A couple of days ago I shared four videos from our Handling360 students that I thought I may have jinxed. You can check out that post by clicking here. I also gave you a little quiz, to see if you could pick out the “gem” in each video… the gem being the lesson from each handler’s story.
The quiz results are overwhelming… the vast majority of you picked the same gem in each video that I saw.
Momentum, sharing new lessons
The Video Gems
Video One – The first video shared was Jan’s, and the lesson is: Our dogs don’t grab off course obstacles because they want to annoy us… they grab them because they are desperately trying to figure out how to please us.
Video Two – The take away from Louise’s video: A dog who knocks bars in agility is a sign of a need for more clarity not punishment. With new understanding even a dog who formerly struggled keeping bars up can shine in agility!
Video Three – Shelly has shown us: Handling success comes from patiently building layers of learning with the dog you love.
Video Four – Helen’s belief in her dog gives us the gem: Even a severely fearful dog can learn the joys of agility when confidence is built through clarity.
There was some overlap in the gems too. “Handling success comes from patiently building layers of learning with the dog you love” rated highly in each video quiz. This is of course true and something we see in each and every story shared with us by our students. Love and patience and layers of learning bring about remarkable transformations.
The fictional gem also got some votes and comments … you know who you are. 😉
There are so many lessons our dogs teach us, and so many gems that we collect for ourselves. What have your dogs taught you? We would love to read your lessons in the comments below.
DeCaff, a great teacher
Today I am grateful for our community and for the love and patience each of you has for the dogs in your life, and for your ability to take what you learn and turn it into your own “gem”.
My young cocker spaniel has allowed me to learn to have fun! No pressure to Q just go out and do the best we can as a team and enjoy the experience. I am sure as w work through H360 the Qs will come as a bonus to the joy.
I had the best break through today. I was tugging with my dog outside which doesn’t happen very often and when we stopped the game instead of grabbing the toy and running away from me she pushed the toy at me to play again. She has never done that before. I think she finally would rather play with me than run off by herself.
My dog is trying to teach me just to play for the time we have is just too short.
Just to add to my previous comment. I was just training my dogs and come up with another thing dogs have taught me! and that is fairness in rewarding the wanted behaviour, being consistent and listening to our dogs, as sometimes they may be a little tired or slight strain/injury to there bodies, not over training!! having that good balance.
My dogs have taught me that making learning fun is much more efficient.
Clarity has definitely changed there performance and better dogs around the home
Patience and not letting my dog OUTSMART or train me! She is a very intelligent B.C and loves to learn. I don’t want to make many mistakes, if any.
Boomer has taught me that clarity is most important in all communication, whether it be to our four-legged friends or our two-legged associates. Without clarity, things go haywire.
Love the fly swatter in your back pocket for DeCaff!
Me, too. I know that Decaff loves that Fly Swatter. It’s funny what dogs and humans find motivating and reinforcing.
My Terriers have taught me whatever I’m feeling goes straight down to them. So I need to always remember they’re doing exactly what I’m asking them to, so all opp’s are on me not them.. So it’s always a win if they’re happy both going into and coming out of the ring. Q’s are a by product, not the most important. Having fun is my goal.
My Penny is teaching me that she is eager to learn new things, have fun and be fearless!
Momentum is so beautiful!
Patience is a virtue!! Blue was not performing at the level I expected. My solution was to grow very impatient with him. His solution was to completely withdraw and sit by our door. It made me feel so very bad for him that I now go out of my way to be aware of how I communicate with him. As a result, he has taught me the meaning of patience.
My dogs teach me every day that they are so very different but still need the same love care and patience. One is manic and needs every inch of control for me not to despair and leave her alone the other is willing and steady but takes forever to learn. Both give me that warm feeling they love me so much
My dogs have taught me how to enjoy playing games and have taught me the love of the dog sport we do(Obedience).They touch me heart every time I feel down, they just want cuddles and love and trying to sit on my lap (this is very comical as both dogs are over 50 kilograms)
my dogs have taught me that unconditional
love and patientce are the two main things in training to get the best results from your dog and best friend