Learning to Trust the Process

After last week’s disastrous results from the trial, I have been doing some serious introspection about dog agility.  First off, I have begun to examine my motivations for participating in agility.  I remember when I took a puppy class with Jefferson and I recognized his puppy exuberance and love of learning.  We had a great time, albeit a bit frustrating at times to learn how “to walk on a loose leash.”  But, we persevered and proudly earned our AKC Canine Good Citizen title when he was 15 months old.  I was so proud of my boy for learning how “to walk on a loose leash” and “come when called!”

We entered our first agility class (Intro to Agility) when he was around 10 months old.  He loved it (me too!) especially learning to touch a “target” for his squeeze cheese.  He was truly fearless when it came to mastering the equipment – running fast and confident over the dogwalk.   The DW has always been one of his favorite obstacles!  I remember whenever I was first asked to take him off leash to perform a “sequence” of obstacles, and he escaped and ran around the field.  Those were some humorous classes, but I can truly say, “You’ve come a long way, baby!” since those early days.

But, what I love the most about agility, and dog training in general, is helping Jefferson learn how to “do” something new.  He is such a fast learner that sometimes it surprises me how quickly he responds to training.  For example, I am now working on teaching him a start line stay.  I have determined that this would be best for us to start our runs together as a team – being calm, cool, collected and confident.  By having a start line stay rather than a running start, we begin our runs less hectically and I am in a better position to give him information about where we are going on course.  So, we practiced this last night on a course that definitely required a start line stay since Jump 1 and Jump 2 were side by side, not lending well to a running start.  With the help of string cheese and a happy tone in my voice, he nailed the start line stay and performed flawlessly during our practice.  Yay!  We ran the course more calmly and confidently than we have in a long time.  I was having fun; Jefferson was having fun; WE were having fun learning together as a team.  

Team J-Dawg pre-agility (15 mos)

Back to my opening comment about disastrous results, I have made up my mind to NOT focus on the RESULTS of our dog agility; rather, to focus on the PROCESS of dog agility.  This PROCESS involves my learning how to be a more effective handler by giving Jefferson the information of what obstacle is coming next on course.  This PROCESS involves my learning how to be more energetic and able to “let loose” and have fun on the course with my dog and to leave all my stress outside the ring.  This PROCESS enables me to rekindle my love of training Jefferson.  I need to learn to trust in the PROCESS and not get preoccupied with the RESULTS. 

"Slow down. Calm down. Don't worry. Don't hurry. Trust the process."
~Alexandra Stoddard

Unmet Expectations

I am still feeling drained emotionally and physically after last weekend's trial.  Unfortunately, Team J-Dawg did not perform as well as I would have hoped.  I had such "high hopes" and expectations for a successful weekend.  Once again, I got caught up in "Qualifying" and comparing my dog to other dogs' performances.  Even comparing Jefferson's performance at a trial to Jefferson during classes and practices is a weighty matter.

I have analyzed our runs and noticed Jefferson's lack of working with me and our inability to come together as a team.  I had plenty of unsolicited advice about how to run him, what to do and how to be a better handler.  After three days of hearing plenty from others and replaying the negativity over in my own head, it became especially difficult for me to find the "fun" in agility.  It is easy to have "fun" when you are "winning" but not so much, when you are not part of the "Qualifying" group of agility teams.  I am happy for all those that had great runs - truly I am - I  just would like to be able to celebrate with them and not just for them.  So, I began to doubt if I should even continue in the sport if I am not having "fun."  Plus, it costs a lot of money to have your doggie not run with you to complete a course.

Bringing back the "fun" to our runs!

But, alas, after I did some soul-searching, in agility and in all other aspects of my life.  I read this article about success and it spoke to me:  http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/02/07/principles-of-success/       
I determined that I needed to reassess and change my plan:  as Dr. Phil says, "The definition of insanity is to continue doing the same things and expecting different results."  I began to ask myself questions about how I can work on being a better "me" and a better handler and teammate for Jefferson.  What else can I try?  Jefferson and I are not quitters!!  First off, on the last day of trialing, I went into the ring with no expectations for "Qualifying" but only to start and finish our courses together.  I channeled my inner Stuart Mah voice and ran with Jefferson no matter what happened and made up my own courses.  He did not shut down but kept running with  me once I got rid of  my need to be "perfect" and run for a "Qualifying" round.  It was hot by the afternoon, so I knew that I had my work cut out for me!   I changed my attitude and re-directed my negative thoughts and self-doubt.  I had a plan to run the course as the judge had designed and if the need arose, I had a plan to run the course of Jefferson's design.  Either way - we would be successful. 

Next up in my training plan:  I need to develop my "Mental Game" of agility (and life!) and continue to learn to live in the moment and not have such high expectations.  I just want to bring out the best in Jefferson and me during a trial.  It just sucks that it is taking so long for me to figure out how to do that....








“I am open to the guidance of synchronicity, and do not let expectations hinder my path.”
~Dalai Lama 



 

The "Trials" of "Trials"

Momma wants me to get extra sleep before this weekend's trial!

Well, we have almost made it!  In a few days, we will be participating in our first trial since July and I am really excited (and not nearly as nervous as I have been before past trials).  This week makes me ponder why the agility competitions are called “trials” as opposed to “meets” or even “competition.”   But, in reality, “trial” is an appropriate term because agility “trials” can be, well….”trying!”   First off, the handler is concerned about how ready you and your dog are going to be to meet the challenges the judge has set forth in his or her course design.  Will there be a threadle or a serpentine in the Steeplechase or Grand Prix?  Will Jefferson be able to read my rear cross like he did during last weekend’s run-thrus?   Will he successfully complete his weave poles or act like he has never seen them before?   

Secondly, the heat of the weekend is enough of a “trial” for a heat-aversive Cocker Spaniel (and handler, too!).  Local meteorologists predict temperatures to top off in the mid to upper 80s.  This is a bit of a concern, especially since we are running 4 and 5 times each day.  It has been a real struggle to keep Jefferson motivated in the heat and humidity, so I am prepared to keep him cool by bringing our fan, keeping him in the shade, cooling his belly frequently and especially before he runs, rubbing an ice cube under his arms. 

As for me, I am going to drink lots of Gatorade – I may even try rubbing an ice cube under my arms too!

Also, another “trial” is wondering how will Team J-Dawg deal with the stress of the environment, including all the humans and doggies.  By this, I mean all the other handlers canoodling about, talking and analyzing “how to best run” the course.  Asking questions like, “What is your Snooker plan?  How are you going to get the Gamble?  Did you ‘Q’?”  And my personal favorite after a not so good run, “What happened?  He did so well in practice…”   (Yeah, believe me…I know!)  Handlers can ask all the questions they like to each other; but ultimately, the only person who knows how to run your dog is you!  So, if and when I do not have a clean run, it is up to me to determine how to improve my handling to better communicate with Jefferson.  It sounds so easy; but yet, it is so very complex.  This is what keeps agility challenging, exciting, interesting and F-U-N! 

And, once you have gotten it…I mean, finally conquered the “trials” of the “trial,” it is a great time to be had by humans and doggies alike.  Let the games begin!!!


"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Gettin' Ready for a Trial!

This evening I received the running order for next weekend's trial.  I am so excited about running Jefferson and looking forward to meeting new training goals for this agility "season."

We attended run-thrus on Sunday and had another successful weekend.  I have identified a few more points needed for additional training.  First off, the running dogwalk definitely deserves more of my training time.  In particular, learning how to better handle the obstacles at the end of the dogwalk.  For example, this weekend's Standard course (all three levels) had a 90 degree entry to the weave poles upon the completion of the dogwalk.  We did get our down contact, but had trouble getting the entry since it was not straight in front of the dogwalk and required  a sharp right turn.  So, I have read Sylvia Turkman's training tips for how to handle obstacles at the end of the dogwalk and have a training strategy to implement as soon as I can get the extra time.  Luckily, I have trained Jefferson verbal directionals so this would be a great time for me to use them.  For some reason, I only seem to use directionals when approaching jumps or tunnels - they work for contacts too so I need to remember that while running a course.  Overall, I am pleased with Jefferson's increased speed; he seems really enthusiastic and happy to be running agility (even without treats on the field!)  I have also determined that I need desperately to get a back in shape with my own running.  With the added stress of work, I have neglected my own physical fitness and can no longer continue down this path if I want to be able to "keep up" with Jefferson and have any hope of completing a front cross!! 

So, for next weekend's trial, I am going to be realistic that I will not have had time to learn how to better handle the turns at the end of a running dogwalk.  Instead, I am going to do my best, have fun and party like a rock star at the end of our runs!   Go team J-Dawg!!





"There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either IN or you're OUT. There's not such things as life in-between."   ~Pat Riley

Ahoy, Mates! A Fun Agility-Filled Week

Ahoy, mates!  In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I thought I would smartly (pirate translation = "do something quickly") share our week's progress in agility.  We had a blast in Thursday and Saturday classes.  I have been so impressed with  how well Jefferson seems to be reading my cues, even if I  might mess up once in a while.  Looks like Jefferson had been "unleashing his inner buccaneer!"

Thursday night we ran a Master Level Standard course, and Jefferson did a wonderful job in getting his weave poles and staying motivated for me during our run.  I was exceptionally proud of his getting his weave poles; more importantly, if he pulls out at the 10th pole, he "lets" me come back and have a do-over.  This is HUGE for Team J-Dawg since he has been so sensitive to my mistakes and reluctant to any do-overs.  Aye!  Aye! (pirate translation = "I'll get right on that!")  Another training tip I gleaned from Thursday night is that I watched Jefferson run rather than looking at the next obstacle.  My looking at him caused him to stop, look at me, pant and avast (pirate translation = "stop and give attention...get off!")  This is another a-ha moment (as Oprah would say).  Once I focused on the obstacle ahead and trusted Jefferson to run the course with me, he did and we were extremely successful.  So, my goals for the next few weeks are to use more of my peripheral vision and trust Jefferson to take the obstacles.  

Still another learning moment occurred when we were performing the running contact on the dogwalk.  I have to admit, I have not taken the time to train the running dogwalk as I learned earlier this year during the Daisy Peel seminar.  Between work and other obligations, I have not put in the time needed to gain the consistency in Jefferson's performance.  However, I did experiment with some handling moves this week and noticed that when I applied pressure to Jefferson when he was running the down portion of the dogwalk, he got his contact.  In other words, no matter how far out I started when he ran up the dogwalk, when he was on his descent, I pushed the line to apply pressure.  Of course, this will not work if the dogwalk is in the advanced gamble similar to May's gamblers course.  I will need to work making sure J (pirate translation = "Jefferson") knows his criteria and bring out the clicker and a training buddy to help me.

Saturday we ran a Master's level jumpers course and J did so well!  I handled the serpentines and threadles fairly clean and J read my handling.  Arr! (pirate translation = "yes!")  We did not do well the third time we ran the course...Arrgh (pirate translation = "sound you make when you sit on a pin!")  I was tired; J was tired; and honestly, Team J-dawg does not thrive very well with repetition.   We both get easily bored.  If we got it right the first time, why keep doing it over?  Oh, well...

And on Sunday, after an "elimination" 1st run (pooping right before entering the ring and finishing up with peeing after about 3 obstacles....Arrgh), we had a nice 2nd run and J stayed with me.  Only one stoppage on the course, but rather than stand there, I looked at him and used our new command, "Here" and he took off and we finished clean.  Success!!!  Although we still have to set the sails to be (pirate translation  = "more work to do") this week's training had made me so Grog-filled (pirate translation = "happy").

 "To err is human, to arr is pirate!"  ~ Captain Crook

A Peanut Butter-Filled Kong and an Icy, Cold Beer!

Today was a rough day for me - professionally.  As a teacher for over 17 years (ouch!), this school year has been one of the most challenging I have ever endured.  The demands that have been placed on me and all my other colleagues is immense:  long meetings after school; weekly lesson plans turned in to the principal; weekly observations; no classroom; serving the students breakfast; lunch duty; in school suspension duty; hall sweep duty; and double duty (haha!)  All of these arduous activities leaves me with no time to even have a "potty" break!  To say I am stressed and overwhelmed is an understatement.

After venting to my mom after work (thanks MOM!), I feel more positive and have "turned my frown upside down!"  What changed my attitude was playing with Jefferson.  Sometimes, all it takes is your dog to remind you of what is really important in life. 

Here are a few things that Jefferson has taught me:

1.  Patience in all situations.  Jefferson really did not mean to eat that $100 shoe!

2.  Live in the present.  Tomorrow is a new day and he has already forgotten that he ate my shoe seconds ago...

3.  Rewards count.  Mmmm....cheese!!! (And liverwurst, chicken, apples, fishy fudge...hey, Jefferson is a Cocker Spaniel!)

4.  Take time to rest and re-charge your batteries.  Spending most of the day crated, Jefferson gets his beauty rest and time to re-charge his energy.

5.  Have fun!  Life is too short to not run as fast you can through the weave poles!

6.  Roll around on the ground and act crazy.  This gets Jefferson excited every time before we play tug, hide and go seek, and fetch.

7. Detach from the outcome.  Our agility ribbons are extremely pretty; but, I learned more from the runs that did not earn any ribbon.

8.  Exercise often.  Walking, running and moving as much as you can helps relieve pent-up energy and stress as well as burn those extra calories (keeps Jefferson from eating paper out of boredom!)

9.  Spend quality time with family and friends.  Jefferson loves spending time "playing" agility and learning new tricks with me.  It helps us both learn from each other.

10.  There is nothing that a peanut-butter filled Kong and an icy cold beer won't cure!!  No explanation necessary....

 

These are just a few of the life lessons I have learned from my lovable, sweet doggie Jefferson.  He continues to teach me daily....




"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."
~Thomas Jefferson

Great Agility Instruction is an Art!

This week, all the Dog Agility Bloggers are tackling the question:  What makes a good coach/instructor?    As a fairly newbie to agility, this question caused me to reflect upon our past two years of trialing, taking numerous classes and attending a multitude of seminars.  All of these instructors have impacted Team J-Dawg’s agility performance.  But, to me, there are a few traits which make a good instructor.

First, I believe that an effective agility instructor has to possess passion for the sport.  This really impacts me because if the instructor is passionate about agility, he/she keeps up with the latest handling trends in agility. For example, the instructor will share International-style courses or a Master’s Level Gamble from a recent trial.  He/she also loves to learn about the various handling techniques; different obstacle performances (2o2o vs. running contacts); teeter learning aides; and the multiple ways to teach weave poles just to name a few.  

In addition, I feel that an agility instructor should be a great problem-solver.  Many times, we agility students go to our instructors for advice about a particular hurdle we are having with our doggies.  Whether our dog experiences motivational issues or obstacle performance issues, it is imperative that an effective instructor has “been there…done that” in order to help us overcome our particular barrier to earning the “clean run.”  Sometimes, an effective instructor may not have the answer, but he/she recommends the resources to us to help us help ourselves.  Great instructors understand that effective teaching is not a science but a form of art.

Also, I consider an agility instructor “good” if he/she has the ability to relate to the people and their dogs.  In reality, the instructor is training the handler more than the dog….the dog is the easier part of the equation!  As such, it is imperative that the instructor have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.  He/she should be able to clearly communicate the expectations to the handler as well as the dog.  One of my professors in college used to tell his students this three-prong axiom that sticks with me to this very day:  1. Tell them what you’re gonna tell them; 2. Tell them; and 3. Tell them what you told them.

"But, Mom...I don't wanna take that tunnel!"

Finally, an effective agility instructor is an active competitor and is able to see you and your doggie compete in trials.  Many times, doggies perform clean runs during class but choke during a trial.  It does make a difference in the quality and relevancy of the advice you get from your instructor if he/she has had the opportunity to watch your runs during a trial.  Being a good agility team during an instructor’s class sometimes does not always translate to a good performance in a trial or a more stressful situation.

Overall, being a good instructor is contingent upon the instructor having passion for the sport; being a good problem-solver; possessing excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and competing actively in the sport.   If an instructor has these “magic” ingredients, he/she makes a great impact in the sport of agility by assisting many teams learn to have fun working together and earn clean runs!

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery."
~Mark Van Doren