You Deserve a Break Today!

This week we finally got some agility practice in…kinda.  Since we have taken off the latter part of July and most of the month of August due to the heat, I was a bit concerned that maybe Jefferson “forgot” how to “do” agility.  Boy, was I wrong!!  Our club had run-throughs on Sunday and I was worried that we were probably going to be a bit rusty, so I decided to take him out to the field on Saturday evening to try a couple jumping exercises, including weave pole entries.  When I arrived at the field, there was a 14 obstacle course already set-up and I chose to try our luck with this rather than move all the heavy equipment off the field.  It was a nice course – giving me opportunities to practice front and rear crosses; send to the weaves; the dogwalk; and teeter.  

I used our pre-trial routine (changed a bit since last trial…holding him before frantically dropping him for our running start.)  Much to my surprise, that boy was off – and I mean running fast, as the country sayin’ goes “like a bat out of hell!”  I could barely keep up, but he and I ran together – smooth, fast and  most of all – he nailed it!  Clean run.  First try.  Beautiful weaves.  Confident teeter.  Lightning fast dogwalk.  Whew!  I was tired but thrilled that he had not “forgotten” how to “do” agility.  In fact, it was like he missed it and was running with wild and free abandon.  On our next few runs, I did break the course down; working weaves from different angles (got ‘em every time!) and the running dogwalk.  Well, the dogwalk performance started to deteriorate as he got faster; he starting leaping on the downside and not getting his contact.  Looks like the dogwalk is our next obstacle performance training for us to focus on so that he knows what the criteria are….I plan on pulling out the clicker to “fix” his running dogwalk performance.   

On Sunday afternoon, prior to my getting lessons together to teach for my high school students, Team J-Dawg went to run-throughs.  I was glad that the temperatures were not too hot.  Our club set-up a Starters Snooker course from the trial in July.  This was the course that I did not even attempt to earn a “Q;” rather, I just wanted to get Jefferson to happily run with me and stick by my side.  In fact, during the actual trial, we just completed three (3) obstacles.  Here is the map (the pink is the “course” I ran in July and the orange is the course I ran on Sunday):

I was really looking forward trying to run the opening (1-7; 1-7; 1-6; closing) and earning 37 points during our practice.  The first time, he dropped a bar (2nd #1) but we kept on going through the opening - close and he stayed with me, was fast and confident.  On our second run, Jefferson was such a good boy!  He stayed with me; we were connected and ran as a real team.  It was one of our best runs (too bad I didn’t get it on video…)  I was just so proud of my little boy!  He was having so much fun (and me too!!)

 

I believe that our agility-free month was really good for both of us.  It gave me time to not be so focused on being the perfect agility handler and time to spend hanging out with Jefferson.  It gave Jefferson time to enjoy being a “dog” with no performance expectations.  In short, we both needed a break.   And the great news is that Team J-Dawg is back and excited about training with renewed enthusiasm for a successful trialing season.  Now, of course….we must start our homework so I don't have to tell my students that "my dog ate it!"

"Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work."

~Ralph Marston   

Eatin' 3rd Place Ribbons!

Jefferson wants to play so he eats his 3rd place ribbon!

Today was the first day of school for me and my high school students.  It was a great day – the students were engaged, smiling and interacting with each other and we all had fun.  Overall, one of the best “first days” I have had in my 17 years (gasp!) as an educator.   As I reflect about what made it a good day, it all comes back to me and my attitude.  To put things in perspective, I do not have a “classroom” but am a “traveling” teacher with three preps spread throughout the very expansive building.  But, rather than see this as a negative, I chose to make it a positive.  My traveling cart becomes “Queen’s Chariot;” my long walk around the school becomes a chance for much-needed exercise; my lunch duty becomes a chance to interact with more students and learn more about their lives.  It is all about me and my attitude that made the difference in my day and in turn, my students.  

So, I want to carry this attitude of re-framing a “negative” into a “positive” in my agility training with Jefferson.  Much of the skills I use a teacher carryover to my skills I use as a dog trainer.  It’s my attitude about our training session that could either work for the betterment of our team or work toward the detriment.  Whenever I am excited and looking forward to working with Jefferson, he is happy to work for me and ready to learn.  The same goes for my high school students.  But, if I let the “small things” in life get me down, my students and my agility teammate are not willing to work for me.  

Enough already!

I am going to wrap up this little blog for a few reasons:  1. I need to eat dinner and watch "Jeopardy";  and 2. I want to spend time with my poor boy who has spent 12 hours in his crate the past two hectic days.  Chicken is for dinner so I am quite confident that Jefferson will be thrilled for our much-anticipated “Jeopardy” mini training and play session. 

“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”

~ Martha Washington

A Back to School Reality Check

And so the week begins...our school's faculty was required to attend a three-day training for all teachers.  I wish I could say it was easy, but it was so difficult waking up prior to 7 a.m., eating breakfast at a pre-dawn hour, and having to actually get dressed in work clothes.  My summer hours have spoiled me, almost making me a tad lazy but rested and ready to tackle another school year and another group of kids!

One of our teacher "homework" assignments was to bring in an item of value to us.  I was torn between my Savannah Half-Marathon medal and my picture of Jefferson and his Gamblers Title ribbon.  But, I chose to share my story about agility because I knew it would be unique and grab people's attention.  

It is always interesting to explain to others the sport of dog agility.  And, yes - it is most definitely a sport.  Regardless, I am glad I chose to talk about our accomplishments with those who know absolutely nothing about agility.  They were impressed that he had earned so many titles (three) and looked liked he was "smiling" as he sailed effortlessly over the jump.  They did not know how long and how much effort those titles took for Team J-Dawg to earn.  They also did not know about our "NQ's" including various meltdowns, zoomies, off-courses, no-courses,and my favorite..."Eliminations" (Yes, Jefferson "crapping" on the field and my saying "crap" on the field!)  

By sharing our victories with non-agility folks, I was reminded that we handlers sometimes place too much pressure on ourselves and our doggies to perform the perfect run.  We should always be proud of our progress, no matter how small it may seem at the time.  Small victories lead to bigger ones down the road.  

Practice patience.  

                      Enjoy the moment.   

                                                       

                                                   Do what it takes.

                                                                    Fake it 'til you make it.

                                                                                                    Persevere.

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."  ~ William Arthur Ward 

Golf and Agility: The Mental Game

Not much new agility training again this week.  Jefferson has enjoyed his extra nap time!  It has been hot and steamy coupled with rainy afternoon showers.  Welcome to the rainy season in Charleston, SC!  We did practice a couple exercises Monday evening.  For the most part, Jefferson did well and read my movement.  The good news is that he was really excited to be back at the field; did not shut down, run off  but stayed focused on me.  However, one exercise that required me to "layer" the tunnel between me and an outside jump provided a challenge to us.  I was surprised that we had trouble taking the farther jump since he does work well from a distance; but we have only "layered" one time before so this is a skill we need to work on this fall.  

Since I was curious about how to better handle Jefferson in this type of challenge, I did read Linda Mecklenberg's info about "layering" obstacles.   I think our problem was that whenever I slowed down so I could make the turn around the tunnel, Jefferson read my movement as he should turn also.  So, in a way, this exercise showed me how well he does read my movement and that I need to be extremely cognizant of my body movement as we run exercises.  Mecklenberg did not recommend using "layering" if it is not needed to make a more efficient path to set up the handler for the next obstacles in the sequence.  Also, she said that "layering" should not contradict or take away from you and your dog's convergence skills.  Again, "layering" is yet another handling technique I would like to have in our arsenal as we advance to more challenging courses.

As for me, I have enjoyed a great day at the PGA Championship with my mom.  We endured all kinds of weather:  rain, thunder, lightning, heat, humidity and sun!  It was fun (and really expensive...$3 for a bottle of water!) and I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite PGA golfers including Padraig Harrington, Dustin Johnson and Geoff Oglivy.  (I was disappointed I did not get to see Adam Scott up close and personal...boo!!)  Somehow, I managed to get Phil Mickelson's autograph which is pretty cool - he was so nice and much skinnier in person!

What fascinated me the most about my day at the PGA Championship is how much golf is a mental game.  The PGA professionals had to stay "in the zone" to practice while thousands of adoring fans watched as they made long drives, amazing bunker shots and difficult putts.  But, many a PGA professional made a bad water shot at the 17th hole par 3 - probably one of the most difficult par 3s in all of golf.  Rather than let it get to them, they kept on going.  This was so inspiring to witness.  With one particular golfer, Padraig Harrington, he was the epitome of calm, cool and collected as he made his way to the 18th hole.  Yes, he had a great 17th hole but I could sense his air of confidence - not arrogance - when he walked past me.  He was definitely "in the zone."

So, as I continue to train and practice with Jefferson in developing our agility skills, I will keep working on my mental game to be "in the zone" much like the PGA Professionals.  

"Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course - the distance between your ears."

~Bobby Jones

The Dog Days of Summer!

This past week, Jefferson and I have truly experienced the “dog days” of summer phenomena. 

Historically, the term “dog days” was coined by the ancients who recognized that Sirius (the “dog star”) rises and sets with the sun.  But, during July, Sirius is in conjunction with the sun and the ancients believed that the heat from Sirius was added to the heat from the sun resulting in a stretch of hot and sultry weather.   This time frame was about 20 days before Sirius’ conjunction to about 20 days after – roughly July 3^rd – August 11^th.  

According to Webster’s dictionary, “dog days” is defined as:  

1 : the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere
2 : a period of stagnation or inactivity 

 Indeed, it has been extremely hot and humid, temperatures in the mid 90s and humidity nearing 70% or more – weather certainly not very conducive to outdoor agility activity.  So, Jefferson and I (and kitty, Madison too!) have enjoyed a prolonged indoor stay, minus my daily two-hour mid-afternoon break to form a relaxing flotilla in my parents’ neighborhood pool.  Aahh…the good ole “dog days” of summer!  

But, I am starting to feel the boredom of the “dog days” period of stagnation or inactivity.  Jefferson’s only trick he has learned this week is how to give a “high five.”  Not feeling too much energy to teach anything else!  While vegetating on the couch, it has been energizing to have the opportunity to watch the 2012 Olympics; hearing the inspirational personal stories of athletes; awarding of gold medals; the playing of the national anthem; and especially the extreme athleticism of the swimmers.  During the men’s synchronized diving, former Olympic athlete, Greg Louganis was in the audience.   In addition to being a former Olympian, he is also a dog agility competitor at both the regional and national levels.  Here’s what Louganis has to say about dog agility:

Again, Greg Louganis echoes that dog agility is an active sport for both the dog and handler, and it is about “having fun.”  Of course, it sure is a lot easier to “have fun” outside when the temperatures are not in the grueling 90s!! 

So, with only 12 days left of my official “summer break” before school starts back, I feel rested and ready to begin training for fall trials.  This summer respite has been a good break for both me and Jefferson…. 

"A good vacation is over when you begin to yearn for your work."  ~ Morris Fishbein