Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 5

Editorializing… The Blame Game By Elizabeth Dott How many times have we as handlers stood on the sidelines of the agility ring and watched while fellow handlers made a mistake on course and then left the course totally disgusted with their dogs? Lately, it seems to be happening more and more. You can clearly see when handlers are in the wrong place, which in turn, sends their dogs off course. Next you see them ridicule their dogs. Then to add insult to injury, the poor dog that thought he was correct is berated at the finish line. The dog is bewildered and frankly so am I. I have been doing agility for over 15 years and have seen a lot of this kind of behavior. In fact, I was guilty of it myself until I started videotaping my runs. Then I was totally shocked to find that most of the things that I blamed my dog Alibi for doing were totally my fault. After this discovery, I started watching other handlers only to see them make the same error. You can’t help but feel bad for the dog that is wrongly accused of screwing up. Dogs can do all kinds of peculiar things on course that ultimately can be traced back to our training or handling skills, or lack of both. By videotaping my runs, I was able to figure out that if Alibi is missing a contact or weave entrance, it is due to holes in my foundation training. If she goes around something or spins, it is due to my timing. My dog Sophie is a sensitive soul and needs to be cheered around the course to do her job. I took a long time to realize this when we began agility training. When I first started running her, she would have moments when she would just shut down and go around obstacles or start sniffing the ground. This would always get a sharp “Sophie!” from me. Yet, instead of her improving at the sound of my displeasure, she seemed to get worse. I could not figure it out and was left scratching my head until I realized that any form of yelling at her caused her to stress and go around obstacles. I soon realized that I was causing the anxiety so I kept my voice and actions light and happy with her. To my amazement, she improved by leaps and bounds and then went on to hold top titles in three venues. We as handlers need to realize what we do to our dogs. If you are constantly having trouble in the ring, then videotaping your runs will shed some light on what you you, the handler, are doing wrong. After all, how can we blame our best friends? They are only doing what we taught them to do. Elizabeth Dott Elizabeth lives in Orlando, Florida, with her four Border Collies: Legend, Sophie, Alibi, and puppy Epic. She has successfully competed in agility over the past 15 years and her dogs hold top titles in three venues. She is a part-time dog groomer, freelance writer, and student who will soon graduate with her degree in marketing and advertising. May 09 | Clean Run 5

Clean Run Magazine - May 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - May 2009

Clean Run Magazine - May 2009
Contents
Editorializing: The Blame Game
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility...
Backyard Dogs
Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style, Part 13: More Advanced Skills
Changing Consequences: Catching the Tiger by the Tail
Can You Handle It?
Comparing the Derrett and Mecklenburg Handling Systems, Part 3: Other Lead-outs
Jenny’s System of Handling: The Basics
Distance Challenge
Foundation Fundamentals: Recalls to Side
My Favorite Course
When Pigs Fly: Figure It Out with the Figure Eight, Part 1
Oh, Mom, Do I Have to Play? Rehabilitating the Play-Deprived Dog
Power Paws Drills: Cutting Corners
Shelter Champs: Wazzu and Sparkie
Trainer’s Forum
Thinking Ahead for Agility: Out and About with Your Puppy
What Performance Dog Owners Should Know About Tick-borne Diseases, Part 1
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Clean Run Magazine - May 2009
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Cover2
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Contents
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 4
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Editorializing: The Blame Game
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility...
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 9
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 10
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 11
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 12
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style, Part 13: More Advanced Skills
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 14
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 15
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 16
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 17
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 18
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 19
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 20
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 21
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 22
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Changing Consequences: Catching the Tiger by the Tail
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 24
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 25
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 26
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Can You Handle It?
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 28
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 29
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 30
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 31
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Comparing the Derrett and Mecklenburg Handling Systems, Part 3: Other Lead-outs
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 33
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 34
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 35
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 36
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Jenny’s System of Handling: The Basics
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 38
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 39
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 40
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 41
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 42
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 43
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 44
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Distance Challenge
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 46
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 47
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 48
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 49
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Foundation Fundamentals: Recalls to Side
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 51
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 52
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 53
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 54
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - My Favorite Course
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 56
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - When Pigs Fly: Figure It Out with the Figure Eight, Part 1
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 58
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 59
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 60
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 61
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 62
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Oh, Mom, Do I Have to Play? Rehabilitating the Play-Deprived Dog
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 64
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 65
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 66
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 67
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Power Paws Drills: Cutting Corners
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 69
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 70
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Shelter Champs: Wazzu and Sparkie
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 72
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 73
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Trainer’s Forum
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 75
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 76
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 77
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Thinking Ahead for Agility: Out and About with Your Puppy
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 79
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 80
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - What Performance Dog Owners Should Know About Tick-borne Diseases, Part 1
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 82
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Cover3
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - Cover4
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