Most of us with performance animals have run into the standard issue “he’s just not listening.” This is usually followed by feelings of frustration, confusion and sometimes, down right anger. I was recently at a trial where the judge said something very quietly in his briefing. It has stuck with me and has had a profound effect on my approach to training so I need to share. He said “We are all here to further our relationship with our dogs. They wouldn’t be here without us and we wouldn’t be there without them. When you ask your dog to do something out there and he doesn’t comply, don’t immediately turn to shouting. Take a moment to realize that he simply doesn’t understand. You are asking him to do something that is beyond his capability – at least in this setting.”
This statement holds true in so many situations. Some of you might still say, well, he knows how to hold his contacts (agility), he CAN lie down (herding) and he knows better than to chase the other dog (flyball). But, not necessarily in THAT setting and at THAT moment. You very well may be asking your animal to do something that is beyond his ability, especially in such a heighten situation as a performance.
So what are we to do? Step back and “Speak to the Earth.” Ask for patience and to be shown another way. Break things down to their most basic elements. If you approach the problem from a loving and compassionate place – you’ll be amazed at what you will be shown. So the next time you are frustrated at what your dog just did on the trial field, look at them with the loving, compassionate eyes they look at you with and you will see the answer staring back at you.