H. I. T. List in dog training.

Does your dog break their start line stay only at trials? Is it because they are geeked up, ring wise, can't help themselves? Stubborn?
Does your dog miss their contacts - they don't want to stop, too excited, they know better?
Does your dog tunnel suck, bark at you, spin, ignore you? Is it because they are too excited? Just don't want to? They always do that?Are those excuses or Holes In Training?
 
Hemi-ism - No more excuses!
There have been multiple things that I have had my eye on that I need to fix with Hemi and my performance! I am calling this my H.I.T. List - Holes In Training List ....

As you have seen in my blogging and video's - Hemi is a "sasser" - "Typical of an Aussie", so I have been told many times - but is it because they 'like' to sass and bark, or because of their inherent nature to herd?  Therefore because of their instinct they aren't getting enough information quick enough, they have to get in front of you, stop you -HERD?  While it may sound the same, I tend to think it is the latter.

Here is my current H.I.T List:

1. Hemi is sassing me. Could be at a jump, contact or weaves.  H.I.T - the hole here is that I have not taught her to drive forward until she see's my body say otherwise - so by instinct she is always driving into me, trying to herd me and with that comes the sassing.
2. Hemi almost always sasses me at the weave poles. Someone commented that I am crowding her at the entries. I went back and reviewed my videos - the runs I am back further, she is taking the weaves, those that I am close to her and close to the entry, she is turning and sassing. H.I.T - She should understand the entry of weaves no matter where I am.  Back to working 2x2's entries.
3. In the trial ring, Hemi occasionally doesn't do her 2on2off. (and she is usually sassing) H.I.T - I clearly need to proof her 2on2off  better. As well as if I am going to do quick releases, go back and do 10 X 2on2off's with a pause. I want the 2on2off to be higher value.
4. Start line routine - goes well in class when it is low keyed and food in my hand. Get to the start line in a trial and it is a whole different ball game. Knock on wood, Hemi doesn't break, but where I want her to be sitting and where she ends up are usually two different things entirely. H.I.T - I clearly have used to much food in training.  My hole here is that I need to work the start line stay routine in may different environments, with and without food and with getting her excitement level way up. 

That is my H.I.T. List

What is yours? 

Ask yourself this: Have you been making excuses about your dog's performance - or do you have a need for your own H.I.T. List?

Just sayin'...