Well Sam you could always sneak off and do a test, but not mention it to any one. Then if you do well you can tell all and sundry, but if you don't you can keep it firmly under your hat
I don't have the years of experience I'm afraid so this may well be better answered by someone else. For what it's worth though I just jumped in and did one (a test that is) and did badly lol. Soooo came home and worked harder! The subsequent test went much better as a result. I like to experience things first hand though and don't take it negatively when it all goes wrong i.e. just look at what needs improving and what the little victories were. Not everyone's cup of tea in terms of approach that.
Your Trainer should give you a very good idea (I ignored his advice at the time but then he did say 'well why not, what've you got to lose!).
Being serious for a minute Sam one of the "measurements" that I use is - Am I entirely happy that my dog will remain at my side and do what I say when in company (oh and off lead of course) or is there the slightest chance that he will leg it! If I think he may leg it I won't enter.
This goes back to when I competed with my Weimaraner for the first time and he decided to leg it and join a boys 5 a side football game in the next field .
This goes back to when I competed with my Weimaraner for the first time and he decided to leg it and join a boys 5 a side football game in the next field .
ha ha BRILLIANT (although not for you at the time I'm sure!)
Am I entirely happy that my dog will remain at my side and do what I say when in company (oh and off lead of course) or is there the slightest chance that he will leg it! If I think he may leg it I won't enter.
Where ever you enter there will almost certainly be a four dog walk up. Your dog will be expected to walk off lead at heel for the whole of that test, sit by your side off lead whilst the other three are retrieving, and at some point in the test complete his own retrieve. If you think you can manage that they you are well on the way. This is the test where you could mess other people up. In the other tests you really wont hurt anyone else if it goes pear shaped.
If your instructor competes successfully then be guided by them.
Essentially I would put a youngster in a puppy test when I thought it good enough to do well in a Novice test. (Now that’s probably no help to you at all!)
However for a puppy test you are likely to need to do the following;
Double marked retrieve
Fairly straightforward blind
Retrieve from water
A steadiness and heelwork exercise
Walk up off lead (as John described)
After that it really depends on how well you want to do. Essentially if the dog fails to mark or get into the right area for the blind then the ability to stop and handle will get you out of trouble.
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