CPE for beginners!?!

[girlbuffalo1]

I am thinking of entering Wrigley into our first competition in CPE (just got his registration!)--how should I make my decision as to what events to put him in? He jumps 12" and has been taking a year of agility classes from our local kennel club. Where to start?

[adojrts]

What are your choices?

Also I wouldn't enter too many classes at your first trial, 2 maybe 3 runs. Novices often enter everything that they can and end up over facing themselves and their dogs.

[MafiaPrincess]

Standard and jumpers will be more straightforward for you than some of the other classes that require a little more stratigizing for your first trial. Colours is two short courses in one, but once you pick the course, you run it in order like a normal one.. Some of the others are more complex to figure out on the fly. I avoided snooker for months It was more complicated than I could handle at first. Now I am an addict though

[BostonBanker]

LOL I just did them all at my first trial. I only did one day, though.

I find the easiest CPE courses are colors (really short courses, and you can usually pick your dog's strengths - ex: one course will have the dogwalk, the other the a-frame). You do need to be able to keep your dog off the other obstacles, but in level one, it won't be hard at all.

Standard level one is fairly simple - no weaves or seesaw.

Snooker is a bit confusing as far as how it is played, but is my absolute favorite class. Tons of fun, and, again, you can pick your own course.

I can never keep Full House and Wildcard straight.

Jackpot is their version of Gamblers, but the distance challenge is usually VERY simple at level one - like sending a dog into the tunnel from about 2 - 3 feet away.

[girlbuffalo1]

Hmm...well the trial is the Warrensburg IL one the first weekend of April. I'd love to do the Indianapolis one but it is full--although I might go to watch. I most likely will only go one day on Satruday they are having: Standard, Wildcard, Snooker, and Jumpers. On Sunday they are having Standard, Jackpot, Colors and Fullhouse.

I thought about doing Standard and Jumpers (can someone explain why jumpers is different?) and just doing Saturday--I can't remember what Wildcard is either--although I just red the entire manual last week LOL!

[BostonBanker]

Jumpers has no contact equipment and (I think) no tunnels? It's been a while since I went to a trial! Just jumps and the tire.

I find their rulebook to be pretty weak as far as explaining the games. I just had to ask people when I went! Thankfully, most of the people I've met at trials are very nice about helping out the newbies.

[MafiaPrincess]

Jumpers is jumps and tunnels. Single jump, double jump, tire, no broad or triple till level 3, possibility of a panel jump and they mention only open tunnels no chutes.

I too find the rule book weak. I think it's fullhouse or wildcard or both that I keep reading them and I don't freaking get them.

[girlbuffalo1]

I am definitely going to do Saturday only. I will definitely sign up for jumpers and standard--but I'd like to sign up for one more. Do you recommend Wildcard or Snooker for a first timer? Is Wildcard where you do a course and then stand at a certain place and send them through other obstacles?

[BostonBanker]

If I remember correctly, Wildcard gives you a fairly short, easy course, and then there are a few "extra" obstacles that are supposed to be harder - maybe a double jump, or a sequence of jumps, or a set of weaves, etc. You have to do the regular course, and then pick one of the "Wildcard" obastacles to complete.

Or that could be Full House. I seriously can never keep them straight.

I'm a snooker fanatic, so of course that is always my vote.

[girlbuffalo1]

Hmm I think he could do wildcard if you are right boston--he has his set of 6 weaves down and has no problem with triples, dogwalk, teeter, a frame whatever--I may have to consider wildcard--and save snooker for next time (as it sounds like it needs the most focus from me--something me *not Wrigley* needs to work on!)