k9kreationz
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Here was my first impression as I was reading the article.
I think Koji is a BC. I think I'm a BC. BC's are introverts at heart.
I guess the question would be, are Shelties used like BCs are? I think they were/are. I have no idea though.
The reason I said I think Koji is a BC, is because he is sensitive, he wants to please, I can't raise my voice or he either shuts down, barks back at me, etc. He does not like it. I never did get the amping the dogs up. With Koji, the more amped up he got, the more out of control he is. When I started calming him down before runs, he ran faster, smoother, and was more focused. It was then I realized, he could be awesome, when he was in control. Being out of control was not good. When he's in control of himself, regardless if I'm doing a good job or not, he's just focused and there with me in the ring, waiting for me to tell him what to do.
It reminds me of when I went to the herding instinct test. The woman (her hubby did the testing/training) I was talking to was telling me that in order to be a good sheep dog, they have to be "biddable". Meaning, they need to be under control, willing to listen to you, etc. They can't just be out there doing their thing, that's not herding. And as I watched this woman with her Aussie (who BTW is awesome in the ring), well, her dog was not biddable. Dog didn't listen at all to anyone. In that ring, he was out of control, doing his herding thing, and not in a good way. Again, it made me realize there's a lot more to amping up a dog and letting them run. They need to be in control of themselves.
Then I thought. I'm a BC. LOL. I'm like that. I go to work, I am there, focused, get my work done, do my job well. Then I go home and dang, I need to recoup and recover. In a quiet home. It's the introvert in me that needs that time.
So that's when I said, "BC's are introverts" and maybe that's why when I'm at a trial with Koji and I'm alone, doing my thing, not really interacting with people, Koji seems to be really focused. We're not visiting, not talking. We're calm with ourselves. Even if I carry him to the ring so he won't react to other dogs, it allows us to be calm. Like I said, once I started making him lie on his mat at the gate, waiting our turn, versus working with him (either amping him up, training to keep him focused on me, not other dogs, etc), he was so different in the ring.
Granted. This is ONLY Koji. I'm sure it won't apply for many other Shelties. But once I realized keeping him calm, helped him focus once we got in the ring, and I continued doing those things, wow. Some of our smoothest and best runs came from that.
I still don't get the amping the dog up, unless they aren't excited about agility to begin with. Why amp up a BC (assuming they love it, which most do)? Shouldn't running with it's owner be "fun" anyways?
Thanks for sharing. I wonder how many BC owners would agree or disagree.
I think Koji is a BC. I think I'm a BC. BC's are introverts at heart.
I guess the question would be, are Shelties used like BCs are? I think they were/are. I have no idea though.
The reason I said I think Koji is a BC, is because he is sensitive, he wants to please, I can't raise my voice or he either shuts down, barks back at me, etc. He does not like it. I never did get the amping the dogs up. With Koji, the more amped up he got, the more out of control he is. When I started calming him down before runs, he ran faster, smoother, and was more focused. It was then I realized, he could be awesome, when he was in control. Being out of control was not good. When he's in control of himself, regardless if I'm doing a good job or not, he's just focused and there with me in the ring, waiting for me to tell him what to do.
It reminds me of when I went to the herding instinct test. The woman (her hubby did the testing/training) I was talking to was telling me that in order to be a good sheep dog, they have to be "biddable". Meaning, they need to be under control, willing to listen to you, etc. They can't just be out there doing their thing, that's not herding. And as I watched this woman with her Aussie (who BTW is awesome in the ring), well, her dog was not biddable. Dog didn't listen at all to anyone. In that ring, he was out of control, doing his herding thing, and not in a good way. Again, it made me realize there's a lot more to amping up a dog and letting them run. They need to be in control of themselves.
Then I thought. I'm a BC. LOL. I'm like that. I go to work, I am there, focused, get my work done, do my job well. Then I go home and dang, I need to recoup and recover. In a quiet home. It's the introvert in me that needs that time.
So that's when I said, "BC's are introverts" and maybe that's why when I'm at a trial with Koji and I'm alone, doing my thing, not really interacting with people, Koji seems to be really focused. We're not visiting, not talking. We're calm with ourselves. Even if I carry him to the ring so he won't react to other dogs, it allows us to be calm. Like I said, once I started making him lie on his mat at the gate, waiting our turn, versus working with him (either amping him up, training to keep him focused on me, not other dogs, etc), he was so different in the ring.
Granted. This is ONLY Koji. I'm sure it won't apply for many other Shelties. But once I realized keeping him calm, helped him focus once we got in the ring, and I continued doing those things, wow. Some of our smoothest and best runs came from that.
I still don't get the amping the dog up, unless they aren't excited about agility to begin with. Why amp up a BC (assuming they love it, which most do)? Shouldn't running with it's owner be "fun" anyways?
Thanks for sharing. I wonder how many BC owners would agree or disagree.