Making our sport better one organization at a time, two words at a time ...

The broad topic for today's DABAD is improving dog agility organizations.
I have been thinking about this off and on since it was originally posted. Should I focus on AAC? CPE? Things that would make the sport better for the dog? the handler? As usual, so many ideas that I fully expect other people will nail much more expressively than I could ever hope to.

For me?

Every organization I have played with is made better by the use of the words Thank You.

Ever thanked a trial host? I hope so. Has a trial host ever thanked you individually? I hope so. You know if you have ever read this blog I thank my dogs often and in many ways (Sally loves her chicken hearts!).

Thank you is more than the words. You have all heard the saying actions speak louder than words?

Here are some easy ways to offer  thanks  (human/human)

Trial Hosts

• offer incentives (for volunteers or regular attendees a little break on a later trial is always appreciated by me!)
• have raffle draws for volunteers
• feed people  - anything - it doesn't have to be fancy - cookies/ a veggie tray can be much appreciated)
• say the words thank you! (some hosts are so good at this - others are not) 
• for big events like regionals or nationals contact your last set of volunteers/entries individually and ask them to help/particpate again, don't presume that people will see the sign up and think "oh that was so fun last year I have to go again". People like to feel valued. A short note to them saying " last year was amazing can we sign you up this year?" will likely get better results. I am not volunteering at a big local event, nor am I running in it partly because of finances, partly because no one asked me to help out
• be personal - smile, ask after people or dogs, listen - yes you are busy but if you ask either preface your ask with "I'm so sorry I'm really busy right now but I can't wait to hear how (whatever) is" giving you a valid reason to listen for a minute then excuse yourself or ask when you have time to truly listen

Participants

• the hosts are the reason we can play - say thank you! I am actually appalled at the number of people who aggressively assert their priority over everything else when wanting HELP from a host. We had a general unstated rule in my house, if you were dying you waited your turn to ask for help (if the blood was making a mess you might be able to interrupt). Wish more agility people got that.
• Drop a little note in the box set up for next trial entries that says thanks
• email the host or judge or both letting them know you appreciated their work
• use social media to express your gratitude - on the cpe list the JUDGES often thank the participants and host - lovely but a little backwards if you ask me!

The benefits of sincere thank yous are enormous. Happier hosts will hold more trials if they can and listen if you have constructive ideas to improve trials. Happier participants will come t more trials if they can and feel like they are a part of things. They will volunteer more and give more. Happier dogs are why I play this game!

anyhow - happy reading and thanks Steve for organizing another great topic!

Two brains are better than one ....

How lucky are those of us who get to play with animal team mates?

SO LUCKY.

Not only do we get to learn lots about ourselves as we work on new skills and behaviours, we also learn about how our animal partners think, learn and react.

If you are lucky enough to play with multiple animals you also get regular reminders of how unique and different each is. If you play with varied species even BETTER!

Quirk the pony scents very differently to the dogs. She is more thoughtful yet more sure in some ways. Some dogs will check check check then confirm, Quirk goes to source and holds there. I keep ascribing it to prey versus predator but I am not really convinced that is the root.  If I ever come up with another theory I'll let you know!

Have started some agility games on the lawn with the dogs. As always I think oh I will work X then whoever wasn't on the list gets all sad and wishing they were playing and I end up working the set a little. Some observations from our first week:

Yen is fast
Sally has trouble staying in the poles when the grass is past her elbows
Yen had better forget the trick of running along tunnel tops very soon
Brody may not see or hear all that well but he loves jump work
Thea is loud and bossy when she knows her plan and it wasn't my plan
Yen is fast

I love agility

the power of positive ...

I was looking at the mandate,mission statement, etc of the Pet Professional Guild the other day. Lots of really great stuff in there. It got me thinking. My life with dogs horses and people have continually reinforced the power of positive. Learners rarely, if ever, make mistakes out of spite, a desire to "get you", or because they want to be wrong.

Mistakes get made. Much more frequently than recognized  playing working with animals most of the mistakes are human in nature. In human teaching the same is true though perhaps even less discussed. If a class of 14 year olds is over exhausted or over excited it is probably not a great time to introduce a new concept - far better to review and reinforce something most students are close to understanding.  (Same holds true in animal land but somehow seems easier for one handler to adapt for one animal- though I have watched drilling that was planned and therefore "had to be done" even though it wasn't likely the best/smartest move.)

Two key components I believe any educator, handler, or trainer truly trying to be positive, in any setting with any species needs to embrace, beyond the guiding principles of groups like the Guild, are  be FLEXIBLE and PATIENT.

Flexible captures the need to be able to adapt to the learner in front of you.We are all individuals after all! Being flexible means planning (you have to have something to adapt) but being able to asses, regroup and change things as needed. When something works well not presuming that is the only way to do it, or that method will work as well in all situations. Flexiblity also implies an ability to stretch - adding more things to a toolbox as needed; pushing yourself for more; delving into subjects wholly. Considering the person/dog equation and work in a framework that is comfortable while pushing boundaries. If expectations are too high and you are getting frustrated work with a trainer or training buddy. Note the things that are positive- often if there is frustration you may not even realize there are things going well. If things are stagnating work with a trainer/training buddy - challenge yourselves, change things up. Balance is a key component to  flexibility.

Patience really is a virtue in education and training. It's a tough one to internalize but so critical to being able to enjoy the journey. Without a patient attitude I cannot understand how playing training can be any fun. Patience allows ongoing assessment that is honest and critical of where you are and where you should be aiming next. If you need to regroup and step back with patience you will be able to see it's part of the journey. Without it you may be disappointed or angry about a perceived set back.

Life is Learning; Learning is Life

Facilitator, trainer, educator, teacher, instructor, counselor, coach call me what you will there is no doubt that  teaching runs through my veins. Twenty years in a classroom and more years of coaching riders and still I learn. I learn through lessons, workshops and seminars but I also learn by teaching.

Teaching has a bad reputation.

“It would seem that you have no useful skill or talent whatsoever," he said. "Have you thought of going into teaching?” says Terry Pratchett. The old adage  about those that can do and those that can't teach runs along the same lines.

The reality is that teaching is not easy, nor is it particularly natural. Once it becomes intuitive  though it can be awfully hard to switch off. Walking through the riding arena yesterday I couldn't help myself. "Change your diagonal, oh that looks good, will he bend if you use your inside leg?" all came out of my mouth. Ha. Poor kids are going to run when they see me coming!

Some things are easy to teach; some things are much harder. The bulk of stuff is in the middle somewhere.

Teaching agility is tough for me. I enjoy it, don't get me wrong. I love watching the dogs and handlers start their dance together but, like all other dog play training, timing and placement of reward are critical and in agility by the time the human has processed me saying "reward", then usually "reward" again, and often "reward" at least once more the opportunity has passed (and the dog is getting a very late reward). The dogs are cooperative and collaborative and we make sure we all have fun in class anyhow so no harm is done but it sure gives me a new appreciation for Maxine and Peter, Renee and Webb. In some ways scenting is harder to teach. I haven't been playing the game as long so I sure don't have all the answers (not that there is ever just one answer in dog sports - so that's not really new to me) but in other ways it seems easier - perhaps partly for the very same reason that it's newer to me so I am working through many of the same issues as my students so at times might be only a chapter ahead in the text book. (Yes, in high school teacher land I also spend lots of time learning just ahead of my students).

The other thing that has resonated lately is there are things that are very difficult to teach. Patience, empathy, self confidence, a sense of fun - all are so important to learning yet so very hard to teach. As much as I would like to just SCREAM "HAVE FUN" sometimes the act of screaming would kill the fun pretty quickly (at least for the team on the receiving end). My solution? I model, as best as I can, the tougher virtues I would like to see in classes. It works better than one might think.

It is so exciting as a teacher to get to watch students grow and flourish, perhaps the garden analogies that I have heard are truer than I realized before we started growing so much in our gardens (one example from an unknown source, "Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden"). When minds open, expand and extend beyond my knowledge and understanding I am thrilled. Electrified even at times.

My number one, no holds barred, selfishly favourite thing about teaching? I get to learn. And learn. And then learn more. Through discussions, challenges, questions, observation my learning never stops. For me, no matter the subject that is a real joy of teaching. This sabbatical has already proven to be really exciting for me. Teaching and learning are my life far beyond the day to work that I have l have long loved.

Yen-tastic!

Yen got to demo her scent game today at class -her fourth time playing the game at all, and her second time as part of her class and she clearly understands the basic rules ...

Sheila was generous enough to handle Sally for me - which I suspect means they have now done as much scent work as Sally and I! I find it hard to demo and hit the points verbally that I want so having Sheila on the leash is awesome!

Another great weekend of work - though I must say I am looking forward to no commute! Victoria Day weekend is my next weekend off so it's a good thing I like the job!

Srsly? yah seriously ...

"Nothing comes easy, ever, if you want something, you have to work for it. By working for it I mean work on your craft, learn from people who have something to teach. It's just like anything else, practice makes perfect." So says James Lafferty, and we all know actors are always right!


When I take a hiatus from anything then return, I don't get it the way I did before the break and I sure don't expect the dogs (or horses) to either. Yes Brody's agility skills are pretty solid in his own way but I wouldn't simply arrive at a trial and expect him to run as well as he did the last time we were out.

Sally loves to work, her work ethic is staggering in fact, but I don't expect her to be at the level she was in the fall . All we've been able to work all winter are directional swings, and flat work. The rate winter is leaving us I'll be lucky to get any weaves or jumping in before our first trial in May. If that were to happen I would not trial as sad as that would make me. I want to know she's happy and safe on the equipment, fit enough (both physically and mentally) to be eager for the day, and that our lines of communication are working well.  Thanks to the early snow this has been the longest agility hiatus we've had (no lovely local indoor facility here in the middle of Lake Ontario) and I think it will prove to be good for us - as long as I carefully build back to where we were before adding new layers of challenge. 

There is a fine line between over drilling, getting it right, and not doing enough. I'm watching it happen with the horses at the barn I'm riding at too. A horse may sit in a a field for two weeks, be pulled in, worked hard once then tossed back out; another gets drilled every single without ever getting to stretch his top line or have a day off; and then a few seem to have the balance right. So many complexities in these team sports where we have responsibility for a partner.

This very young mare is getting a great balance of work and play 

WHEEEEEEEEEEEE

What a smelly weekend!

New class started Friday night!
Crazy location -we were between dogs barking in the adjacent hall and dogs barking waiting to get picked up for day care. It was a wee bit chaotic to say the least. But it was a hoot and a half! The dogs all started working for scent very quickly  and  the handlers show good natural relaxed handling! Some very perceptive folks in the group too.

Then today was the last agility class. (It was hilarious - let the participants make up their own course to introduce in a no stress way the notion of crosses. Let them play with that for awhile.) Again good handlers; great dogs!

Then ran my first Designated Odour Test with wintergreen. AMAZING dogs. 7 seconds - 20 seconds -bing  bang boom. Was so proud of the handlers - across the board they all worked hard to read their dogs. Some super distinctive alerts too. Handed Sheila Sally's leash and suggested they try it. No sweat at all. Sal was just delighted to be playing; didn't worry at all about the fact it was aunt Sheila instead of me!


Good great fun weekend - just a wee bit tired now!