Feeling inadequate as a handler

So here's how I justify what I see on TV. Those people have HOURS and HOURS and backyards to practice in. They make up fancy stuff because they CAN.

My trainer tries to teach me stuff like that, and after we practice, I ask her "OK, now how do we handle this in real life"? Then we argue. That's just how it goes. I try to keep my handling as simple and plain and clear as possible. I've come a long way in the past year, I think, and along with a significant weight loss (to the point people who hadn't seen me in a while recognized my dog, but not me!) I am finally getting smoother and not feeling so out of control. My motto at a trial "we didn't suck." Somewhere I have that shirt, "Suck Less, Train More"

 

Sometimes in life, no matter what we do, we overthink, we over compensate, we replay everything over and over and over. This creates worry and anxiety. I don't do agility, though I would love to. Take a deep breath and relax. Start having fun again, like you did at first. Once the fun is gone, it becomes a chore, which it what it sounds like it has become. Merlin is picking up on that.

 

Watching Crufts and judging yourself against what you see is setting the bar really, really high. I suspect for most of the people who make that level of competition it is the main focus and time sink of the lives. And even the best have days when absolutely nothing goes right...all you have to do is watch the Olympics to see how often that happens.

You will get back on track. If you can go in with the mental set that you are going to enjoy the course and that you don't have to be perfect, things will start to flow smoothly again.

Trini

 

Glad things are brighter today. It is so easy to forget how much progress has been made...Merlin has come a LONG way since last year...Kudos to you and to him for that progress!!

Trini

 

do I know how you feel!!

I have been trying to learn threadles forever , I mess everything up, always use the wrong arm, too late and not sure where my course is, lol. I am a big girl and never look smooth, despite some good efforts LOL
Now since I moved I have to work with a new instructor and my old one said, oh awesome, another teacher trying to teach ya a proper threadle, LOL
so I'm hopeless, but good thing my dog saves my butt and I do know people like you and I are doing our best to have fun, so kick your inner Eeyore and do what you did: relax train and resolve, smaller sequences and concentrate on you and your dog, instead of comparing yourself to others who indeed have years and years of experience and hours and hours of practice a day

OR that is what I tell myself, when I am hard on myself