Clean Run Magazine -May 2010 - 5

Editorializing…
I Want It Now!
By Nancy Walker

We as a society have come to want things now. Push a button and we have the world at our fingertips. We have grown used to the idea that we can get anything we want in a matter of minutes. No lines, no waiting. I wonder if that is transferring into our outlook for agility. I got a puppy; now I want to trial. Okay, but what about letting him physically mature and giving him time to develop mentally before facing him with something that may harm him? When I watch a new puppy start to trial as a confident, mentally prepared puppy, it is a pure treat to watch him run a course. These puppies may not be perfect but you can tell that they have been given all the skills needed to run that course. Now, many people are just great trainers and have a gift, but no one can tell me that they do not work at what they do: that they never rush their puppies to get them in the ring, that they give their puppies the skills and work through any problems until they are confident the puppy is ready. So why do I see so many people rushing to get to the ring? Some are new to the sport and I can understand their excitement and wanting to get there fast, but some are not new to the ring and that is what I find interesting. After thinking about it, I attribute it to the fact people not only want it now, but they also find the end more rewarding than the journey. We as handlers take a lot of time to find out what makes our dogs tick. We make lists and check items off one by one, trying to find the perfect high-value treat. We buy (in my case $100 worth of toys) looking for that special toy; then we find out a used plastic bottle is all we really ever needed.

It is important for us to find a special treat or toy that only comes out for training or at trials. I find it interesting that like the treat and the toy some people also find different aspects of agility of a higher value than others. I myself love to train weaves more than anything else. I like to look into my dog’s eyes and see him trying to figure out what we are doing; then see the light come on. That gives me more pleasure then anything and I would rank that at the top of my list of valued treats. I wonder, if we made a list of all the valued treats we get from doing agility, would it just be getting to the ring? I think if we focus only on trialing, we miss the fun and the adventure we can share with our dogs getting there. There are so many special moments in training that we can enjoy: Our dog’s first teeter, the day he turns up the speed and flies across the dogwalk, or the first time he does a full set of weaves, to name just a few. Watching our puppy or dog gain more confidence each day is a treat in itself and ranks high on my list. But lately, I have seen people start their dogs too young or push their dogs to do things they were not ready to do, because as handlers they are in a rush to get in the ring. Is that really the most valued part of agility? I probably have a different outlook than most because of the dog I currently run. I will not lie: I do love to trial and I love winning when it happens but I am in no rush with my puppy. When he is ready, I will bring him out but until then I will enjoy every moment as the special treat that it is.

Nancy Walker
5

Nancy works and lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband Jackson and three Border Collies, Golden Gems Higgins (Higgins) AX, AXJ, AAD, regretfully retired; Annie Bananie (Annie) HSAs, AD, NAJ, AS, AR, AJ, AG, my rescue and teacher; and TBC’s Rude Awakening AD (Rudy), puppy in training. May 10 | Clean Run

Clean Run Magazine -May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine -May 2010