Trial Jitters - Page 2

Sue, First, GOOD LUCK! Second, the thing I learned from schutzhund I'd that failure is NOT fatal!! :-) Third, if you must fail, better to do it with a good dog, than with a shitter!! The quality of the dog and his/her ability will shine through bad handling and even bad training. You never saw Magic. I took her to Sch2, trained her to Sch3 (she decided not to track at the trial) and we failed more trials than we passed. Yet, we were never in any trial where people didn't ask me about breeding her, and asking about a puppy from her for themselves, and generally complimented the bitch. This has happened even more with my Sch 3 male. So, while I have never failed with a shitter, I have seen LOTS of folks who have. Nobody ever asked them about breeding as they came off the field, or complimented the dog. complimented their dog, either. :-) So, I think I can say authoritatively that it is better to fail (IF you do) with a good dog. And, you HAVE a VERY good dog!! I've seen him, remember. :-) Just go out there and show him off!

yes, knowing the routines like the back of your hand helps.  I find myself going over the procedure in my head over and over again, approaching the trial.

I'm way calmer come trialing for herding.  Once we get going I definitely tend to relax more.  But, still lots of things can go wrong there too.   You've got some "other" parameters to be concerned about, ie:    the sheep, the dog, the weather plays alot into it!  

Of course in herding you don't particularly know what the course will be, but if you know that you and the dog can get the sheep around the course no matter what, it helps.   Just like in Schutzhund, things can go wrong rather quickly.  The handling really comes into play with the herding.  

One year, one HGH trial was very hot and humid, sheep do not want to move when it's hot and humid.   And you have to be careful to conserve the dog's energy when you can.   As being out there 45 minutes, the dog can burn out if it is doing too much running.

Two weeks later, it was a torrential downpour the entire day.   Sheep don't like to flock when they are wet.   So that was another challenge.    

Kathy

lOOK AT THE JUDGE AND SAY   :  ME OR MY...HE HAS POLKA DOTTED UNDERWEAR ON...I MUST DO MY BEST,,HE IS FUNNY...

WHEN I USE TO PERFORM IN PUBLIC,,,SINGING THAT IS ON STAGE,,,MY VOICE INSTRUCTOR TOLD ME WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD TO ALWAYS    LOOK AT THE BACK OR  A PERSON ON STAGE AND SAY THAT....

IT KEEPS YOUR ADRENALEN FLOWING AND RELAXES YOU....FOR A MINUTE.....YOU WILL DO FINE...KEEP A POSITIVE THOUGHT AND REMEMBER

POLKA DOT  UNDIES   ON THE JUDGE.

LOL

yR

I showed horses at a national level for many years.  Always got nervous, and still get nervous with the dogs when I'm out there.  I used to think about those watching and what they thought, I don't anymore and don't even see them when I'm on the field.  If you get yourself to LOOK composed and remember to BREATH it will go a long way.  I learned long ago while riding cutting horses you really cannot  hold your breath for over 2 1/2 minutes.  Now I include a couple very deep slow breaths each time I'm in the basic position before I look at the judge for direction.  That really helps.      

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

I think that most of my jitters come from an irrational place. And used to try to push the fear away and that never helped. What help me greatly was to embrace the fear. I just asked myself a very simple question, “What’s the worst thing that can happen?”

 

If you really think about it you have already had the worst things happen. People have already said bad things about your training and your dog’s character. You have already had horrible disappointments in your life. So what about failing at a dog trial is going to be worse than that? The earth will not spin off of it’s axis if you don’t do well. Your family will still be happy, health and loving. You have already been through the worst and it didn’t kill you.

 

And if that fails to run the jitters away I always fall back on “Hey, my dog can’t look worst than John Doe’s dog did”.

20-something years and 100+ trials/shows later I STILL get nervous and nauseated when I am in competion every time. I employ the following almost without fail- -I intentionally wear two different colored socks for luck. I also have my nails done and apply makeup. Rationale: If the only thing that looks good 1st thing in the morning on trial day is my nails- Its a start! -Take your own food... comfort food! Mac & cheese, leftover pot roast, thick cream soup (Not tomato! Too much acid!) Crusty bread & butter... leftovers from the judgels dinner, warm in a wide mouth thermos. (Thank God for motel m/waves) Typical trial/show fare is usually greasy and almost invaribly makes my stomach revolt long before the trophy presentation. Donuts turn to lead. Hamburgers are usually dry, hot dogs always smell better than they sit in a nervous tummy. Eat chili or BBQ? ...call DeesWolf to hold your hair back. -1/2 a beer before tracking, other 1/2 at lunch. NOT MORE. Lots of water or Gatorade. Easy on the coffee. Don't forget a few sheets of Kleenex in your pocket for tracking field emergencies. -I have been known to take a nap in the van with my dog during the lunch break, trusted friend charged with waking us up in time to stretch and visit the restroom, quick-walk the dog. Amazing what even 15 min. of shut-eye will do for nerves. Don't forget your pillow. Good Luck! SS

Yellow Rose you took my bit of advice......I thought I was the only one who looked for the poka dots.......it works very well every time I'm under the gun.........just don't go one step further - poka dotted spedo.......I busted out laughing and couldn't recover at a toast masters meeting once...........

We work very hard with our dogs for the titles we earn, but we have to realize its not life and death, its a title for a dog.......perspective is very important.......we have a the chance to redo it as many times as we need........relax have fun and everything will be fine.

All that being said........the best I've done a a blue ribbon 10 years ago for in obedience for an Aussie in a super small club show..........my first real trial will be coming up in about 5 months with BH for Sita. She already does everything, she will be fine and I will be seeing the judge in pink and purple poka doted undies.............

Stress tips, HAH! I still get teased for the full body rash I broke out into the day before my first trial.

 I,ve always found it helpful to pick  the quickest and closet places to puke before and after the routine starts that way you feel more comfortable knowing before hand. 

When I competed in tournements in Chicago and New York I,d always be so nervous before I got in the ring When I finally competed enough  and the nervousness went away I lost my edge and stopped competeing, although I don,t think that will be a problem here I don,t have to worry about getting kicked in the groin in Schutzhund. 

I know even the most experienced competitors get nervous and have talked to them about it......I train with people who have been in everything from Regionals to Nationals to the WUSV.. if they get nervous why should I be any different?
I keep a small "nip" bottle of Crown in my bag and believe me at our last trial, there was more than one big tough guy following me behind my burbie to take a little swig for medicinal purposes.

I warm up my dog like I always do and we go out  with me thinking "we own this field! c'mon let's do this!!" Honestly once I get out there and get into the routine, I am usually ok and feel pretty good. it's the getting there that is tough and I never visualize, think of or vocalize anything but positives while we are getting ready and thru the entire routine.......