Clean Run Magazine - March 2008 - 19

SNAPSHOT Handler: Ronda Carter Home: Sanford, North Carolina Occupation: Agility Trainer Dogs: ADCH MACH3 Scout, LAA Gold; Border Collie born in 1996; ﬁve-time Grand Prix ﬁnalist, three-time runner-up, two-time AKC National ﬁnalist; 2000 Steeplechase National Champion; 2001 Animal Planet Invitational Champion; 2005 Veterans Grand Prix Champion; Member 2004 USDAA/IFCS World Team; World Champion in Biathalon ADCH MACH Blast, LAA Silver; Border Collie born in 2001; three-time Grand Prix ﬁnalist and 2006 Grand Prix National Champion; 2006 DAM Team Tournament National Champion (“Able to Blast through Metal” with Gerry Brown and Sterling, and Stacy Peardot-Goudy and Able); Member 2006 USDAA/IFCS World Team and World Champion in Biatholon and Team (and four gold medals overall) Pyro MAD, AX, AXJ, Border Collie born in 2003; 2006 Grand Prix Semiﬁnalist Potion NA, NAJ, Border Collie born in 2005, just started training. Pyro Favorite venue: USDAA Most memorable moment: Really two moments: Winning the 2006 Grand Prix and DAM team with Blast, and Scout being named to the 2004 USDAA/IFCS World Team. Most forgettable moment: Jordan’s knocking 12 bars in one run! There were 19 obstacles on course and two were tunnels. That was the epiphany that perhaps I should teach her to jump! Scout EC: You’re in demand as a trainer and seminar presenter. How long have you been training others in agility and what do you enjoy most about that? RC: I started training full time in 1995. I love watching teams ﬁgure something out, whether it’s something simple, such as the fundamentals of a front cross, or whether it’s something more complex, such as overcoming mental obstacles to win a national championship. It’s rewarding watching teams make a breakthrough. EC: What do you like least? Potion Blast EC: Some handlers might say,“That’s good advice but does it mean I also have to rehearse having the dog on leash, walking him to the line, setting him up, and so on?” Should even novice handlers go that far? RC: People who blame their dogs for their inconsistent handling and/or training. EC: We often hear the adage: “Train like you compete, compete like you train.” What advice would you give handlers to help them succeed with that goal? RC: Yes! But let me qualify that: When you are practicing full courses—which shouldn’t be that often—practice should be like a trial. EC: So how often do you practice full courses with your dogs? RC: Look at what you’re doing when you practice! If you train differently than you compete then you and the dog have not rehearsed the behaviors you need to be successful competitively. All behavior gets better when rehearsed. The more you rehearse the behaviors, the more successful you will be. March 08 | Clean Run RC: When I’m showing a lot, the only time I do full courses is at the show. I believe practice should be about skill sets. During this time the rate of reinforcement should be very high. EC: Skill sets? RC: What are your weaknesses? Weave pole entries? Contacts? Front crosses? Rear crosses? The dog is not going to learn to 19

Clean Run Magazine - March 2008

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