Clean Run Magazine - June 2008 - 5

Editorializing… The Excuse By Amy Hanridge I recently heard a parenting podcast describing a wide array of juvenile behavior disorders and the simple management practices parents could implement to help, or at least improve, the disorders, including some of the more severe ones. I’m a mom to an active seven-year-old daughter who displays none of the behavior disorders mentioned in the podcast, but as her mother I have to admit she has some behaviors I sure want to improve. The podcast encouraged me not to make excuses for the behaviors I don’t like and to try some different management techniques. This line of thinking inspires me as a mom and as a dog trainer. Sometimes in the dog agility community I hear what I call the “Oh, he’s an agility dog” excuse from handlers of all kinds of breeds. This excuse is similar to parents rationalizing that “Boys will be boys.” I hear it sometimes from experienced handlers, whose new puppies are proudly displaying clever antics and busyness, and the exhausted but plainly pleased owners throw up their hands as if nothing can be done about the “hyperness.” I’m aware of the implication that curbing any of that spastic enthusiasm in an agility pup, or even an older agility dog, might decrease the ever-popular “drive” we so desire in our canine teammates. There seems to be an unspoken belief in the “agility dogs will be agility dogs” line of thinking that busyness is a good thing because it is a sign of drive. For a while now, agility has been acknowledged as a wonderful mind game to help keep smart, troubled dogs occupied, and hopefully even happy. This is a super attribute of our sport. Many “problem” or “troubled” dogs may just need something to do and agility is a great thing to do. But in our efforts to keep active dogs busy, we may inadvertently be allowing poor behaviors from our dogs that we shouldn’t be permitting. Some people claim, “My dog just can’t calm down,” and they tolerate constant busyness, playing, and activity from their dogs, instead of teaching them to be calm and reinforcing any relaxation behaviors. In our efforts to reinforce speed and drive in our dogs, we may also be accepting rude, spazzy, and just plain “wrong” behaviors because we think requiring a dog to remain calm when we want will lessen his drive. The opposite may actually be the case. By not enforcing rules of impulse control, limits, and calm in our dogs (or our children, for that matter) we may be creating, or at least intensifying, a lack of self-control, discipline, and ultimately, happiness and groundedness in all loved ones in our homes. Maybe the podcast parenting experts can serve as a useful and hopeful reminder to us dog trainers that there’s always something we can do, and thankfully, each issue of this magazine is chock full of just those sorts of training management practices. Rather than throw up our hands, we can get to work. Amy Hanridge Amy Hanridge lives in the cool pines of Eastern Arizona, with her husband, daughter, and four dogs. She is completing her master of fine arts degree in writing and competes in dog agility with her Border Collie, Rio. Amy writes about parenting, writing, and dog agility on her blog, www.wishythewriter.com. June 08 | Clean Run

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Clean Run Magazine - June 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - June 2008