Rocco's First USDAA Intro Agility Trial and Snooker Run

Rocco snagged two firsts and two thirds, not too shabby for a baby dog!

Rocco and I recently competed in our first USDAA Intro Agility Trial at Run Spot Jump in Canton, Ga. This is a great opportunity for beginner dogs and beginner handlers to get a little trial experience in a smaller and more relaxed setting than a regular trial.

The USDAA introduced the Intro Program in 2011 so these events weren't around when I first started trialing with Cosmo. And I've got to tell you, this was a terrific experience and a great way to ease a young pup into a trial setting.


If you are about to start agility trailing, I highly recommend looking for an Intro Trial in your area.

Some of the benefits of an Intro Trial include:

• The trial is smaller. With fewer dogs entered, the experience is less overwhelming for your pup.
• You can enter your dog when he's 14 months old vs. 18 months at a USDAA trial. 
• It's a chance to see where you are at with your training, and learn what needs more work before entering a regular trial
• You can use a toy in the ring (but no food)
• Classes offered include Standard, Gamblers, Jumpers and Snooker. 

I really didn't know how Rocco would perform in this type of setting so I looked at it as a good learning experience.  We worked through a few unexpected issues in the beginning -- Rocco was a bit alarmed by the ring crew person sitting still as a zombie in the corner of the room. But we worked through that and Rocco had a great day, taking home two firsts, two thirds, including a first-place qualifying run in Snooker.

That's Rocco's score on the bottom left and right with 49  out of a possible  51 points

Snooker is a terrific game and one of our favorite agility events. It's a game of strategy, speed and accuracy where you are trying to accumulate points by taking certain obstacles in a limited amount of time.  You're able to devise your own course in the opening segment, but must take the three jumps marked by red flags before following each jump with an obstacle of your choice.

Each obstacle is given a point value so the strategy is to take as many high value obstacles in the opening as you can to accumulate the most points.

Then, you go to the closing segment and take it in the number in which it is marked from #2 through #7.  We chose to take two teeters for maximum points in the opening and then race across the course to take our final red jump and an obstacle before heading to the close.

Sound confusing? It is at first, but it's not nearly as complicated as these rules make it seem! Take a look at our first-place qualifying Snooker run. It can be quite hilarious as you run past LOTS of obstacles to go for the highest value obstacle for maximum points!


Rocco and I had a blast and can't wait until we enter our first grown-up dog agility trial, hopefully later this spring!

Last week we wrapped up the winter edition of K9Kamp and thanks to all who participated in Kamp and our great giveaway! Congrats to Kelly T., our giveaway winner!

The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With Love, SlimDoggy and Peggy's Pet Place to promote a healthy active lifestyle for pets (and their people, too!). Join in every Friday by linking up your FitDog story or visiting the blogs in the Hop.