Reflecting back on this weekend of agility fun with Good Golly Miss Mollie, I felt that our team had a real breakthrough! Although none of our runs netted the coveted “Q”, the list of successes was immense. While the saying, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” can sometimes ring hollow after a 0% “Q” day, I began to feel differently about it this weekend. And even though “poop” happened (yes, she took a detour on our last run for a “break”), I could not have felt better about what went RIGHT.
In prior trials, I would be so disappointed…after all, we’d worked so damned hard…we deserve a little validation! Then I realized, that’s EXTERNAL and somewhat ARTIFICIAL validation. Now, don’t jump my case on this…hear me out. Yes, the “Q” is important. Yes, the “Q” means something in our sport. I’m absolutely a fan of the “Q.”
However, it’s often very different for younger, inexperienced dogs. Ring stress is real, both for humans and dogs. If your dog is very connected to you, then your emotions go right down the leash and into their psyche. So, even though in earlier trials I tried hard NOT to project nerves, my Mollie knew it was a bald-faced lie. And she responded in kind – running amok, relieving the stress in her own way. But this weekend…this weekend was different. While my “Q”s didn’t come after a clean run, the following are 10 of my Qualifying Runs in one day:
- Mollie was polite in the hotel, so much so that an older couple complimented me on her behavior: “What a well-mannered dog…honey, did you see how patiently she waited to go into the room?”
- Not one bark from her in the hotel room as elephants were stomping on the floor above us.
- She greeted several men, and not one incident of backing up and barking (this is a big deal).
- She had three out of three successful start line stays. This is HUGE. We have been working on this for months. I didn’t want a big lead out on any run, I just wanted the impulse control. And I got it.
- On her first run (Standard) she did get distracted but came back with a very little fooling around. She remembered her job and took to it.
- We used the skills we’ve been working on in practice, and for once I did my job correctly. She responded beautifully.
- She hit all contacts in both runs. And had a “Wait” on all.
- She finished her weaves in both Standard and JWW.
- She responded to the verbal change of direction when I wasn’t in a position in two places
- Finally, I felt as if the mutual respect for our jobs on the field is gelling. She was happy, ran fast, and controlled when she was “on”, and our hard work is paying off.
Could I have focused on the “poop” incident and left the weekend feeling, well, like poop??? Sure. Instead, I came home feeling victorious and decided to write my very first blog on something important: training works. It’s not always quick, or simple, or easy. There are days where you might wonder if your young dog will ever get the concept of “come”. You might want to give up. You might think that all this time and effort will NEVER be worth it. You might compare yourself and your dog to others in your classes and feel behind. I have news for you: training works. Training is so worth it. Your dog thinks you are the best thing that’s ever happened. Do your best every day to prove your dog right. Poop happens. It’s what we make out of it!
