Trial Jitters - Page 3

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by Mystere on 17 January 2009 - 23:01

The thing NONE of us can control is the stress going "down the leash." The dogs, particularly dogs really bonded to the handlers, know "something's wrong," but they haven't a clue what. Some become a bit defensive and ready to protect you and themselves from "whatever." Other dogs realize it's a trial and give you the "big paw." It is NOT like performing on a tage, reciting in school, or even taking an exam. There is another living, breathing and thinking being involved and you cannot always account or prepare for how they are going to respond. Valium doesn't sound like a bad idea...

by habanaro on 18 January 2009 - 02:01

I think of it this way ...There are many things worse than failing a trail..

Most michael bolton music

Getting a transplant

Being two seats behind a person with motion sickness on a roller coaster.

You ever go to a big trial and your paired up with a major competitor and you look as their dog and think damn... My dogs look at me alot like that.

Go out and have fun. If people say stupid crap about you just forget it

Some times the most you can expect from a pig is a grunt

Jeff

by ShelleyR on 18 January 2009 - 02:01

My old Ulk Bungalow dgtr & I were paired with Glenn and Buck in the 90 USA Nationals. No pressure... (much) Nobody watching that early a.m. flight (Yeah, right) They won & went onto to the WUSV Championship Team. We didn't. ...but I still think we were WAY cuter! LOLOLOl LOLoL

by jletcher18 on 18 January 2009 - 03:01

hey sue, and all other readers,

the best advice i have been given was from dean's helper mark. you are going to get nervous on trial day. face it. the trick is to go out during training and do whatever you can to make yourself nervous. your dog will get use to you being in a different "mode". think of things that make you worried. psych yourself out as much as you can. trial day becomes just another worried day with mom/dad on the field.

john

by ocoey on 18 January 2009 - 03:01

Baileys in hot chocolate is nice for an early trial especially if there is a chill in the air!

by shepherdmom on 18 January 2009 - 05:01

The longer I have to wait before I go in the ring/field, the worse off I am. I try to tell myself it's just another training day, no different than any other time I go. I also try to remind myself that this is supposed to be fun, if we don't do well, we learned something. If I go to an agility trial and my dog runs around the course like a moron doing whatever she feels like, guess what, she had fun! I always try to wear my pair of German Shepherd socks too. I know, it's stupid, but it makes me feel better. I think showing in the conformation ring also helped me with show nerves, because there, your dog can't really screw up (unless it tries to eat somebody).

by Rezkat5 on 18 January 2009 - 05:01

I've started to read a book called "That winning feeling," I forget the author's name, but it is very good. It's geared towards horses, but a lot can be applied to showing/trialing dogs. Helps with getting the mind in a good place basically. Basically about thinking positive about it. ie: if you really think that your dog is going to go around the jump, he will. But, if you don't think that way, chances are it won't happen. Will definitely need to finish it come trial time for my Lexie.

Kathy

by Mystere on 18 January 2009 - 06:01

Kathy, I know the book you are talking about. It uses sports psychology techniques. Those interested in reading it may find it in tack shops (that's where - got it). Another book to check out is "The New Toughness Training for Sports" by James Loehr. You can pick it up at B&N, in the sports section.

by 4pack on 18 January 2009 - 06:01

My first trial I jammed through, you should have seen my about turns, talk about leaving my dog behind. I just wanted to hurry the fuck up and be done already! Then I quit breathing in the protection portion, we hadn't worked much on the other 2 scenarios and I really didn't know what my dog was going to do. I felt my heart up in my throat beating all crazy. I kept thinking "don't barf or pass out in front of everyone". My dog did fine, just like everyone told me he would. Now I know what it feels like to be out there and I have worked my dog allot more as an adult and am not worried at all. I can't wait to trial again.

by sueincc on 18 January 2009 - 17:01

Thanks for so many great responses. It's irrational, and doesn't come up until the moment I step on the field, some times it's there other times I'm fine. Like many others who posted, this is something that has been going on since childhood, from competitive dance to horses to dogs. It's like a huge adrenaline rush except I'm no adrenaline junkie, I don't like it and it just puts me waaaaaaay off my game.

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Trial Jitters - Page 3

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