Whenever I come upon a training dilemma, I go searching for answers. I review notes of seminars I've been to, read Clean Run Magazine for topics related to my problem, see what videos I might borrow from my local agility organizations, and ask friends who I believe know more than I do.
I often spend money on my problem. Just recently I purchased a video to see "is there anything new" on this topic. Yes he had a different take, but really it was the same information presented in a slightly different way. There was some very good information in this video. I took notes and will actually watch it again. I'm not disappointed in the video, I am sad that it didn't give me something new for my problem, but happy that I learned a few new things to try. I was very disappointed that the "expert" did not use a young dog with problems, just showed the "final result." I want to take my dog there and have him try his techniques...not sure that would make the final cut in the video.
Searching for answers often leads me back home. I actually sometimes know the answer and my search was for an easy fix rather than the logical answer of "it takes time and energy". I need to ask myself before I go on these searches, "what advice would I give to someone with this problem." Often I will find the answer right there.
There are tons of people that will give me advice. Advice that has worked for them. Just go to any agility trial and ask a question. Advice will fall from the sky.
It is up to me to decide, "Is this advice right for me and my dog."
In the end, I'm not going to find a simple solution to, "How in the heck do I get my dog to tug when I want her to tug." The solution is everyday work on it. Everyday make tugging with me the most amazing thing evah! Make tug the thing she wants to do more than tennis balls? Why yes Vici...go do that.
4 comments:
The "experts" dont always know. Dogs are funny animals. I just figured out, my dog is 5 years old, that Im pushing my dog of contacts during a trial when I come in close to the contact. Ive been beating my head against the wall trying to fix this problem. Ive gotten lots of expert advice but I finally figured it out myself ( just by luck I think). I hope you fix your problem.
sometimes if you want something to happen so much, the stress and anxiety associated rub off, the goal being, I think, that the tugging is so FUN for you and the dog that they WANT to play that game with you MORE than play with the ball, or dig the hole, sniff the ground, or find the hole in the fence or the critter that made it. Just my two cents for what it is worth. Been there and worse ...
sometimes when you want something to happen so bad the stress and anxiety will rub off. You want to have your dog WANT to play the game of tugging MORE than running around with that FUN green tennis ball, digging a hole, chasing a cat, finding a hole in the fence, climbing a fence etc. It has to be FUN and feel SAFE to the dog so they will understand and WANT to play WITH YOU..
I tried to post and it got erased in the process.. think the first time I did a better job writing so it conveyed my thoughts but here we go
No wonder you're so tired! I remember doing all that the first few years I was competing. Maybe that's why you're getting better all the time and I'm kinda not. :-)
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