1. How do you search for and then choose a trainer?
I started working with a local trainer who trials in arena trials. She's very good at what she does and very successful in trailing. Along the way, I heard about a clinic with a top USBCHA handler; I went to that clinic, liked the clinician very much. Went back for another clinic. When I decided that what I was interested in was USBCHA style trialing, I stopped going to the local trainer and started traveling for lessons and clinics with that clinician. . .oh, you all know I go to P*trick and DD.
At any rate, I liked the way they handled their dogs and themselves. I like the way they treat me, my dogs and my friends. I think it's important to find someone who has achieved success at the highest level to mentor or coach you.
This was true in agility, as well. It used to blow me away that I would see local people who were in the Open class giving lessons as a "trainer." If you haven't gone all the way, so to speak, you don't really know what the end result looks like, so you don't know if what you are doing in the Novice class is going to come back and bite you in the ass.
2. The dog world
is small and... uh... talkative. After choosing a trainer how do you
handle those people in your life who don't believe in that
trainer/trainers methods and criticize them to you?
I've had a bit of pressure to go to a trainer who is closer to me than Idaho. I wouldn't say that people have been critical of the methods or trainers I use, but I've been pressed to go to someone closer. I just explain that I'm happy with where I'm at and let it go. I am limiting myself by this approach and things are taking longer, I think, than if I lived nearby and could take weekly lessons. But, to use the J-word, it's my journey and I'm taking it as fast or slow or long distance as I like!
3. Do you believe
that a person's personal life should influence your choice of a
trainer? (i.e do you believe a person's choice to be a party animal
outside of work would affect your choice?)
If I'm getting results I like and I feel good about how I'm being treated and how my dogs are treated, I don't think it matters.
4. When you have a break
through moment with your dog, do you feel that moment makes your
connection stronger with that dog and makes the next step in training
easier?
Yes. Until we backslide again.
5. Do you stick with just one trainer, or do you go to multiple sources for help?
Being so new to this, I've really tried to stay with just one or two trainers. If I was getting multiple, conflicting veiwpoints, my head would explode. As I said in #2, I've been invited to go to someone closer. I have really resisted that because I didn't want additional views. As I grow in this endeavor, I can see seeking out different methods or trainers, especially, if I was having a problem I couldn't fix. In October, I went to the Helsley/Shannahan sheep camp. That was my first time working with Don Helsley and I really enjoyed that. Both are great handlers and trainers. Helsley had a little different focus, which gave me more to think about.
I had a bit of an "ah-ha" moment with Jane yesterday. It has nothing to do with sheepdog training or DD or P*trick or Helsley. . .or does it?
I had Jane at work with me, as usual. She was running around the store doing her thing. She started doing something I didn't like, so I told her to knock it off. She didn't. I sort of ignored it. I told her again, she ignored me. I ignored her bad behavior, she ignored me. Then I got mad and went to her and corrected her. I finished what I was doing, then called her to me and asked her just follow me around while I was helping customers. She stayed right at my heel without further correction.
This has been our struggle from day one. I am not consistent about getting what I want the first time I ask. When I do insist, she is happy to give me what I want. When I consistently insist, she is happier to give it to me and we are a happier team. There! My New Year's Resolution:
Consistently insist! January 26, 2012.
At sheepcamp, I bemoaned the fact that Helsley wanted me to be more consistent. One of my fellow sheepcampers replied that he thought my dog probably wanted me to be more consistent.
I've heard lots of things about Jane over the last four years. . .she's not a team player. She wants to do things on her terms. She's flipping you the paw. Helsley told me, "She's not trying to be bad. She wants to be a good dog." I have taught her to blow me off, because I haven't always given her consequences. I've been terribly inconsistent. And they have all told me that. And, I've heard them. Yesterday, it was clear to me. Again.
OMG! Do I need to make a vision board about this, so I always am reminded of it? Craft project at Katy's this weekend? Glitter?
Hmmmm, Laura, what a can of worms you have opened here!