Training Talk Thread

[sas]

I hate when you have a bad run and the judge and anyone watching think that you are a crap trainer and/or your dog is poorly trained. I always end up wanting to explain that my dog isn't normally total crap, that it was all handler error

At the end of the day, do you really know what people are thinking?? They are probably wondering what they are going to have for dinner that night

We all know the pitfalls of trialling...even the best trainers have had bad days in the ring...they take that experience and find solutions to their poor performance. Embrace what you learn in a poor trial and don't worry about those outside the ring...use that energy on you and your dog and things that you can control

I had an average day in the ring yesterday...all my fault and I know where I let my dog down...had a Royal crowd watching...I have no idea what they were all thinking and I don't really care...am I going back tomorrow?? Sure am

It's true you know, I saw a Greyhound go in before us and it didn't do as well as the owner had hoped for, we were hoping and praying for it to do great, I mean they are even more of a rare sight than we are....I never thought she was a crap trainer or the dog was crap, I could see before she went in the ring she was just like me.....about to crap herself!

Edited September 26, 2010 by sas

[PAX]

I really think all the judges and spectators want us to pass, no one wants to see failure.

When I saw your Dane trial I thought you were both awesome, I'm positive most people thought the same, so take that on board. Just like how you felt watching the greyhound.

[huski]

I hate when you have a bad run and the judge and anyone watching think that you are a crap trainer and/or your dog is poorly trained. I always end up wanting to explain that my dog isn't normally total crap, that it was all handler error

At the end of the day, do you really know what people are thinking?? They are probably wondering what they are going to have for dinner that night

We all know the pitfalls of trialling...even the best trainers have had bad days in the ring...they take that experience and find solutions to their poor performance. Embrace what you learn in a poor trial and don't worry about those outside the ring...use that energy on you and your dog and things that you can control :D

I had an average day in the ring yesterday...all my fault and I know where I let my dog down...had a Royal crowd watching...I have no idea what they were all thinking and I don't really care...am I going back tomorrow?? Sure am

It's true you know, I saw a Greyhound go in before us and it didn't do as well as the owner had hoped for, we were hoping and praying for it to do great, I mean they are even more of a rare sight than we are....I never thought she was a crap trainer or the dog was crap, I could see before she went in the ring she was just like me.....about to crap herself!

True guys ;) I guess I mean more when people try to give you feedback thinking that is how your dog normally works, seriously anyone who saw Daisy at her last trial would be shocked if they saw how she normally works ;) I know I shouldn't worry about what other people think but sometimes it's hard not to :D

[Cleo's Corgwyn]

We were talking about this at my trial yesterday (yes, Shandy and I had a shocker, in her 1st CD trial!) and about all the physiological changes that nerves can bring on - changes to sweat, and stomach acid, etc, that dogs must be able to smell and must confuse them no end. Shandy even sat during her SFE yesterday= my ex show dog, who normally doesn't even blink at them!

I still don't know what to do about them, but I can understand how it affects the dogs!

[J...]

I got really nervous in my first trials and I only did Darcy's CCD and then pulled the pin to do agility. I came back to do Darcy's CD in March and found that 2.5 years of agility trialling did not help my nerves at all. In fact I think they were worse

Since then I think they've gotten a bit better, partially because I've bombed a few times and while it's bloody disappointing, at some point I will look back and laugh. I've also gotten to know a few of the judges and can have a laugh at the start line and throughout the exercises and I've found this helps as well.

As for who's watching, if you really take a look around I think you'll find a lot of people are more interested in working their own dogs, watching their mates and gasbagging. I read a quote the other day which I thought was interesting "it's none of your business what other people think of you".

Seriously trialling sucks some days. Last weekend Darcy worked her butt off but anticipated one finish and missed one sit resulting in 2 NQs. Today she worked like a 3 legged donkey (first warm sunny day in what feels like years!) and won the ring with a shitful score because she was the only pass. This arvo she worked marginally better, sitting on a pass into the stays for her CDX title. The rottie next to her stood up in the sit stay, Darcy didn't like being stared at and dropped with 20 seconds to go. I'm still sulking over that one

[Sue & Waldo]

I got so nervous that I was seriuosly not going to go. I got up yesterday having done very little training for 3 weeks-had a shocking cold and then went away-thinking why drive 1.5 hours to get another 2 NQs and make an idiot of myself. Decided to go because it was better than doing the washing and gardening and ended up with a Q. I get so nervous that I was not even able to work well when staff n toller (thanks for your help and to Ness too) was videoing me. When I watched it I knew that the nerves would need to go or I would have to take up professional stewarding and not competing. Somehow it just didn't matter as much yesterday and if I could have stopped coughing in the pm trial and scaring Cindy we may have got a 2nd Q (perhaps). But I did get very nervous again in the pm trial as well.

What I found helpful was thinking about where I sat and not sitting near people who were competing for every sheep station in the known and unkonwn world and running their own judging panel and sit with the people who were very positive about some part of every dog and handler. I knew that they would find something good about Cindy and myself.

[Sue & Waldo]

I have a problem with the heel up for the recall in ccd. It was not broken until yesterday.

I think Cindy is thinking it is a sit stay. I have checked my footwork this morning and the person observing did not notice anything. I clearly say heel. I think Cindy is thinking:

lead off=stay

Any clues would be gratefully received.

[RubyStar]

Well done Sue & Cindy!! Do we get to see the video?

I'm another one who practically craps her pants leading up to a trial, well the big ones anyway, and then what we get out of training, we don't see translated to the ring. Yes it gets me down BIG TIME, and I wonder why I keep bothering, but the fact is I love it too much and I'm no quitter, so I will perservere and work out ways to get what I get in training in the ring too. So far I don't have a new game plan, but I know I need one, so I will have to put my thinking cap on!!

[Tiggy]

Well done Sue & Cindy!! Do we get to see the video?

I'm another one who practically craps her pants leading up to a trial, well the big ones anyway, and then what we get out of training, we don't see translated to the ring. Yes it gets me down BIG TIME, and I wonder why I keep bothering, but the fact is I love it too much and I'm no quitter, so I will perservere and work out ways to get what I get in training in the ring too. So far I don't have a new game plan, but I know I need one, so I will have to put my thinking cap on!!

RS you have done so well with your girls so don't feel down ;) .

[Sue & Waldo]

Well done Sue & Cindy!! Do we get to see the video?

I'm another one who practically craps her pants leading up to a trial, well the big ones anyway, and then what we get out of training, we don't see translated to the ring. Yes it gets me down BIG TIME, and I wonder why I keep bothering, but the fact is I love it too much and I'm no quitter, so I will perservere and work out ways to get what I get in training in the ring too. So far I don't have a new game plan, but I know I need one, so I will have to put my thinking cap on!!

RS you have done so well with your girls so don't feel down .

See the video-totally embarassing-it is good for a lugh I guess. I was so sick with a cold I kept coughing and went home to bed.

If you want a laugh here it is

Just remember it our worst work and I reckon video nerves are worse than ring nerves ;)

[sas]

Sue & Cindy, that was a Gold performance compared to Dante's LOL

[The Spotted Devil]

A ramble/vent aimed squarely at myself - I'm a bit cranky

I had (in my eye) a really cr@p day at training yesterday. Zig's heel work was woeful. I was really miserable about it and felt frustrated most of the afternoon once we'd arrived home from training. Today the logical part of my brain has kicked in and I feel like :

1. We haven't trained away from home for about 2 months because the wet weather has left all the local parks in a dreadful state (in fact, agility has just been cancelled for tonight).

2. Training at home has been adjusted for the wet weather - breaking down exercises into tiny parts to fine tune stuff and teaching new exercises, which means lots of food rewards. Then expected him to suddenly do 15 min of ring work with no feedback.

3. I was really tired and should have slept in but it was the first nice day in ages so was determined to go to training. Consequently, Zig had a huge meal the night before (I usually give him half) and was sluggish. Plus I left his coat on a bit too long so he was probably a bit warm. And I skipped breakfast - BIG mistake.

4. I didn't do my usual warm up with him (didn't take crate), building motivation as I normally do.

5. My handling was awful Dog was confused and didn't understand the game - which is normally at the front of my mind.

6. His stand for examination was perfect, despite the lovely smells on the 'judge' and a LOT of tail wagging.

7. His recall was gorgeous, despite a slightly crooked sit.

8. His finishes were perfect...we have been working on speed and accuracy a lot.

9. His change of position (for something different I did: stand - sit - drop - sit) was faultless.

10. His first ever formal dumbbell retrieve on the flat was fast and simply sensational....even more so considering he has never had an interest in fetching. And I learned something about how to correctly take a dumbbell.

11. We went on to work on a bit of agility. His accuracy and focus (once I got the tight course sorted out) was bloody brilliant, especially for a green dog.

And yet, all I took home was the negative about his heel work. And it wasn't all bad....there were some really nice moments towards the end when he realised it was the same game with an idiot handler and he worked beautifully. And a very funny moment when I accelerated too quickly into fast pace and Zig thought it was agility so just took off I also received lots of constructive criticism about my handling.

*sigh* I feel very unworthy of owning such a fab dog

[Sue & Waldo]

Sue & Cindy, that was a Gold performance compared to Dante's LOL

I find that very hard to believe but thank you.

Why oh why do we have to get so nervous!

[JulesP]

Congrats on your pass Sue & Cindy

TSD maybe it was just the day for it? Amber went crap, Poppy went crap and I ended up in a pretty bad mood. Interestingly I had a really bad sleep on Saturday night too, damn insomnia. If it hadn't been for some nice comments on how well my last puppy class performed in their new class I would have gone home and retired!

[Sue & Waldo]

Congrats on your pass Sue & Cindy

TSD maybe it was just the day for it? Amber went crap, Poppy went crap and I ended up in a pretty bad mood. Interestingly I had a really bad sleep on Saturday night too, damn insomnia. If it hadn't been for some nice comments on how well my last puppy class performed in their new class I would have gone home and retired!

Thanks Jules.

Best not talk about the pm effort!

[Sue & Waldo]

I have a problem with the heel up for the recall in ccd. It was not broken until yesterday.

I think Cindy is thinking it is a sit stay. I have checked my footwork this morning and the person observing did not notice anything. I clearly say heel. I think Cindy is thinking:

lead off=stay

Any clues would be gratefully received.

Anyone?

[TerraNik]

Do you have a hand signal for heel? Are you consistently using the same foot when you heel off?

[Sue & Waldo]

Do you have a hand signal for heel? Are you consistently using the same foot when you heel off?

the answer is yes to both. It is weird becasue it has never been an issue. Tomorrow I am going to try two things-an exaggerated heel signal and for me to me next to the start peg not her. She has also decided that start pegs may well be monsters in disguise and sneak up and attack.

[huski]

We did some work on our retrieves tonight! I am very pleased with how Daisy is coming along.

I was having trouble with her scenting the ground and not seeing the dumbell, I got one with painted on sides yesterday and WOW - INSTANT difference. She did the speediest retrieves very consistently tonight. You can see she is so much more confident because she doesn't need to look around for the dumbell anymore. I wasn't asking for a complete exercise as I wanted to work on building her confidence in retrieving it nicely now she can see it better, without worrying about finishes etc. Just in case anyone is wondering she can hold it for longer and I realise I was snatching it from her :rofl:

ETA: And excuse the missing bit at the beginning, I cut out me throwing it as Daisy pre-empted my command and I had to set her up again. But I couldn't be bothered going out to pick the dumbell up

Edited September 27, 2010 by huski

[Tiggy]

We did some work on our retrieves tonight! I am very pleased with how Daisy is coming along.

I was having trouble with her scenting the ground and not seeing the dumbell, I got one with painted on sides yesterday and WOW - INSTANT difference. She did the speediest retrieves very consistently tonight. You can see she is so much more confident because she doesn't need to look around for the dumbell anymore. I wasn't asking for a complete exercise as I wanted to work on building her confidence in retrieving it nicely now she can see it better, without worrying about finishes etc. Just in case anyone is wondering she can hold it for longer and I realise I was snatching it from her

She did great and how cute is she over the jump