Pulling out of a trial - Page 1

Hi All,
I just registered in this database and have a question.  As you all know the AWDF just had their battle of the breeds and I noticed that quite a few of the SchH3s pulled.  Since I do not understand why someone who has paid for transportation, training the dog and themselves and paid the hotel and entry fee would pull out, other than the dog or the handler got hurt or sick and I don't believe all those people and dogs got hurt or sick.  So why would you pull out?
Just trying to understand and learn.
Thanks again for letting me join and participate,
Millie

Possibly a judge change or a venue change?  Happens, judges do get sick themselves and have emergencies come up just like anyone else.  That would be my thoughts.  Nan

Millie5,

I doubt all the people who pulled even came to the trial. So the loss would be the entry fee only, which is hefty at this level.  Trials have entry deadlines so you have to make a decision with 2 or more weeks ahead for this level trial so many things involving the dog, family, and job can and do come up. Local trials can be enterred up to the day of the trial sometimes but you still see people pull their dogs.

Sonera individuals may have entered with no intention of actually competing. Their name and/or the dog's name still shows up in a Google search by potential puppy buyers. The reason for most,however, is probably simply that they decided they were not ready. An issue may have come up in training; they may not have been able tp train as they hoped prior to the event; real-life aka the job, may have "interfered;" a personal issue may have arisen; there may have indeed been an illness or injury to dog or handler. As stated, they are only out the entry fee and postage. However, where the page states "dog injured " or ill, that probably IS a team that got all the way to the venue and then suffered an injury. It does happen. In that case, it is not a decision the handler makes lightly.

I didn't show for a trial last weekend (not AWDF national caliber by any means!!).  Most of the things I enter you have to enter well in advance.  UKC events are really the only ones I know of that do day-of-show entries, but even their main events like the Premier are full for sport/performance events well in advance.  I had entered my dog in a trial, then I got sick and was sick for several weeks.  Because of this I was not able to continue to train and prepare as I'd planned.  Of course, one should not have to scramble to have a dog ready for a trial but anyone who wants to enter a trial and be competitive but can't train at all for several weeks leading up has a problem.  I just didn't feel up to it and I didn't want my dog to not show well because of something that was not his fault, so I contacted the secretary and told her I wouldn't be showing up. Yes, I ate the trial entry fee but didn't have to pay the insane gas prices to get there.