Let's Troubleshoot those Challenges!

Troubleshooting is a major part of my job... unfortunately I have to work for a living and can not do the things I would rather be doing. However, I have learned time and time again that there is something valuable in all aspects of life- Troubleshooting. Now to apply it to agility.

I think everyone does this to some degree, but how in depth do you go? Are there certain challenges that you keep pushing away from them due to what could be many reasons?

I have some.

I have yet to have a dog finish an AKC Masters course in under 40 seconds (yes it is ridiculous). It has become almost this number that taunts me. So instead of making excuses of why me nor my dog can make it under 40 seconds- I am looking at what may be causing this problem. I have to overshape weaves, I can not leave him in weaves, and slower contacts- these are my main problems. Everything else is more than likely fine tuning. I have been looking at these problems in ways to tackle them, or troubleshoot. What can get seconds shaved off of certain obstacle performances? I am researching and coming up with plans before I go train so I have a purpose and can guide my dog through a training session with confidence. So rather than admit defeat, continue to do what you are doing, or just say you can not do it- why not go for it or actually work at it? What is the worst that could happen?

So instead of saying no I can not do front crosses because I can not run fast enough to be ahead of my dog. Why not start trying? Practice is practice for a reason! You do not have to be perfect in practice, you do not have to win practice. A practice is for you and your dog...so here is the time to make all those mistakes (because trust me there will be many more in the ring itself)!! Both you and your dog, then you can laugh about it later!

The more you do and try, the more you know what works best.

When working with previous students, I always have said that it is best to have "many tools in your tool bag." How many do you have? What would you like to add to your own "bag of tricks"? I myself have started teaching more rear crosses to my dogs- I can not stand rear crosses and I would avoid training them- now instead of avoiding them- I am tackling them! I may not use them often, but I know that I can if I need to.

If you train by yourself, you may find that you avoid things that you are uncomfortable trying or that is not what you feel like trying to overcome at that time.

The time is now. What are your challenges or areas that trouble you? What could you do to fix them? So let's continue to be motivated and go out of that comfort zone, and to see what we can do to achieve those small goals- whether it be better start lines or that 39.5 sec Masters Standard run. =) Happy training!