Comments on: The Golden Rule of Handling

By: Olivia

Olivia — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:16:20 +0000

@Darcy– I wrote my college entrance paper on dog agility paralleling ballroom dancing! I’ve been waiting for somebody to come out with and article like “Dancing for your dog” or something because I also think that ballroom dance lessons would help improve footwork since many of the turns are similar to those used in agility.

I love photo 1! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had those glance-u-but-just-for-a-second moments to look back and see that my Papillon has added extra obstacles to the course!

Olivia

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:16:46 +0000

don’t use toy as a lure.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:26:23 +0000

What a good reminder, and that is something I try to work on constantly, but I’m never as good as I could be. This weekends last trial demonstrated this well, Otter was great at being called off the wrong obstacle, but had I been watching where she was going, I would have not lost all this time realizing she has already heading the wrong way. Timing for me is critical. My destroyed hearing in my ear, along with balance, makes me not want to look at what my dog is doing, for fear of losing my balance, and then my focus. I am happy to say, though with practice this is getting better…. and when I watch my dogs, the results are incredibly improved…..You are right on the mark Susan.

Wanda

By: Darcy

Darcy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:29:25 +0000

The “perfect” runs are those where you and your partner are performing a completely synchronized dance. If you watch “Dancing with the Stars” (a US TV show), you will see the 2 partners fixated on one another as they glide across the dance floor.

PS Be careful of disconnecting at the last jump of the course.

Darcy

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:58:22 +0000

So glad that you posted this!

I’m a Novice, with my first agility dog – actually, with the first dog I’m doing the training myself with (I mean, not a “family dog” but my own dog) – and this is something that I do try to make a conscious effort to do.

Looking at the other handlers in class, the time that they take their eyes off the dog most is when they’re trying to remember where to go next. I’m fortunate that memorization comes easy to me, so since I don’t often forget the course, I don’t have much of an occasion to look away from the dog. I think working on memorization skills would be helpful for a lot of people. It’s one less thing to worry about if you’re confident that you’ll most likely not get lost on course.

By: barrie

barrie — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:19:55 +0000

As Ingerid said above, could you write something about what to do with someone who is a micromanager to the point of never letting the dog get ahead of him/her?

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:58:22 +0000

Such a great reminder! Last night I was working a drill that at one point involved going from a tunnel over two jumps to a tunnel. My dog had done it great a couple time and then the next time knocked both bars. I thought what’s the difference and on review it was that I never even looked at her on that last time, just looked straight ahead (maybe taking it for granted as I’d just done it succesfully a couple times). It was really an “aha” moment both in that it was so clear the difference in her performance when I was connected and when I wasn’t but also in that I actually realized it lol.

First thing I did was took out a marker and highlighted the following on my trial reminders card “stay connected and good things will happen”

-Andrea

By: Nat

Nat — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:28:50 +0000

That first photo is priceless!

I definitely have to remember to keep my eye on my dog (and we get a lot of off-courses…wonder why!?). Too often I’m looking to the next obstacle in an attempt to properly direct my dog to that obstacle and not get an off-course, but in doing that I unintentionally take my eyes off of her, and I *cause* her to go off-course. So it’s all a big cycle.

~Nat

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:48:12 +0000

I remember you drilling in ‘Face on Face’ a few years back and that really hit home. I have found this really changed my training and handling with my dogs. When I evaluate why something didn’t go as I had visioned it I can guarantee it always comes back to I lost the ‘connection’ and took my eyes off my dog.

By: Mary Lou Hanlon

Mary Lou Hanlon — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:02:31 +0000

Ahhh yes, the “Keep Your Eyes On Your Dog” principle. Sounds sooo easy but in practice takes great skill. Certainly well worth the practice spent on it as the rewards are great!