"he always does it right in training!"

The outdoor competition season is now up and running, and after attending my first show this season I came home without a clear round, but thrilled with my youngster's progress over the winter.
Last season I had two big problems, lack of a startline wait, and poor contacts at a show. So I have had a very busy winter, retraining both. This would never have been necessary of course, if I had not let her "get away with" both problems at her early shows!
It is very common for our little horns to come out at a competition, and all our hard work goes by the board as we run round a ring at high speed regardless of mistakes. The dog soon learns that whatever happens in training, at a show anything goes!
How many times have you seen a dog told to wait, but it just sets off anyway, and the handler just runs off and follows? They may even say "Go" AFTER it has gone! 
Likewise contacts - do you stop and correct because the dog didn't do it as in training, or do you let it go "just this once"? It's a slippery slope folks! Take it from one who has done it and regretted it!
Of course you've paid your money to do a run, and the judge may legitimately ask you to leave the ring if you repeat a contact, so you don't get a full course.
However, a wise lady once said to me " you can pay your entry fee to teach your dog NOT to do a contact,  or you can repeat the contact and teach the dog that he has to do his contacts at a show just the same as at training." Yes, you may have to leave the ring, but I reckon I know which is better value for money!
(Of course always be polite and ask the judge before repeating anything, it is their decision, and not your right!)
So I guess the moral of the story is don't allow the dog to do anything differently just because it is a show, not training class!