« Back
Our first competition season as Judge and competitor.
20/09/2021 - Blog posts
The end of our first competition season as judge and competitor.
As I replace iced tea for pumpkin spiced lattes and sit recovering from an amazing few weekends of competition and judging I wanted to put my thoughts to paper rather than a podcast. I want to record all the achievements and lessons we have learned since attending our first UK hoopers show in Spring ’21.
Competition nerves can really affect you dogs’ performance.
I have got much better at staying calm during a course but even this weekend my handling was off until we got eliminated then it was spot on. I think this is because the moment it went wrong, I relaxed and actually handled Dodge how I do in training. Its hard to prepare for nerves and I think the more competitions we go to, the easier it will become. Also competing at the same venue and with the same people helps. Trust your training is a mantra I tell all my students, I should listen to my own advice.
Walking courses.
Walking a course is defiantly an art. Seeing if there are potential traps. Being brave enough to go for handler bonuses like distance lines or power points. Setting you and the dog up for success and knowing when a course just isn’t right for you. When I walk a course now I ask myself ‘what would Lisa say?’ Lisa is my amazing trainer and friend and she pushes us as a team but always gives us achievable challenges. My last run of this weekends show I put on my big girl pants and went for the bonus. It paid off, Dodge isn’t slow but against some of the others he’s not the quickest. Being brave and trusting our training bagged us a 2nd place in a very strong class.
Course design and being a judge.
As a judge I like to test my courses at home before I use them at a show. What is put on paper may need to adapted on the day. A line may not be right, the ground conditions may need a steadier course. Giving teams an achievable challenge is one of my favourite things. Often my courses have deliberate traps especially for more experienced teams, but that being said sometimes even I don’t see a line the dogs have and unexpected eliminations or E’s happening. Sometimes the dogs decide freestyling is better and make up their own courses. Sometimes the dogs have a silly sat nav that forgets the route part way. But regardless of placings, clear rounds, faults or freestyling, I love watching the teamwork.
Professional pressure.
Back in April I took Dodge to his first show and it was stressful, mainly because it was new. Taking an adolescent German Shepherd to new places can be a challenge on its own but I also put professional pressure on myself. I am a dog trainer, I teach people how to play hoopers with their dogs but I’m also the founder of Canine Hoopers World. This means I teach other trainers how to teach people to play hoopers too. What if Dodge gets eliminated? What if I get faults? What if my handling sucks?
Will people stop learning from me? Of course not every E is a lesson every fault is information that is arguably more valuable than a perfect clear round. I thought other competitors would be judging me and some might. But the majority support, hearing a cheer for a perfect round and a clap for an elimination warms your heart. It makes you feel like you are a part of something special. The other competitors are in the same boat and you are all hoping the judge has been kind!
Handling courses.
This is where as a handler you need to remember the course, see the lines, have perfect timing, anticipate traps, be in the correct place and remember your cues. The last bit can be particularly troublesome. This weekend what should have been an elongated ‘Hereeeeee” became ‘that way’ and facing the dog using a my arm to guide athe verbal cue of go and step forward if nessacery turned into me screaming go whilst bouncing like tigger and directing the local aircraft. Im pretty sure my trainer will have something to say about both as I know I would have to my students. But both worked thankfully because Dodge clearly realised I was having a moment and he should just follow the line of obstacles in front of him. There is a lot to be said about hoop value, driving the line and forward focus.
Yellow dogs.
One thing Covid has made many of us aware of is personal space, having a human and dog selective (I don’t like the word reactive) dog in a show environment is always a challenge. Not everyone seems to understand the ‘WE NEED SPACE’ lead slip and ‘IGNORE MY DOG’ T-shirt are not just for decoration, but many do. To the people that have ignored us at shows thank you it’s made are day more enjoyable. People rarely see Dodge go ‘full shepherd’ as I manage him and the environment closely. I have only competed with UK Hoopers, Jumping jacks and Kelluki so far as I felt we were welcome. UK Hoopers has a yellow dog queue, so the dogs have a quieter environment and more space and for that I am eternally grateful. Kelluki and Jumping Jacks have the hoopers ring away from the busyness of the agility which is wonderful as its easier to avoid busy ring sides.
The achievements and not just the ribbons.
Camping this was a challenge for both of us but we now happily set up camp and settle in for the show. Working round others Dodge has now proved he can run with outside distractions. Our first shows he struggled with the judge being in the ring with him, at the novice championship he had a whole ringside of people watching him run and he ran beautifully. At our last kelluki show there were 9 rings set up, 7 agility one practice and 1 hoopers. I called Lisa on the Friday I was judging and said there was no way I was taking him. She told me to trust him and go train. We waited till the end of the classes so it was quieter to run, we joined In a short queue and he behaved. Although my nerves were shot by the time we got in the ring and I turned into a silly sat nav. This weekend I even entered him into a specials class where he had a different handler. Sarah is great but Dodge doesn’t know her that well. He set up at the start and listened and tried really hard. I suspect the worried mama (me) hovering didn’t help but I will learn to trust him more.
I am still hyper vigilant out of the ring with space and him not being a situation he can’t cope with. I still let him see the judge when we enter the ring. I will still ask people to stand still or give us more room when we run but a year ago I wouldn’t have thought any of it was possible. He’s also made a show friend and has a gorgeous collie Fijit to play with at the end of the day (we found morning play sessions resulted in his brain migrating to his testicles and him not listen so post work play only)
We did a thing!
A bit of a brag because I’m proud of our achievements.
Since April ’21 just 5 months of shows he has managed despite the handler nerves, environmental challenges and hormonal changes.
Two unplaced clear rounds. Two 7th, four 5th, seven 4th, four 3rd, 6 2nd and 3 1st.
In training he has achieved up to level 12 of his Canine Hoopers World Progress awards and up to level 3 of UK hoopers Hooper Star awards.
This means he has achieved enough points for his Silver Hoopers Title Award after earning his Initiate and Bronze.
What does the future hold?
Dodge was recently diagnosed with Hip dysplasia a condition that is all to common in German Shepherds we are waiting to see the Specialist at North Downs Referrals to find out if he can be maintained through fitness, massage, laser and hydrotherapy or if surgical intervention is needed. Hoopers gives Dodge both the mental and physical outlet he needs whilst reducing the risk of him chasing, twisting or jumping when off lead. At the moment I am working closely with his Physiotherapist to keep him in peak condition and with his vet to ensure he is as pain free as possible. At the shows I am very mindful of the courses, some classes we didn’t run as the barrel turns can be harder for him. But that’s what being a ‘sport dog’ handler is about. Dog first sport second always. Keep us in your thoughts as we will be doing rehabilitation exercises either post surgery or to maintain my wonderful boy. I hope that 2022 he his as physically fit as he can be and those pesky competition nerves have gone
Until the next blog stay safe, be kind, wash your hands thoroughly, keep your dogs on lead around livestock and don’t let them lick toads.
