Las Vegas Trial - More Pics

Las Vegas Poodle Club Trial

Getting ready for competition in Las Vegas

Beautiful Setting

Worn out after 2nd day of agility trial

Great fun at our first outdoor trial. Nina was nick-named the Tennessee Tracking Dog. All she wanted to do was sniff.


She continued her phobia of the teeter - jumping off before getting to midpoint.

Making Mistakes

Welcome to the first of my series on being a Good Student.

 

Ever wonder why two people can go to the same dog training workshop or class and not leave with the same information? If learning meant just showing up to class then we would all be Einsteins!

 

Being a good student involves developing skills you may not have previously considered.  Over the next several emails I will share what I feel are the main characteristics of someone that is a good student. 

 

I really believe by adopting these concepts you will help maximize every learning opportunity that comes your way.

 

Key Concept #1

Be yourself and embrace the opportunity to make mistakes.  Try not to be self-conscious about how"good" you and your dog look in front of the instructor or your peers that may be watching.  We all make mistakes and by exposing your faults you allow the instructor to glean some insight into why you and your dog are having troubles.

 

All too often people allow their fear of failing or the fear of being embarrassed in front of someone they respect, to hold them back from making the most of an opportunity to learn from someone that can help you improve. It might be that you are learning in a group that includes some of your own students. It might be that you have had some past success in the area you are studying so you feel"pressure" to be brilliant.  Whatever the reason. Let go of your ego and allow yourself the privilege of making mistakes.

 

You don't need to justify your performance with comments such as;

 

          I have been away so my so my dog and I are rusty

 

          or

 

          I haven't been sleeping well so my brain is a bit foggy 

 

or whatever!

 

Just be yourself. We are all human. We all make mistakes it is okay. If you try to put on a"performance" your mind will be focused on showing and you close your brain off from taking in all that is being offered to you. Go to your next seminar with mindset of learning  that is available. Don't even consider what you or your dog look like, just open yourself up to all that is available and allow the learning to come to you.

 

I leave you with some of my favorite quotes on Failing. 

 

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure can be avoided only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and in the end, being nothing.
~ Denis Waitley

 

Notice the difference between what happens when a man says to himself, "I have failed three times," and what happens when he says, "I am a failure." 
~ S.I. Hayakawa

 

And my all time favorite on this subject;

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
~Robert F. Kennedy

 

Happy training everyone. Part two in these series is coming your way soon!

 

Susan Garrett

Say Yes Dog Training Inc

www.clickerdogs.com

On-Line Registration

Create PDF AKC Entry Forms  with all of your dogs infomation,  including the show, fees and classes ..  Convenience without the Fee.  No more handwriting each entry!

Just Print It, Sign It, Drop It in an Envelope with the Entry Fee and Mail It off to the Superintendent or Trial Secretary.

Maintain an OnLine History of the shows entered. Store your Dog's information OnLine

Available Anytime, Anywhere you need it.  Quick and Easy

http://www.oaklines.com/ExpressEntries/Default.aspx

TVKC September Trial 2010

Great trial.  It feels like we might be getting the hang of this.  Nina Qed on four of the six runs.  Highlights of the weekend:

• Rain and wind on Saturday.  Nina ran like the wind and was perfect.  Camping was miserable with the awning blowing off hitting Joe's truck.  Blew down satellite.  Is camping worth it?
  
• Responsible Dog Ownership went OK. Lot's of work for minimal gain. Glad to get this completed.
  
• Loved visiting with Jean and Ms. Trula in their motor home.  We watched Grease and laughed and laughed.  Nina was spoiled with lots of string cheese.

East Tennessee Agricultural Exposition Center at Roane State Community College
Set up and Ready for Agility

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Course Time Deductions

Course time deductions are made as follows:

Novice:

• 1-point deduction for every second over course time rounding down to whole numbers.

Open:

• 2-point deduction for every second over course time rounding down to whole numbers.

Excellent:

• 3-point deduction for every second over course time rounding down to whole numbers.

Time is called at course time plus 20 seconds, and the dog must be excused.

Lessons Learned

1.  Toys are not allowed in the ring, even at the end after the dog is through running - Result:  EXCUSED

• CHAPTER 4 - SECTION 8 - Handling Aids. Food and toys are not permitted in the course area.  Handlers are not permitted to use (or have in their possession while running the course) whistles, stopwatches, leashes, fanny packs or other handling/training aids.

2. Socializing with the judge, timekeeper, chute straightener, or any other official in the ring is note encouraged - EXCUSED.

3. A poodle cannot have her bling on her collar in the ring.  The flat tag I bought for trialing turns out to be illegal. - EXCUSED

4. Running out of the ring (not on lease) is not allowed.  Perfect run? Not anymore.  DISQUALIFIED.

5. Pooping in the ring is NOT good manners - EXCUSED!

All items learned in Perry, Ga at our first competition.  I guess I should have read the rulebook a little closer.

First Trial in Perry, GA

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.

Wow!  Four days - way too much for first trial.  Can't believe we got two Q's.  We finished the last run of the last day with a poop in the corner of the ring!  Will we get the hang of this????

Our First Trial

Well, we finally made it to our first trial.  B Match in Perry, GA, Wednesday, July 7, 2010.  It was really fun, and we learned a lot about what to do and what NOT to do.  Here is Joe's video of the milestone.  I'm not sure what is funnier:  

1. Joe trying not to laugh (but you will see his camera bouncing when he couldn't contain himself), or
   
2. The fact that I STILL had not caught my dog when the video ends.

Our second run was prettier.  Maybe a LITTLE prettier.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Some pics of our Georgia experience...

My Fence

I am so, so, so happy to finally get a backyard fence.  It has made practicing agility so much easier!