Our first time in the Open ring went well, he heeled well, missed a few sits, then missed his broad jump, as well as his high jump, he did his long sit & down. Our next time in the ring the stress was apparent from the moment we entered, he refused to sit, at all. He did everything else except for the broad jump. He laid down on his long sit at the 3 minute mark as I was returning to the ring :(
That weekend we entered Rally Excellent as well. He fell apart on Day 1, no sit again, visibly stressed, we NQ'd. I had Amanda take him in the next day, he worked for her & came out with a 99/100 & his 2nd RE leg. The 3rd day with Amanda again , he miss judged a jump & went around it, so an NQ.
Since then Kort has been on a "vacation" from obedience, we still practice at home but that is it.
I have been doing alot of agility, Kort & I finally feel like a team, there is lots of room for improvement but we are getting there. We just finished our ADC & SGDC titles with the AAC Agility Organization. Last year Kort got his CKC AGNS in one weekend with all High Scores in Class.
We have also been doing Scenthurdle & Kort is a Scenthurdle Champion.
I am thinking, that except for our local trial in August, I am going to put AAC Agility on the back burner for now.
We are entered in a CKC Agility Trial here in Lethbridge the first week in July, & one in August at Spruce Meadows, then one more AAC Trial in August in Calgary.
So this is where my panic comes in, if I don't continue going to Agility Classes we will fall behind. It is hard to watch my team mates go on without me so to speak.
BUT....I can't afford too, or focus on, too many things. It stresses me out that I am not giving each sport my fullest attention.
I want to put Kort in 1 day at our Lethbridge Show in November to try & get his last Rally leg, & to also get a feel for how he feels in the ring.
I want to go back into the Open ring in 2013, to do this I want to put my full attention on obedience, & nothing else.
It makes me sad & panicky, like I said, I want to do everything, but "I" am not mentally capable of doing it all.
So I think my mind is made up, it's time to put Obedience back on the front burner :)
8 comments:
As in everything in life, there is need to prioritize. No one can do it all and expect to do well at everything. This goes for dog stuff too. Besides training we still have jobs and spouses and real life stuff to deal with and so there is nothing wrong with just focusing on one goal. You will catch up in agility if you don't go for awhile. Dogs don't forget. I know it has been your dream to get Kort's UD, so go for it! That's a wonderful goal to work towards and one that takes much dedication in training.
Right now I am focusing on getting Bosley's DDX - there is only one test a year, so I need to work hard to be prepared. So this summer, I am doing draft work. I am only doing a couple agility trials because we are oh so close to an ATCh but I really need to focus on draft stuff. I won't be doing any obedience at all even though I really want to get those last CDX legs. But, I cannot do it all. And that's OK.
I keep trying to do too many sports too- plans to actively compete in lure coursing, flyball, and dock diving this summer, and hoping to get ready to debut in rally soon as well. It is a bit crazy though, and I bet if you really want those high titles in obedience, you will need to buckle down and concentrate on one thing!
Jo you know in your heart what you want to do. There is nothing wrong with that at all! At this point "falling behind" is not a big deal to anyone but you. Kort will remember- he's a smarty-pants. And you'll get back to it- when you've gotten further along in your main sport. There is no rush.
Amp up your training, have clear training plans and short term and long term goals. You'll get there. Kort is fully capable- and so are you!! :)
We only have so much time and energy and trying to do it all just doesn't work. If you have a dream, you should follow it. But have fun too--you and Korty!!
It's so hard to want to do everything with a dog, dogs, or horses. I know how you feel. There sometimes is a limit and you have to decide what's most important.
I love Kort's eyes in this picture - they are so soft and loving
Don't feel panicky by making a choice of one thing over another. The opportunities won't disappear. You can always change your mind later - there will always be classes and seminars in the future. There is nothing wrong with one thing at a time!
The panicky part comes in because I am worried about how long Kort will stay healthy to continue jumping etc. I want to get all my titles before he can't :(
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