A member recently told me, “I never wanted to compete, but once we entered our first event and I got positive, helpful feedback, I couldn’t wait to try again!”
That’s the experience I want for everyone who enters an RFE event. Our judges are a knowledgeable and supportive group that gives clear, achievable suggestions about how teams can improve and score better. It’s my goal for exhibitors to have a really positive experience. If you’re still not convinced, read on for more reasons why you should start 2022 by entering an RFE event!
Reasons to Enter Your First Event
Your first kiss. First day of school. First time driving a car. We remember firsts not because of the sweaty-palmed fear that precedes them, but because of the top-of-the-world, stronger-than-you-thought-you-were buzz that comes from looking back on conquering a fear, making a change or following a dream. It’s that time of year when goals are being set for 2022. Here are some reasons why you should put entering your first RFE event on your list and make a new memory.
- Feedback. When you submit your video or perform at a live event, no matter how you do, you get judge’s feedback! You’ll know what your strengths are and what you and your pup need to work on. That’s quite a valuable takeaway!
- Insight. Judges see many more routines than most competitors, so the suggestions and ideas they offer are informed by a large sample of performances. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t, and they can save you training time and frustration.
- Improvement. The more you train, the better you become. Having the goal of entering an event gives you a specific set of skills to work on and a deadline.When you train with a plan, you see progress faster. Need proof? Claudine and Augie just earned a perfect score in Rally-FrEe. And here was their first ever entry.
4. First-Time Jitters. The first time doing anything is always the hardest. Getting your first event out of the way helps you conquer fear of the unknown.
5. A Yardstick. The scoring rubrics for Rally-FrEe and RFE Musical Freestyle remain the same regardless of the Division and Class you enter in, so your scoresheets measure your improvement and document your progress in each category.
6.Muscle Memory. The more you do something, the easier it becomes. Setting up a performance space, video equipment, props or a Rally-FrEe course can seem daunting at first. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. And if you need a little help or some pointers, check out our FAQs and YouTube channel.
7.Building A Bond. Training is a great way to build a bond with your dog. Learning a freestyle routine or the Rally-FrEe signs together will build your dog’s vocabulary and improve your communication.
8. Double Check. We don’t know what we don’t know. Entering an event, can stop you from repeating errors that you didn’t realize you were making. Our dogs become proficient at what they practice (and so do we!), so if you’ve set up a course incorrectly or taught a sign wrong, the judge will get you back on the right track.
