Reminding myself of the Good Habits

So in thinking about how to prepare myself for when I meet my dog in Belgium I've been reviewing some artices and books on attitude and mental management. Yesterday it was Lanny Bassham. Today I was reading stuff by Jane Savoie, a dressage rider and coach and author of "It's Not Just About the Ribbons" and "A Winning Attitude". Admittedly it is not about dog agility, but I believe that many of the same concepts will translate into our sport. She writes that... "A winning attitude is more important to your success than any other single factor. You may not be able to choose the hand you've been dealt, but you have total control over how you're going to react to that hand."

This struck a chord with me, as did her advice on preparing a horse at a show as listed on this site. I am already familiar with these techniques but re-reading them and thinking how they can be applied to agility has been a useful exercise as the WAC approaches. Here are some of the highlights as they might transfer to dogs and dog agility:

1. First, try to figure out what might make you get nervous. Are you worried about what people think of you? Are you afraid you won't measure up to the expectations of others? If so, QUIT! Quit worrying about what others are thinking, it is beyond your control (and most likely they are more centered on their own problems and performance than to be bothered with thinking about you).

Or have you put unrealistic pressure on yourself to win? If so, focus on "performance goals" rather than "result goals". In other words, rather than having a goal of going clear or placing in the top 3, make a new goal that reflects your effort rather than the outcome. For example, how about running the course without any panicked commands to your dog, or concentrating on the execution of your turns for an entire test?

2. Do you run defensively rather than attacking your course because you're afraid that your dog might leave the ring, blow you off or shut down at a new place or a big event? If so, go to the grounds early. Play with your dog; maybe some retrieve or tug games. Take them out of the crate several times before the comp for walks or sniffing around the arenas. By the time you compete, your dog should be comfortable with the surroundings.

3. Use humour to break up tension. Go to comps with friends who get silly and make you laugh. Or give you "cowboys" as part of celebrating goals. The less intense you are, the more fun you'll have. Remember that it is always a beautiful day if you are out doing agility with your best mate (sure beats work!!!) As you about to run your course, look to the judge, think to yourself, "Get ready to have your socks knocked off!" Watch the previous dog finish and say under your breath, "Hurry up! I want my turn!" As you walk away from your dog have a favourite saying such as "Up, up and away!"; Let's fly!" or "Ready Spaghetti".

4. Also think about what happens to you physically when you're tense. Muscles get tight and respiration and heart rate increase and this is easily communicated to your dog. The good news is that with a little work, you can regulate all of these reactions. Jane outlines techniques to learn how to regulate these; teaching yourself how to relax tensed muscles and control shallow breathing. For me I like to do a big full body stretch and a deep yawn if I feel myself tensing up.

5. Know your course like the back of your hand. That way you can concentrate on handling your dog rather than thinking about where the numbers go. You shouldn't be thinking; "Now I make a front cross, then I have to pinwheel to the left, then where... oh the dogwalk." If you're focusing on where you have to go next, you can't concentrate on what your dog needs from you and/or you may lose your connection with your dog.

I was also reviewing notes I made from Lanny Bassham... specifically his "When the Going Gets Tough...QUIT!" column.

1. Quit worrying about whether you can do it!

–Be positive! Instead of panicking as you walk the course about not having practiced this particular challenge, or whether your dog will get their weaves right, think about the training you have done that will assist you in handling it, and visualise you and your dog doing it!

2. Quit deviating from what you know works!

-If your focus is tied to the environment around you and the environment changes, so do your thoughts. If however, you are focussed on the fun you have with your dog when running agility and letting all the excellent work you both do in training speak volumes out there on course, then you are focussing positively on the process required.

3. Quit worrying what others think of you!
–Easier said than done. But if you focus on yourself and your dog and insulate yourself from wondering about how you look or what others think of you, you’ll stop wasting valuable mental energy. Don’t worry what others are thinking because you’ll never know and 75% of the time they are standing there worrying about their own performances. The other 25% of the time they are simply wondering about whether they should eat now, where the toilets are, and whether they should go now or later.

4. Quit beating yourself up over a poor performance!
–This is a huge one. The more you beat yourself up as a bad handler or a poor trainer the more you are imprinting a negative image of yourself in your mind, which in turn will impact on your behaviour. It is okay to be humble, it is not okay to negate your good performances. Practice saying thank you when someone compliments you on a run, rather than bringing to the fore all the negative parts of the run. When you get a compliment, you should smile and celebrate it, even just if it is an “internal” celebration. And if you goof up, don’t beat yourself up, rather, look at it analytically, try to learn something from the mistake and focus on a solution that will help you achieve success next time.