Of all the DUMB reasons to fail a trial... - Page 1

Over the years a lot of people have failed SchH trials for one reason or another. Most times the handlers accept this with grace and take it as a learning experience and move on. However, there will always be those “sour grapes” handlers that contrive increasingly obtuse excuses for why their dog failed, typically affixing blame anywhere and everywhere except on themselves.

These “poopy pants” moments are fodder for a new humor article that I’d like to do for SchH USA magazine. Since this is a frequently used discussion forum with some very vocal and opinionated posters, I thought if I would post a request for input I’d get an ear full.

What I’m looking for: strange but true excuses spouted by handlers as excuses for failing.
Example: “My dog failed tracking because the track layer couldn’t walk a straight line.”

NO names, dates, or places! 100% anonymous or I can’t use it. We’re not trying to shame anyone personally (except maybe the class of in-DUH-viduals as a whole who toss blame like jugglers in a circus)

Also acceptable: strange but true excuses spouted by handlers as excuses for not entering a trial in the first place.
Example: “My dog has the speed of a Malinois, the strength of a Rottweiler, and the brains of a Shepherd, but I don’t have him with me today.”

Reply by PM or email to schhbabe@yahoo.com
One final reminder – keep it clean – NO identifying info.  This is purely "for Schutzhund giggles".

Well, this one probably doesn't count because it wasn't schutzhund and the dog still passed...

But I NEARLY failed my first ever tracking trial, because I tried to correct my dog part way through....thought I knew better than she did!  Heh, heh, I mean, which one has the nose, you idjit!!? 

I t was actually just a simulated trial at the end of a tracking course. When we were done, and Tasha  had found the article, the instructor told me, "Well Tasha passed, but YOU failed!"  

Hey, if you can't laugh at yourself in this business, you're in for a LOT of disappointment! 

My dog failed a Sch 1 track because they had a baseball tournament on the field the night before, and there were noodles all over the place. Sigh. Who eats noodles on a baseball field?

Uh, PM or email to SchHBabe, please.  She probably won't/can't use it if it's been written here first. 

This one isnt mine but it was at a PSA trial last spring. The handler was young and eager and didnt think.


" I should have aired my dog before trialing"

His dog shat on the field! We had a 2 hour drive and and he didnt air his dog before waltzing onto the field.

The best one I have heard came from a VERY well known handler that has several championship wins under his belt. After coming off a very difficult track and scoring 90pt when others were failing left and right he complained, "The judge didn't understand my dog's quiet intensity". After being in the sport for almost 20 years I still have no idea what the hell he meant by that.

My bitch was given FIVE opportunities to do her business before a tracking trial last summer.

She waited until she was 20 feet down the first track. And I'd left the jacket with the bags in it in my car, because it had gotten quite warm.

She never got her focus back after pooping, either, though the judge was nice enough to let me restart her.

I've gotten some very entertaining PM's.  :D

Keep 'em coming, folks...

Although I appreciate the candor of some folks, please understand that I really need anonymous stuff so that nobody gets poopy pants later if they see their excuse on my "Top 10" list.

My husband is going for his 1 next month and he knows that if he brings the Malinois out on the field for protection and she's vibrating like a furry back massager then he's screwed.  :)  She needs to get some steam blown off behind the car before she's ready to settle in and *think*.  LOL  Just gotta "take the edge off"...