Hemi-ism #7 - Hemi needs a job!

Momma - I need a job to keep me busy - maybe if I had a job, I wouldn't have time to SASS!

Last week, I spent the week at a Susan Garrett seminar.  It was fabulous! I learned so many little things to fill in the gaps of my dog training. There were so many small, simple things, that just made so much sense.  I went with the intent to be a better agility handler but came out with the desire to be a better dog trainer.  One of her favorite things she said is

 "A dog is a reflection of your ability as a dog trainer." 

I love that, but that makes you realize every time your dog does something you don't like... well - you have a gap in your training...

Back to Hemi  needs a job...

I went into Hemi's agility class with the plan to work on sassing. Debbie (my instructor) made the comment when Hemi came down the A-Frame is "There she is barking at you on the contact again." (that was the cleaned up version) So, taking a step back - I am thinking I don't need to focus on stopping the sassing but looking at the cause of the sassing.
I want to focus on right now is the #1 place she sasses me - and that appears to be at contacts.


This week's plan it to create a job for Hemi at the end of a dog walk or bottom of a A-frame. No more 2on 2off - I want to see 2on 2off - I am giving you nose touches till you tell me otherwise. That will be her job. It will be hard for her to have her head up barking at me if her nose is down doing touches!!


I agree that all the rage is running contacts right now - and this "job" is going to eat up seconds that could mean the difference in speed, - so be it. I am OK with this.  This is just an idea - plan - that may not pan out - but it's something - it's moving forward - I can stop, re-analyze and at a minimum I will have more information from Hemi to make us successful!

Heigh-Ho - Heigh-Ho --- of to work we go....