Thoughts on Trial Stamina

The term “search stamina” comes up often among scentwork competitors, especially among those working at advanced levels in different venues. Let’s unpack this term a bit and explore some thoughts about how to develop that endurance and how to prepare for trial pressures with this piece in mind.

Length of the Day

If you have begun competing, you know that scentwork usually includes different types of searches, often throughout an entire day. In some organizations, such as NACSW, titles in the NW1, NW2, and NW3 track involve four, five, and six searches respectively. These searches include the elements of containers, interiors, exteriors, and vehicles.

While in AKC, it is not necessary to sign up for multiple element searches, many competitors choose to do so.

Time limits for upper-level searches in NACSW and AKC (Elite, Summit, and Detective, for example), can be significant – such as ten minutes, for example, for a search.

Another significant component to competition is ***waiting.***

There is A LOT OF waiting in dog sports, overall, and this is also true for scentwork competitions, even at very well-run events.

Often waiting will be in, at or next to one’s car. In AKC, one may also have to wait with your dog in line for a search. There can be delays and interruptions to the day, so that can also increase one’s overall wait time.

Getting impatient about the waiting will not help your or your dog’s search performance, and it will not endear you to fellow competitors or to trial staff.

Considerations

You may want to start out with some smaller events, a half day sniff and go, for example, to see how that feels for you and your dog.

If you decide to go to all day trials, it is important to approach them with good preparation – take more than what you need – be prepared with a folding chair, with a lunch and snacks. Make sure you are prepared for all types of weather (see hot weather gear list here as examples) to keep you and your dog comfortable.

Evaluate your drive to and from the event and prepare for traffic. Sometimes, if you can manage it, staying near to your event the evening before makes it more relaxed.

If waiting in line for a search, plan how to keep yourself and your dog relaxed and ready to search.

Multiple Searches

In my experience (and only mine!), doing multiple searches is the biggest adjustment in terms of search stamina.

I get excited for us to begin our searches, and my dogs get aroused when they search. So, there is that adrenaline rush, and then a drop, and then back to the car, and then up again.

I feel it is very important to train for this – even at home. For example, set up three small searches, but have your dog go back to the car and crate in between those searches, as if it was an actual trial.

Psychological Factors

There is an additional part of a team’s overall stamina that is less talked about – the handler’s emotional stamina. By nature, each competition will have its ups and down’s. If it was all easy, why enter?

When we get a “no,” we can feel a range of feelings, all the way from mild disappointment to devastation. I’ll interject the gentle reminder here -*** it is dog sports, not world peace.***

From the human perspective, it is very important to learn how to “re-set” after each search, “win, lose or draw.” As a handler, it is important to take the positives away from the previous search, but to let all else drop away and see the next search as a fresh opportunity.

If you feel worried, anxious, or disappointed, it will be hard to objectively see your dog’s changes of behavior (that magic phrase), and more importantly, it is likely you may convey these feelings to your dog.

Even if your dog does not understand all your thoughts, your dog will pick up on your “unhappiness.” Learning how to re-set well and how to stay connected comfortably with your dog between searches is essential for both you and your dog. You are setting the tone for all of your next searches, even while waiting back at the car.

In addition to disappointment with a “no,” at a competition, at any trial, you will deal with a range of folks and their respective ups and down’s. We encounter fellow competitors, site volunteers, judges, stewards and sometimes external community members.

Most CO’s, judges, hosts of scentwork events, etc. want competitors to do well and have fun. Most competitors are either dog obsessed (dog geeks) friendly people or neutral sorts.

But . . . there are the odd folks here and there with whom you might not enjoy doing a trial (let alone a non-dog event ). Plan how to manage that small element – I recommend spending less time talking with those folks. (“I have to take my dog to potty,” is a useful “out,” should you need one.)

Bring a book, play word games on your phone, hang out with good friends/relaxed competitors.

Don’t let yourself be affected by anyone else’s negative experience at a trial.

Mum’s the Word!

A reminder, you are not to discuss searches until all the participants in that class have finished or, in the case of NACSW, until the trial is completed. This includes posting about searches on social media.

This is so that we don’t inadvertently give someone more information on a search than they are supposed to have or inaccurate information, and so competitors don’t get into each other’s heads about searches.

This can be harder to do as you are starting out, than you may anticipate, but it is important to keep the trial environment equal and calm for all, so be sure to be attentive to it. You, personally, will benefit if others adhere to this rule too.

Keeping it fresh and fair for each person is about the basic integrity of the trial.

You CAN talk about your best dog cookie recipe, a favorite sniffspot, an upcoming vacation - you do have plenty to talk about with fellow competitors besides the searches! I no longer participate in the “thumbs up” communication upon returning from a search — after all, how does that make the person feel who is parked next to me who might have gotten a “no” in the same search?

One Last Note – Asking for Information

If the trial is not going as well as you had hoped, rather than bailing, consider the “ask for information” option. This allows you to turn a rough (ruff!) day into a good training experience. You can let the judge know before you start a search that you are “asking for information” and would like to know where the hides are or in the case of unknown/range, the exact number. Of course, you will not qualify for that search.

The times when I have done this, I have never (ever) regretted it. Instead, I felt the support of the judge/judges, and my dogs have grown in their abilities My view is that you paid to be there, why not make the most of it?

So, head on out there — plan, prepare, and have fun!