Clean Run - May 2020 - 38

Once you've established that you were doing your
best-even if it did not work out as you wanted-then
you can ask the great big question:
What did I learn?
When you start asking this question, you can begin
to focus on what you are doing-both the things that
went well and the things you can do better next time
with all the associated data that gives you. Oh, and
when I say "both," I mean it. There are far too many
handlers who have excellently learned how to critique
and tear down everything that was not "perfect," yet
whose skills at appreciating their skills and what they
and their dog did well are sorely lacking.
In my online Mental Mastery course, we talk about
how you need to "honor your efforts." This is not a
soft, fluffy, "yay me" participation trophy. It is a cold,
hard act of self-respect. It is a refusal to be the sort of
unbalanced competitor who only sees what is wrong
and never respects that in the moment, they did the
best they could-and, even if they do not want to
honor that, the dog did the best they could with what
you gave them, and they deserve to have that effort
honored, regardless of what the scoresheet says.

Now, all that does not mean there are not times when
you are bitterly disappointed. Of course, there likely
will be times where you feel gutted. Things went
wrong at exactly the worst moment, and it sucks.
You're still human. Own it, feel it-heck have a decent pity party when the moment is right. Just do not
do it when your dog is in the vicinity, and do not let
disappointment in your performance become disappointment in yourself. Your worth is not increased or
decreased by how well you ran around a ring with
your dog. Your value as a human is not up for grabs,
no matter how long it is since you had a Q.
When you take a step back from how you feel about
the result and look for the learning, no run is ever
a waste. There is always something to learn. It becomes more about the big picture, the long game, and
less about this particular round, other than as part of a
journey beyond itself.
Having freed yourself from recriminations and selfflagellation, you can take the good stuff-the lessons-from even the rounds where the wheels really
came flying off.

You put the work in, and you're a great
team in training, but the results
aren't coming. Why?
Mindset makes the diﬀerence!
Learn the secrets of competing with
conndence and connection in Dr. Kathrine's
Mental Mastery online program.
Join Dr. Kathrine's free dog sports
FB group.

DrKathrine.com
38

"Alphabet drills are wonderful for both the serious agility trainer
and the casual agility enthusiast. Creative in concept and comprehensive in scope,
they promote good training habits and the development of excellent skills.
Linger on L to learn more about lines, circle your way through the O-P-Q cycle,
or simply open the book to pick a letter-you will nd challenging
and fun drills for you and your dog." -Katie Tolve, competitor
®

www.cleanrun.com

Clean Run | May 20

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindtowinfree https://kathrine-mcaleese.mykajabi.com/store https://www.cleanrun.com/product/alphabet_drills_book/index.cfm

Clean Run - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2020