Okay trying this again, haha.
Jubel and I did our ORT a few weeks ago and will be signing up for our first trial in a few weeks. Entries open on the 23rd but the trial isn't until early November.
I'm really happy that nosework is growing so fast in popularity because ORTs and trials are getting easier and easier to find. It's still about 2-3 months between oppertunities within about 2 hours of me but from the most experienced people I'm training with it's getting much better.
So on to details about our ORT. I'm pretty sure how smoothly the ORT goes has a lot to do with the host club but I think the club who hosted my ORT did a fantastic job. Everything was very well organized and once we got started they got handlers and dogs flying through testing.
At this ORT they had testing for all three odors, clove and anise tested early in the morning and had their own orientation and testing block. Those of us testing for birch came later in the morning. There was a 30 minute block for signing in followed by a 10 minute orientation meeting. Basically an explanation of how the test will be done (exactly as explained on the NACSW site), the process for cycling everyone through quickly, no doggie socializing, respect reactive dog bandanas, clean up after your dog, etc.
The test was at a training facility in a warehouse type building. The testing was in more section of the building and the on deck areas where in the section next to the testing area. Everyone was parked on one side of the building and unless you were pottying your dog or using the practice boxes, or on deck for you testing turn your dog was in your car.
Before the test day everyone was given the order number they'd test in, we had 19 people testing for birch. The first person testing would start on the other side of the building from the cars at the back door for the testing section of the facility, number two was in the on deck section inside at the back door, number three was inside on the parking side of the building, number four was just outside at the sign in table. They all took their places a few minutes after the orientation, giving them time to potty/prep their dogs real quick. There was a big board with the number for the next on deck dog listed, so starting at five. They needed to get ready to head to the sign in table as soon as the first dog finished and everyone else advanced to the next on deck position.
Everyone HAS three minutes to find the hide and alert but I don't think anyone takes anywhere near that long. The test is designed to be easy to pass. I was number 7 in the order and the last person from my training classes testing that day was 13. It was 10 minutes at MOST from when I finished my ORT and when they came out from theirs. So it went very quick and smoothly. Jubel found the hide in 3.91 seconds, the second dog from my class took 12 seconds, and the third took 22 seconds. We all passed and are excited for the coming trial in November.
Now we just attend travel classes and wait till November.