[Patrice Grossmann]

Yep…Got it….Again thanks so much! Very helpful!! : )

[Patrice Grossmann]

Thank you Jordan, Understood your notes…the responses are most helpful!

One more question based on your response on turning away – ” I have a verbal for turning away from me. “turn turn”.”

Do you have a video example of turning away? I know you mention tight rear cross turns in lesson 4. Is that what the cue is used for?

Would/could one also use “turn turn turn” flipping dog back away into a tunnel, say off A-frame or dog walk? (Tunnel being beside or under) as handler parallels going same direction. Maybe I’m confused with this being not actual threadle situation. Understand for jumps but in my mind gets a little fuzzy in my mind with tunnel dw and A-frame.

Thanks so much for clarifications on the cues and when to use : )

[Patrice Grossmann]

>Performance 1st, possibly venue changes later once other bits and pieces are better in place.

Tracy you state: Yes and no, it doesn’t have to be one thing then the other. New behaviors can be taught in one place then when they are solid, taken to another place. But, concurrently, the dog should be brought into different environments just to learn to hang out or do really simple things like tricks, to get comfy before you ask for more difficult behaviors in the new environments.
Let me know what you think!

Thank you for answering all of the above since I know it was a little off topic.

Certainly lots of food for thought!

In regard to the last statement….I’m thinking possibly another set/subset of goals and objectives may be in order, just based on my dog and the acclimation progress for each new venue location. Especially helpful so I can stick to a plan on what I want to work through for each issue etc.

I guess all those tiny bits or objectives are the pieces & parts over time that makes each dog handler journey different : )

~P.

[Patrice Grossmann]

Wow 2 minutes that’s a real challenge I need to work up to! Good to know that multiple dogs will dip into to the warm up, visualization, & mental prep. Never entered my mind at this point!

~P.

[Patrice Grossmann]

– Tracy: you mention difficulty of this topic..

You bet, it is a difficult topic…so much involves working through personal emotions and internal struggles. I think everyone has to learn this part for sure. Not everyone is versed on HOW to rewire their thought process though, so thank you.

– specifically you note: In those moments, folks want to discuss the negatives so I don’t stick around for the (unless it is a friend or student, then I stick around to spew the neg and tun around their thinking).

So glad we are going over the issues here and now. I know I have been on both sides of the coin and around the emotional merry go round a few times too! (lol) Nice reminder to keep the head space away from the toxic or negative. Learning to do that, not just in competition, but at all walks of life is such a valuable skill set. So again thank you for your thoughtful input on dealing with those curve balls thrown at us times.

– Tracy you state: This part is yelled: And CRUSH IT”!

Putting (negs etc) in the box for later to be purged….I laughed at your tip as well. What a great visual and release : ) : )

– Tracy you indicate: “Picturing failure is more about recovery than actual visualization and is done away from trial. At trial itself all visualizations are done positively and without failure.”

Thanks for the clarification on when and where & reminder taking care of self during trial being important!

In the beginning, it’s hard to figure out where to fit in “self” and where to fit in head space and volunteering. So again thanks for giving a tips on what is important to prevent physical burn out. I think there’s a lot of pressure placed on working the trial for beginners. What I’ve started doing is attending multiple days (if trial is close enough) and on the day we don’t trial I’ll work a bit and leave …I take trial day for myself to focus on competition. ~ P.

[Patrice Grossmann]

Thanks so much for your positive input… I feel that I may be somewhat normal the thoughts! Yay! 🙂 🙂

-Tracy you mention “sometimes we nail the run, sometimes the run is frustrating. That is agility in a nutshell!”

Thanks for the honesty! Quite often I only see the brags and not the realities. So good to hear the ups and downs are pretty normal for everyone.

– Tracy you also mention “Adjustments in her pre-run routine might be needed, or she might just need more experience.”

Any suggestions of pre-run routines/helpful tips for environmentally sensitive yet curious dogs?

Some background:
We have some experience (2.5 yrs of some weekend trials). New venues or locations and buildings require adjustment for us for sure. The past weekends location is not one we usually go to and I thought I’d try a new spot. It takes many times at a center for her to relax more and not sweep the ring area and its workers on first run. Usually I have to run the first run for acclimation and toss the results. If I get 85% of the first course I consider that a win. Still anxiety producing for me mentally though (lol). Worse when that % drops to 20%. I always hope that “this is the one” where she will show me she can do it right off and pull through everything on the first course.

She does not play with toys at trial and I can not run her off leash outside with frisbee etc or she would be gone seeking outer Mongolia.

If I have opportunity to add in as pre-run routine, I use wadded up paper to play fetch/catch near ring and that helps a lot for focus as pressure release. I did not have any paper this time around though. At this trial I had to stick to tricks.

I do crate her in the van for rest but if she’s in there too long, I sometimes have to reacclimatize her to the building again. Balancing rest with re-acclimation is so important for us so she does not switch off or glaze over mentally exhausted. Those that do not know my dog can’t always see the stress since she hides it well, she’s quiet as a church mouse at trial, but all that stored energy then breaks loose on a run (lol).

Thnx
~P>

…Ok…I am going to go over to visualization
section now since I have questions about how to work through sideline people etc.

[Patrice Grossmann]

Yep, This helps quite a bit defining “passive” stretching. 🙂
Gotcha…Agreed each dog needs a plan specific tailored to their specific needs… Thanks for the reminder to seek evaluation as prevention measure to keep all aligned and in order.

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