But Momma... I wanna tug... isn't that what you taught me?

One of the things I have instilled in Hemi is tugging - Going by the system we use at PAWS and following Greg Derrett's recommendations - "Tugging is a not only a great reward but a huge relationship building behavior."

There is no doubt about it, I have tugging with Hemi... but I missed the boat on putting some kind of controls around it.

In Greg's seminar that I went to last spring in Oklahoma - we talked about tugging, and I think what he said was first get the strong, do or die tugging behavior then put the controls around it.

Controls? Meaning - you tug when I ask you to, you release when I ask you to and you don't tug unless I invite you to...

I have the do or die attitude - but I didn't put the controls around it....

Why am I posting about this? Because NADAC does NOT allow tugging in the ring, of any kind.  Including and not limited to walking out to the start line, or while leaving the ring.

While I know this and don't interactively try to tug with Hemi going out to the start line - the minute, I mean the second we step over the line and into the ring she turns into this Monster Tugging Dog! She grabs, tugs and gives me that "Let's Play" growl. - Why not? Isn't that what I taught her?

Needless to say I am doing the "No" "Drop" "Stop" - or anything else my wind-up mind is thinking...while I am making all the effort I can to keep her from tugging...none of which works. We have been working on "Drop" and it works occasionally - and it seemed to appease the judge on Saturday, but not the Judge on Sunday.

I thought I did a pretty good job of making her stop, but at the last minute she grabbed and tugged again. I took the leash off, and we ran like the wind, thinking we had a clean run... to have the leash runner tell me as she is handing me the leash the he E'd me for tugging. UUUGGGHH... I was so disappointed (putting it nicely).

While I understand, rules are rules and are put in place for a reason... here is my .02 on it. First, it was obviously that I was working to get her not to tug. Second, couldn't there be a warning? "Hey, I see you are trying not to let her tug, but it is too much...." It is what it is... 

BUT - With all that said - BAD Handler... I do know that I need to put those controls around it - and I didn't. She needs to understand, unless invited - she doesn't tug... so we will be working on that, along with the other long list of things to work on!

Here is the video, in which you don't see any of the antics in which I am talking about because the video didn't start till after I took the leash off.  While this isn't the prettiest run she had, and her contacts were "iffy" because she released herself (and we won't talk about me twisting my ankle)... it would have been a Q! Enjoy...