(no subject)

[aardogs]

Before a "big event", do you usually trial right before hand to prepare or take a trialling break? What so you work on leading up to a big event, or do you do no agility at all?

Wondering what I should do before Cynosport this year. I thought about entering a show beforehand, but I'm leaning towards a trialling break (after the AKC show we have this weekend), working some "weak" skills leading up to Cynosports and then working our strengths the week right before it so he and I will have some confidence going in.

I just feel like I should actually have a plan instead of the go with the flow, let's just have fun kind of attitude that I had going into Cynosport last year and the regionals this year. I guess it is all about experience and figuring out what works best for you and your dog.

Comments

[sclmarm.livejournal.com]

I would not do any trialing two weeks prior to the event. I would have been working hard on conditioning and polishing up skills. A week before I would do a little training and lighten up on the conditioning schedule so any small injuries or soreness that might be there, but I can't see or feel, would be totally healed and the dog would feel on the muscle and ready to rumble:) USDAA Nationals is so long, the physical condition of the dog coming in would be really important to me. We used this plan when Meg and Zach took their dogs to USDAA Nationals in AZ. Both dogs did well, although, Meg's dog Nessa(a BC) struggled a little with the Arizona heat.