(VICT) Re: Tamara- Progress
- From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 11:09:31 -0700
Karyn,
Thanks! I've been scurrying around, putting off list reading until I =
get my
work caught up. And you're absolutely right. There was a really trying
week or so when it seemed I couldn't do anything right for more than 10
seconds at a time while we expanded beyond our comfort zone. Mitzi was
great, but I felt like a brainless clod blundering along beside her. We =
had
some, er, advanced learning opportunities; and despite all the mental =
prep
I've been doing over the months, I felt completely clueless, copeless =
and
befuddled (confugled, as a friend of mine once described the feeling). =
And
the self-debriefing after those, er, lessons was especially enjoyable...
Not!
Then the growing pains eased up, and I could see the results of the =
growth
spurt. Wow! Now, that's what it's all about. I *feel* in sync with =
her,
and I *feel* oriented, even. Sometimes I still need to remind myself to
make the mental adjustment from watchful trainer to trusting handler, =
but
it's getting easier and easier. That old song "Hooked on a Feeling" has
been running through my head every time I go for a walk. /lol/ It is
pretty addictive.
And Mitzi! Watching it all come together in her -- not only as I =
predicted
but far better -- is an extreme high. She is such a fantastic =
individual.
And I must say it is awfully validating to see that decisions I started
making more than 16 months ago have produced the desired result. I near
myself saying, "See! I told you so!" in my head to a long list of
naysayers. Including myself! /lol/ I've never doubted her, but I've =
done
plenty of second guessing of myself. I see it as an important part of =
being
a trainer, but I'm having some fun sticking out my tongue at my inner =
critic
and saying "Neener neener." My dog may be nearly a grownup, but I'm =
not.
She's also gotten her game face! I was beginning to despair that I =
would
ever be able to go anywhere in peace with her curly adorableness and
come-hither grin and melting almond eyes. I'm pretty sure the grin was =
not
meant to be come-hither, but people clearly read it as irresistably
flirtatious. These days she's all business, though, and I've been told =
she
now has a definite "back off" stare. People talk to me now, instead of =
her.
They're usually talking to me about her, but it's an improvement.
Reading your progress reports on Thane is a real joy. Different dog,
different human situation, but it all seems very familiar, only with a =
BC
flavor. /smile/ I still don't "get" poodles but have learned to enjoy
being mystified and enchanted by the strangeness.
Tami Smith-Kinney
-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Karyn and
Thane
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:50 AM
To: Vi-clicker
Subject: (VICT) Tamara- Progress
Tamara I was reading your post that shared how much Mitsy has grown up. =
It=20
was really neat to see that and I could feel the excitement in it from =
your=20
standpoint.
It is so interesting how both Thane and Mitsy improved on LLW/ Heeling =
when=20
they were given the opportunity to be casual when they could and not=20
required to be all prim and proper all of the time.
The month before losing Met, our walks became just that- casual walks =
where=20
I used the guide cane and Met sniffed out the world and just was all =
laid=20
back. When I saw what it did for him, I promised myself that my =
successor=20
would always have a leisure time or place to just be a dog and not ahve =
to=20
be constantly on top of my needs. His need to let his hair down so to =
speak,
would be just as important. The difference since I remembered this and =
began
doing it ahs been awesome in Thane's training just as it appears it has =
been
in Mitsy's ability to work for you.
I think the fact that you are seeing all these positives, all the things =
that help Mitsy improve as a guide show that you are a good handler. You =
may
still need the time to feel in sinc with her movements and to follow her =
precision, but you are doing a great job.
Cyber chocolates for you...
I know being a good handler and feeling like yo uare a good handler are =
two=20
very different things as well. Everyone told me I was a good handler =
with=20
Met, but honestly it took a long time for me to get past the *knowing* =
part=20
and into the *feeling* part where Met and I really danced together as a=20
team. I'm not really sure when it happened precisely. But when it did it =
was
like music.
With Thane, I know I am a good trainer- I feel it, but as a handler I am =
not
past that know into the feel spot just yet.
It too wil lcome with more practice and experience. The more you work=20
together and trust your dog, the better things will flow together and =
you=20
will feel like one unit working together.
Karyn and Thane (GDIT, HDIT)
http://www.pawsitively-k9.com
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