Holes In Training Revisited -

It has been awhile since I have blogged on Hemi-isms, so I thought I would revisit the H.I.T list that I posted. (Holes In Training List)

After reviewing I feel like I have made progress, slowly - but surely... but what was my "goal"?

I have recently been reminded, that there will always be HITs, that is what makes this such a wonderful journey. I was thankful someone pointed that out to me, because I think I have been focusing to much on what the perfect picture is going to look like. I backed off of trialing, focusing on trying to achieve perfection before heading back to competition - - imagine what a unattainable goal to challenge myself with - much less the pressure I put on both myself and Hemi!

What I can achieve, is my personal best. Not compare to anyone else's training, not to compare Hemi to other dogs, and certainly not to compare my success to others in the agility trial ring. We all have our own set of circumstances and environmental differences that absolutely impact the rate at which we improve.  I can only do the best I can, at this moment, with that I have.

So, I asked myself today, Did I do my best  to improve on my personal best? Did I give it my all? Did I do the best to prepare Hemi for the circumstances that I put her in? 

But most of all - Did I have fun? Did Hemi have fun?

It boils down to "It's all trick training"... I can have fun teaching her how to "Say her prayers" and I can have fun teaching her how to wrap tight around a jump. To her -  there is no difference, it is just a trick to earn reinforcement! So when I teach her to "Whisper" and I have fun and laugh with it, why should I get all serious about teaching her to wrap a jump? 
I shouldn't, and I won't. 
I still believe you should have a plan - and set goals - but have fun with it!

Today my H.I.T list is:

• Smile more
• Laugh more
• Have more fun
• Do my personal best
• Remember: It's all trick training
• There will always be more to add to this list!

How about you??  How is your H.I.T.  list coming? 

Confidence & Con"Fido"ence

Confidence & Con"Fido"ence
                            
One thing I have been hearing over the course of this last agility year is  "Confidence"
"Be confident"; "Show confidence" Along with "Be convincing"; "Run with intent" & "Drive the line, with confidence!"
While I know at times I get to the start line and I might or might not feel confident about my walk-through, I never thought about how this bleeds over to Hemi.
It seems like it is obvious, but being confident and portraying confidence is two entirely different things. I can be confident in my mind, but that doesn't necessarily mean that  it is in my body language.  Our dogs draw so much from us, fear;  anger; worry; why wouldn't they also draw confidence?  This connection they have to us is what makes us true partners & teammates.

And speaking of  Con"Fido"ence ? what about your Fido's confidence? Are they confident in all situations? Are they confident in start line stays, as you enter a new ring and walk away from them? How do you know? Are you reading their true body language?

Although I feel Hemi is a fairly confident dog, I know there are things that can worry her. For example, at the seminar last week, there was a  cutout of a horse's head that just scared her to death. Once I went back to our puppy game of "What is it?" she went from worried to a game of touch with her nose. There was an immediate change in her posture - She was much more confident.
Someone mentioned that maybe she did have some confidence issues, and this was why we had so much barking at the start line. Is she lacking confidence at the start line? Well obviously she can't answer that, (wouldn't our lives be so different if they could talk to us?) but it did make me think.

So, one of my goals in the next few weeks is to build confidence in Hemi. How? Well...I haven't quite got my plan completely worked out yet, but I think it will simply consist of exposing her to new and different things, people and places and making it as highly rewarding as possible.

So, next time you step into the ring Be Confident, Be convincing and Drive that line, so your Fido will follow your lead and run with con"fido"ence !

But remember, no matter how confident you drive, always drive safely.
And yes, I got a Hemi! Vroom Vroom!