Calliesmom
Moderator
sounds like I missed out on saying all the good stuff- you got it all covered.
my only contribution is patience- for yourself and for Merlin
my only contribution is patience- for yourself and for Merlin
Need a pep talk *sigh*
- Thread starter labgirl
- Start date
corbinam
Moderator
I love that you wrote a list of positives--sometimes that's what I do too. It's human nature to focus on the negative, so it helps to write it down and remember all the things you've accomplished along the way. Plus, at the end of the day your best friend is at your side and full of love!
labgirl
Forums Sage
Thank you for all the comments, sorry I took so long to respond, Christmas rather took over.
After examining things I feel a lot more positive and am looking forward to starting classes again next week. It is helped that a lot of the stresses I was experiencing before Christmas are now passed and I am feeling more relaxed, calm and confidence in myself. My 2015 goal is to just have fun on every run. If we go clear, all the better, but as long as we run together and Merlin's tail wags that is all that matters. We have two agility workshops booked for 4 Jan, so hoping to have lots of fun and get plenty of tips.
And Sparrow starts baby agility classes next Monday, so lots to look forward to an enjoy!
And of course, I just like being out and about with my amazing blue man
After examining things I feel a lot more positive and am looking forward to starting classes again next week. It is helped that a lot of the stresses I was experiencing before Christmas are now passed and I am feeling more relaxed, calm and confidence in myself. My 2015 goal is to just have fun on every run. If we go clear, all the better, but as long as we run together and Merlin's tail wags that is all that matters. We have two agility workshops booked for 4 Jan, so hoping to have lots of fun and get plenty of tips.
And Sparrow starts baby agility classes next Monday, so lots to look forward to an enjoy!
And of course, I just like being out and about with my amazing blue man
trini
Forums Sage
<<<<< My 2015 goal is to just have fun on every run.>>>>
Perfect goal for 2015! And you will find that when you are in that frame of mind Merlin will do even better...these super smart shelties pick up on every little emotion we feel.
Trini
Perfect goal for 2015! And you will find that when you are in that frame of mind Merlin will do even better...these super smart shelties pick up on every little emotion we feel.
Trini
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
Thank you for all the comments, sorry I took so long to respond, Christmas rather took over.
After examining things I feel a lot more positive and am looking forward to starting classes again next week. It is helped that a lot of the stresses I was experiencing before Christmas are now passed and I am feeling more relaxed, calm and confidence in myself. My 2015 goal is to just have fun on every run. If we go clear, all the better, but as long as we run together and Merlin's tail wags that is all that matters. We have two agility workshops booked for 4 Jan, so hoping to have lots of fun and get plenty of tips.
And Sparrow starts baby agility classes next Monday, so lots to look forward to an enjoy!
And of course, I just like being out and about with my amazing blue man
You know I was having the same frustration with Birch. Mostly because he is so much faster than me and I was messing him up. I was putting lot of pressure on myself and him. Jumpers in particular was our nemsis. Then a friend of mine got very sick and is no longer able to run her dog in fact she is still fighting her ilness. My instructor and I started talking that Qs are overrated and that the most important thing is I am healthy, my dog is healthy and we are able to compete every weekend. It suddenly puts it all into perspective and I relaxed and just made a decision to be happy I was able to do agility with Birch. Wouldn't you know it, suddenly we quality 4 times in jumpers in 2 weekends. We are still gelling as a team as Birch is only 3 but we are both having allot more fun.
Chris
Premium Member
My goal of 2015 is to work on my attitude towards competing and to be more positive, whatever the outcome of our runs
Sophie, this was the big AH HA realization for me when Beckon was doing Rally. I would get so tense and frustrated when I made mistakes -- or he did. Then one day, I decided my goal that day would be to share the best fun time ever with my Big Guy. All I cared about that day was Beckon having a grand time.
He pranced into the ring, never stopped smiling, and scored big -- that was a title day, as I recall. Now that his myotonia congentia prevents competing, I have wonderful memories of all the fun we had. The ribbons matter little, but the photos of his happy face in the ring remain to bring joy.
labgirl
Forums Sage
Thanks everyone. Fun is going to be the name of the game in 2015. As Dr Shelli said we are lucky to just be able to enjoy agility. So many people I know have sick dogs or problems themselves which prevents them. So this year I aim to make the most of every run. Thank everyone
Hurtseverywhere
Forums Enthusiast
Stick With it Sophie, I got really depressed with Cosmo when he went for over 2 years without a Q, then he started to come around again and he's been Q ing on a pretty regular basis again and seems to be having fun once more. Remember You started to do this to have fun with your dog and to have a good time together, unfortunately we humans tend to get a bit competitive and start to expect our dogs to perform accordingly. Take a step back remember why you started doing this in the first place and then go out there and HAVE FUN. I am sure Merlin is.
labgirl
Forums Sage
Thank you Robin
I can relate to this too Sophie. Epic and I have had nothing but Es in the last few shows. He's running well but my handling is poor and timing abysmal. The final show of the year was the all Sheltie agility show, which I had been looking forward to for more than a year. It was a lovely show but I did leave depressed after yet more Es, including a terrible run where he just couldn't seem to make the weave entry and then didn't stay in the weaves. (And the last run where I disintegrated a jump with my arm!
)
It is depressing when things go badly but as you have said, what's important is not the rosettes but the fun. So long as you are both enjoying agility, the rest will come. I can still recall the amazing run you had in the downpour - I would not even have stayed upright in that!! I've been listing to Bad Dog Agility podcasts:
http://baddogagility.com/category/podcast/
and I recall one of the things they suggest doing is making a video compilation of all the good moments with an uplifting music track and watching it back over when you're feeling a bit down/need encouragement. I did this and it does help.
Look forward to hearing about the agility workshops and Sparrow's classes too.
Epic and I have had nothing but Es in the last few shows. He's running well but my handling is poor and timing abysmal. The final show of the year was the all Sheltie agility show, which I had been looking forward to for more than a year. It was a lovely show but I did leave depressed after yet more Es, including a terrible run where he just couldn't seem to make the weave entry and then didn't stay in the weaves. (And the last run where I disintegrated a jump with my arm! )It is depressing when things go badly but as you have said, what's important is not the rosettes but the fun. So long as you are both enjoying agility, the rest will come. I can still recall the amazing run you had in the downpour - I would not even have stayed upright in that!! I've been listing to Bad Dog Agility podcasts:
http://baddogagility.com/category/podcast/
and I recall one of the things they suggest doing is making a video compilation of all the good moments with an uplifting music track and watching it back over when you're feeling a bit down/need encouragement. I did this and it does help.
Look forward to hearing about the agility workshops and Sparrow's classes too.