Clean Run - October 2013 - 42

Things to Remember

Always remember where your dog
started. Give yourself credit for all
progress made.

Your progress may not show up
when you want it to, that is just the
way it is; unfortunately it is not determined by how far you just drove
or how early you got up. Facing that
fact is critical.

Let go of terms like “blowing me
off.” Dogs are giving what they can
when they can or what they think
they should. They really are not
vindictive.Your dog is on your side,
honestly.
Give your dog the benefit of the
doubt; if he is struggling with agility
there is an excellent chance it is not
his fault.

Have varied goals for each run, not
just a qualifying score.

Understand that some of your training projects are works in progress
for the dog’s entire career. Rome
was not built in day.

Never forget what you love most
about your dog; it will come in
handy when you don’t get what you
want.

Do what it takes for you to stay inspired to help your dog become all
that he can be. See if you can create
inspiration for yourself when you
have failures.

Cookie-cutter approaches may not
work. Creative approaches may be
needed. Seek out someone who has
experience with your dog’s breed or
issue when you need to.

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Expect nothing, seriously.
At the end of the day the kindest
thing you can do for yourself is to be
honest with yourself. Are you able to
accept your dog for who he is and
take the bad with the good? Not everyone can. Don’t beat yourself up if
the answer is no; life is short.

General Considerations
The first line of my school’s philosophy
is: “It is the handler’s obligation to un-

derstand the dog, not the dog’s obligation to understand the handler.” This means
doing what it takes to inspire the dogs to excel. Go back and look for the real problem. Could your dog’s difficulties be based on balance, coordination, fitness, rhythm,
lack of comprehension of a more basic cue (foundation holes), sight issues, physical
sensitivity, mental sensitivity. It’s a big list but it is worth exploring.

More to Consider

Lack of physical ability can decrease drive. If the job is too physically demanding
for your dog he will become discouraged.You may have to make some obstacles
less difficult during training (most obstacles can be lowered).

Lack of drive can decrease physical ability. Slower performers will have more of
a physical challenge and this can be discouraging for the dog (think A-frame).
Drive must always be monitored and tended to.

Do not assume that a struggling dog is lazy. His lack of drive may be a physical
issue; get him checked out by the veterinarian. Remember that not all issues are
orthopedic. Internal issues can also be explored.

Try to not make excuses for your breed/dog and at the same time be honest
about his limitations.

When in doubt decrease the degree of difficulty (make an aspect or two of the
lesson easier).

After you have success it will be your obligation to forever remember who your
dog was (is) and reward and acknowledge his future efforts in that original problem area. Ignore the future good performances at your own peril.

The Goose and the Gander
What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander. I have broken these
training tips into what I think of as the three most common dog types that often
are not putting out as much as we would like. Please notice I did not say as much as
they could be putting out; they very well may be giving you all they have.You owe it
to yourself to find out just how much influence you have, or don’t have, to make the
changes you desire.
Theses tips are interchangeable and can help a variety of dogs.

The Nervous, the Worried, and the Shy
Step one is being able to recognize an
uncomfortable dog when you see it. In
this case we are talking about mental discomfort, not physical discomfort. There
is so much information on desensitizing
dogs, seek out the help you need. There is
nothing more rewarding than helping a dog
overcome a fear. Each time you are successful that dog is better prepared for all of
life, becoming a more well-rounded being.
He is also learning to trust you while developing the coping skills that were lacking
in the first place. When agility can facilitate
that goal, both the dog and handler will reap the rewards for a lifetime. The problem
is that sometimes agility is not the best avenue for reaching that goal. Stay objective as you explore what is best for these troubled souls. Remember, not every dog
needs or wants to have agility in his life. Here are some things to remember as you
explore what is best for the shy/worried and nervous dogs in your life:

You must be totally present and focused when you have this fellow out; you have to
learn all the subtle signs of discomfort and you can’t miss them when they happen.
Clean Run | October 13

Clean Run - October 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - October 2013