Preparing for a first dog trial

Before submitting an entry

Read the current rules for the named body and class. Check membership, dog registration, deadlines and the procedure for withdrawing. Ask the secretary rather than guessing from another club’s event.

Plan the day

Prepare identification, water, suitable containment and the equipment allowed by the rules. Leave time for parking and check-in. Know where dogs may be exercised and where spectators should stand.

After the run

Record what happened separately from the placing. Identify one useful training goal and allow the dog to recover. Keep the official score sheet or result link so later records preserve the correct class and round.

Know the withdrawal route

Before starting, find out whom to notify if the dog is unwell, overwhelmed or unable to continue. Keep the secretary’s instructions with your paperwork. A withdrawal should retain its correct official status; it should not later be described as a completed run or quietly removed from a personal record.

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• Dogs Australia — rules and regulations (opens in a new tab)

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