Reaching some goals

This past weekend was a local AKC agility trial, held inside and where I train. Set up was easy, arriving and leaving was quick and painless and the trial was run really smoothly. I love trialing outside, enjoying the sun and hanging out around "nature", but I can't complain about the ease of indoor trials! So little set up, easy to pack and unpack, so much less draining!

Maybe the stars aligned just right, or the moon was in the right phase, but Rosey and I had the best weekend we've ever had. We were connected, I knew my courses, and she was doing her best to follow all my commands. I remembered to talk to her, to let her know how amazing she is, and she responded to each "yes" with a burst of speed and confidence. The look in her face after the run was enough to tell me she thought that we did a good job! Our weaves are still an issue, still slowing down after our first class, always a "project" for us. This weekend hopefully is a first among many, and all our hard work is starting to pay off!

Priority #1 this weekend was keeping connected. After the OMD seminar in December with Jessica Ajoux, I've started to get into a rhythm of letting Rosey know when she does a good turn or make a great decision... I was missing that piece and Rosey was getting slower because I wasn't giving her that feedback. Now that we're on track, she's getting more confident with turns and tight sections, making it more fun and easier for me to handle! Another major help to get connection was taking Denise Fenzi's play class and Deb Jones' Focus class, both have helped me understand how to play and how to make "working" so much more fun! Agility isn't just about running anymore, it's becoming a game and a conversation that we both look forward to having.

Priority #2 was to reduce most of my ring nerves, keep a clear head while running, and be open to connect with Rosey. Taking the mental management class with Andrea has really helped me identify my own issues and help me take control of them. With the tools I learned there, I was able to see the nerves coming long before they would be able to affect me. Driving to the trial, I was able to get myself into a more focused and better mindset, and setting the tone of the day. I even found myself humming while walking courses, not even realizing I was doing it until halfway through. I felt clear headed and I was totally present each run. It went so well that I am suspicious that I might not be able to make it happen again! Something to keep watching and working on... need more practice!

How did we do on paper? Exactly as I felt we should! We earned 5/6 Qs this weekend, making that two QQ, 1st place in Premier Standard, and 68-speed points towards our PACH.

One year ago, I was considering that I might not ever be able to run with Rosey. Her injury, her age, her heart murmur... it was all coming together and things seemed like I needed to make big decisions. I'm so glad I made decisions to explore rehab, strengthening, time off, and making an effort to make her better. 2015 was all about healing, and Rosey sure looked healed this weekend! I saw she was a little slower by the end of the weekend, but she's not sore! OMG she's not sore ;) So grateful to all the amazing teachers I have been able to learn from this past year. Our journey isn't over, it feels like we're just getting started!

Loot after Saturday! Added 2 more 2nd places and a 1st place and another QQ ribbon.

Staying Connected

I figured that today is a Dog Agility Blog Event and I might as well use it as an excuse to write. The topic is “The Mental Aspect of Agility”. To find more blogs exploring this topic, head over to Dog Agility Blog Events.

My view from the computer.

I find this topic well timed and very fitting for my situation, it seems that most of my failures on the agility field are when I’m not focused or mentally prepared. The mental aspect of agility can be pretty tough, especially in a show situation. I have dreams of having perfect runs, but I know what my limitations are and go into any agility situation with realistic expectations and aim my mental strength to improve as a team, not necessarily to Q or win every class (yeah right!).

Running a Flat Coat and now a GSP I understand I need a sense of humor, patience and love. I enter the ring with the goal of doing justice to my dog and being better than last time. For Rosey, my goal is to be on time with my cues so she doesn’t get worried about being wrong (and thus goes off sniffing), and for Samantha, my goal is starting together and finishing together… the middle section has yet to be worked out. My mental game is focused towards these goals, which in the long run will get me to Qs (so far its been working out).

I find I can break the mental aspect into 4 parts:

Knowing the Course

The most obvious part of agility’s mental aspect is memorizing the course; knowing where your path is and where you need to direct the dog to get around a course. I like to look at the map, draw my dog’s path and figure out where I need to be in relation to the obstacles and my dog. Then I’ll walk the course from both the dog’s point of view and then a second or third time from my point of view and I start memorizing where I need to be. The third aspect is to be able to visualize this course while standing on the sidelines. If I can’t remember something or can’t “see” where I should have been standing as they come out of a tunnel or after my front cross, I’ll head out for a last walk of the course to make sure the course is clear in my head.

Relationship building

The second mental aspect of agility is building a relationship and being able to be connected with my dog in the ring. This starts with the instant that she gets out of her crate/xpen. I make sure that I am completely ready to give her my complete attention before I go even to put my hand on the latch. This has been the hardest thing for Rosey and I, it’s been a really hit-or-miss aspect of our agility and really depends on everything going on around us. As we are getting more solid in our relationship, it’s gotten easier, but I still make sure that I’m 100% mentally there for her when I get her out to make sure that I don’t lose her trust again.

In the ring

AKC - October 2013 - Rosey

Keeping my mind in the ring and connected with my dog is the hardest part for me. I have learned that if I’m thinking too far ahead (or worrying about what people on the sidelines are thinking or if my dog might leave and sniff), my dogs will start to lose interest and get sluggish, start sniffing, and get zoomies. I’ve learned that I need to be actively playing with my dog, not just directing her where to go. As long as I’m in there with them (mentally), they are more than happy to keep playing with me.

Staying mentally sharp

Agility isn’t all about the dog, it’s about how physically fit and mentally acute I am. I find that a perfectly well thought out and well planned course can go completely downhill if I’m struggling with my mental sharpness. I make sure I always bring food for me to munch on and water to drink. If I’m feeling a little hazy I make sure I have some protein or complex sugars (bananas, apples, or protein bar) to perk my brain up. It definitely can get tough by the end of the weekend! All the training, all the practice and relationship building I work on is all worthless if I don’t take care of me. Without the right nutrition, it doesn’t take too long for my reaction time to slow down, my thinking get hazy and I start tripping over my feet by the time I get to the end of a run.

I’ve found that the idea of preparing mentally is starting to catch on in the agility community. It’s become a topic and I’ve seen more and more people talking about getting mentally connected with their canine teammates. I know its definitely made the difference in my dogs!