Seminars, Time Off and a Change in Attitude

Well I know I haven't blogged in a while. It's been tough with sharing a computer and Steve working away! I have done a few seminars this is past 6 weeks since regional's. They have both been very different. With very different take home messages.

I started with Kim Collins in June. She had some good points for me to work on. Stuff I knew needed some work. The courses were hard so there was a lot to be fixed. A lot of people told me that I would probably feel like I wanted to quit after a weekend with her and they were right, I did! My contacts need work and Nikki's drive when she's coming into me. Her tug drive needed work as well. All stuff a knew about but maybe let go to work on other things.

Since the seminar I have Nikki tugging like crazy and driving better into me. I quit trialing for a while to work on a few things like contacts and drive. Also because I truly felt like quiting. All and all it was a pretty negative weekend. The group I was running with was very negative and had some choice words to say about my trainer and her students, so the weekend started off on the wrong foot to begin with!!

My second seminar was with Kathy Keats. She was PHENOMENAL!!! Funny and had great information for everybody despite the type of dog we were running! The 1st run I did for her she pointed out a very KEY issue to some major problems. My crosses are too LATE! ALL OF THEM!!!! Not by much but enough to not be giving the right information soon enough. I was floored! No one has pointed that out to me before.Nikki has become faster especially over the past year and I have not changed much in my handling style. I have noticed Nikki has been falling after jumps sometimes and was really wondering why this was happening. Well I got my answer. This is also why Nikki doesn't run to her full speed. Cautiously trying to navigate around me !!! Kathy is so positive with her teaching!!!! Loved the seminar!!!!


So since the last seminar I have finally been able to connect with my dog better as well as my trainer. It's been really frustrating for me since the move. It's been really tough distinguishing between the Derret system and the differences that my trainer is teaching. I was also able to discuss the information Kathy gave to me with my trainer and she was able to help me understand it better. It finally felt smooth for me out there on course at class on thursday and I am so thankful!!!!


My Rant on Negativity.....


So I don't understand how going to a seminar that makes you want to QUIT is worth anything. I HATE the negativity that surrounds agility and going to someone for help that makes you feel like quitting makes no sense to me! It my work for other people to pick themselves up off the floor but not for me. If I'm going to get through it, it's going to have to be the positive way!!!! She gave gave me some important stuff to work on and I thank her for that. I also have no time for people in agility with "better then you " attitudes with there noses stuck up in the air! Needless to say I will not go back to Kim. It's just not for me!!!


I may be a nobody in the agility world, But I'm in this to have fun and work hard for myself and my dog and if I keep a positive attitude maybe I will get noticed someday!


Anyway enough with the ranting, here are a few pictures from my week off. We went to Jasper.

                                         Such a happy family!!!!!!!

We decided to take a dip in this very beautiful and clear lake on our hike!

I love waterfalls!!! So beautiful!!!!!!!!

Sneak peek of whats to come!!!!!!!!!