EDIT: In addition to being the worst dog handler in the world, I am apparently also still clueless on properly auto-scheduling my posts. Working on it!
It’s been raining all day, and it’s cold and dreary out. The yard isn’t providing a very inviting place to practice obedience with Freya, so I decided to read up on the rules and prepare myself for our stated goal of Freya’s Rally Obedience titles.
It sounds simple enough on paper. All of the exercises are things that Freya already knows from going to group classes for most of her life. She will be handicapped by having the worst dog handler in the world (me) on the other end of the leash.
I really enjoy working with the dogs. I am also not very good at it. I’m not too bad at reading a dog, but my timing for rewards and corrections is not very good. My reaction time is mediocre in general: I wasn’t any good at drag racing either. I almost tripped over my own dog at a big Rottweiler specialty. It was definitely my fault. Judge said “forward” and dog went forward, but I almost went left. I have not been in an obedience ring since then. Oh, yes… I was on a trial field, which isn’t technically a ring. Same dog, similar disastrous results. Her fault that time for getting up from the long down.
So I am trying to visualize a perfect performance. They say it helps. When it stops raining, I will get back to reality and visualize (and by that, I mean stumble through) our actual performance. I only hope Freya doesn’t love the sound of laughter from outside the ring the way that Heidi did, or we truly are doomed!