Competitor or Trainer, is there a balance?

There are the reasons I don't trial my greenies until they are ready, and why I've taken to entering them in another venue first.
I have never had a dog who would run out of the ring, or do zoomies, or visit. By the time mine compete in AKC agility, they are mentally ready to be there, and know their jobs. I train in different locations when possible, go to run thrus and show n gos and have good solid foundation and a dog who can handle excellent level courses before trialing. I've even taken to going to the local NADAC trial with the green dogs before they go to AKC, as it is in a barn and close to the type of facility they train at. Plus the trials usually are small, quiet, and laid back, so not overly stressful. I don't care about Qs or titles there, and am just there to have fun and get my dogs good ring experience at a trial.
I kind of feel lucky in that I haven't had contacts or start lines deteriorate in trials. I think maybe once in four years has Athena broken a start line. Kai and Ember... never. Aurora I run with so doesn't apply. I'd say my contacts in ring are about 95% successful, which is pretty nice for running, and I've never run into strings where they were missing contacts time after time. They have always been well spaced apart.
 
HopeShelties said:
There are the reasons I don't trial my greenies until they are ready, and why I've taken to entering them in another venue first.
I have never had a dog who would run out of the ring, or do zoomies, or visit. By the time mine compete in AKC agility, they are mentally ready to be there, and know their jobs. I train in different locations when possible, go to run thrus and show n gos and have good solid foundation and a dog who can handle excellent level courses before trialing. I've even taken to going to the local NADAC trial with the green dogs before they go to AKC, as it is in a barn and close to the type of facility they train at. Plus the trials usually are small, quiet, and laid back, so not overly stressful. I don't care about Qs or titles there, and am just there to have fun and get my dogs good ring experience at a trial.
I kind of feel lucky in that I haven't had contacts or start lines deteriorate in trials. I think maybe once in four years has Athena broken a start line. Kai and Ember... never. Aurora I run with so doesn't apply. I'd say my contacts in ring are about 95% successful, which is pretty nice for running, and I've never run into strings where they were missing contacts time after time. They have always been well spaced apart.
Click to expand...

See now THAT is a good example of "good" training. Versus "cheryl" training. LOL. But seriously, this is definitely what I'm doing with my next agility dog.
 
And I bet after how hard you have had to work to fix things with Koji, your next dog will be trained well from the get go. You'll have a lot more experience, know what to expect, and exactly what you want in that next dog... and it'll show. I do think you've learned a lot training him, and the next will be much easier.
To be honest, it was luck with Athena. I knew no more than you with the first one, and she was just good from the get go. The issues never did come up, and I didn't work them hard like I have the rest who I've known more about training. The biggest thing with her has just been fleshing out her skills over time as I have become a better handler/trainer and expanded my toolbox of skills.
 
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