Why did I ever think
I went in early as planned and asked one of the instructors if she thought that Simon was good enough for the fall class. She kind of hedged at the question and told me it was up to Joanne, the person who does the testing. Then class started and I didn't get a chance to ask Sue F, the other instructor. A few minutes after class started, in walks Joanne  , sits down and watches  . I was a total mess. I sat with Simon, waiting our turn and told him I guess this is "IT". I had a quiet conversation with him, told him to be good, watch me, and ace those weaves. Well, of course he popped out of the weaves...twice. I was told to loosen up a little. Third time through the weaves and with a little hip check he made it through. I was sweating bullets.After a half hour we switch sides and then we are working with Sue F. This women should have been a drill instructor. She is tough and she yells and she makes you do it until perfect. She is the reason we have come as far as we have. I was so stressed out I even made a smartass comment to her. I did get a chance to ask her if she thought that Simon was good enough for the fall class and her answer was YES...one simple little word, and it meant everything to me. After class I talked to Joanne and we discussed how "IT" went. She said that Simon did pop out but she thought it was my fault, that I was a little tight(oh ya think). The long and short of it is that SIMON AND I ARE IN THE FALL CLASS...on a trial basis. Here I thought I was sweating bullets before. If I handle this like a crazed person how the heck will I handle being before a judge? I need a drink.... |
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Congrats on getting in the fall class!  Cindy |
| Oh Pam, congrats!!! And no judge is really like Sue is when she is instructing  Why do you think I always schedule a lesson w/ her when we are in town??? It makes my vacation!!  |
| Congratulations! As for how you would handle the pressure of being judged, I guess that that is part of the learning process. I bet the more experienced agility folks were buckets of nerves when they first started competing, too. I know that when David did Mady's first herding competition, I nearly had a stroke on the sidelines I was so nervous. And I was just watching!! |
 Kim - I find it much more stressful to watch other competitors whose success I care about on a personal level. I'd rather be running myself - less nerveracking  Having said that, I used to be really nervous competing. Then I started training with Sue who is everything Dawn and Pam say - intimidating! In some regards. Till you get to know her. Also the best instructor I've ever had, no contest. But being in her classes made me nervous as hell the first year, probably. After that, normal competition seems like NOTHING in comparison And don't get me wrong - Sue's not mean-spirited (well, at least not as long as you're trying and as long as she doesn't think you're not being nice to your dog) but she is incredibly DEMANDING. She doesn't let you get away with less than your best effort the way many instructors will. Or sort of "excuse" the breed for you not being that <fill in the blank> so really this is probably the best you can expect unless you get a "real" dog. Not Sue. If she sees you can do more, she pushes you to get there. She's always pushing the boundaries. Got through that sequence clean? Go back and do this part again - you can do it better! And you can and you do. My classes with her are easily the highlight of my week. The instructor Pam has been having problems convincing that she and Simon are advanced enough is a very different style instructor. Ironically, though I like her very much as a person, I once asked to be transferred out of one of her class. I actually walked out mid-class in frustration once. She and I are both good with the fact that we are not a good instructor-student match: Different people learn in different ways. Some people would rather eat nails than endure Sue's teaching methods , their personalities can't handle it. That's OK too.Most importantly: YAY PAM & SIMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Kristine |
Ha, reminds me of our recent herding workshop and trial. The instructor was unbelievably tough as nails and had an incredibly caustic wit. I made a complete fool of myself so many times during the workshop, I am convinced she thinks I'm a blithering idiot, I was the butt of many of her biting cracks. This woman was like the ultimate old-school rancher from Montana or something (though she has a farm in southern Ontario), in comparison she would make the Marlboro man or (the Good, Bad, and the Ugly) Clint Eastwood seem like urban fops. And she obviously has a telekinetic link with all animals, dogs and sheep included. So after 2 days of providing comic fodder for her and the spectators, I had to do a trial judged by her???  It went really well, she was great, and she came around to really appreciating Mady (she wrote "Good Man, GREAT Dog!" on her judge sheet )Congratulations on making the fall class! You will do well, Simon will do great! |
Congrats! How exciting.  |
congratulations  Lisa Frankie and Mattie |
congrats!!!  |
Congrats! Now take 3 deep breaths & go in there & enjoy your dog (sayeth the one who still gets sick to her stomach before every obedience trial and conformation ring time after 14 years of competing  ) |
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