]

I totally agree and I know that not being able to go to WTT doesn't mean I can't be competitive. Like I said I'm not sure if I would want to go or be good enough to go to WTT even if we could. I know I have a ton of other options and I'm very excited to see how far we can go, just during this time of year I get annoyed that I couldn't go with Panic because (in my opinion) I think he's just the best dog ever and I would love to have that experience with *him*.