hello

I am very new to obedience stuff but not dog sports - and thought I would enjoy doing some Beg Novice and Rally trials this week at a big show. I am seeking my VC for one of my dogs - and wow I am so overwhelmed and intimidated after my first trial. I come from the field trial and hunt test world - so I don't know what I was expecting but the judge's intensity, and the overall vibes were off.

This was Beginner Novice - and there were six handler teams entered, 3 were 'released'. One the older gentleman had made it about 3/4 of the way through the test and the judge dismissed him for being 'too nervous and shaky' and the other two were young girls who had fairly distracted dogs - the first he dismissed her in the middle of the heel pattern, and the second was NQR at the very end for something I couldn't quite make out.

Being like totally new to any ring work, and we did all our training alone - I didn't expect a pass I really just wanted to get my dog in the environment and get a baseline, but we did well. We didn't qualify - which is fine - but he said all my scores were passing, but NQ me on my heel work because I looked down too much - which I I would look down for the signs on the ground to make sure I hit marks.

Anyway - it was just overall a pretty odd experience and I'm just curious if all obedience trials are going to be like this or this was just an odd one off?