Body Language

I have been in the agility world for over two years now, and owned my first dog for two and a half years. I have learned and am learning still, the skill of reading body language. I often have a lot of other people asking me how I can tell that they are aggitated when others can't tell in the slightest. I have started to use animal body language with people... of course it typically gives them NO sense what I am trying to tell them, the other day, for example, I was in a mall, and I was sitting on a bench that had four cushions on it. I was sitting there, waiting for my mom who was in a store, and there was no one else sitting on it with me, Suddenly a random stranger came and sat down next to me, when I say next to me, I mean RIGHT next to me. then she picked up her phone and started talking on it, all the while leaning closer to me. First, I tried looking away, I looked completely in the other direction, I moved as far a I could to the arm rest, I yawned, licked my lips... then realized that that has no meaning AT ALL for people. So I stood up and quickly hurried away, and the woman stared at me like I was crazy, but I kept scurrying along the hall. Even in school, when I feel challenged or threatened by someone, I will do that same thing, slowly lick my lips, at first I will hold eye contact, and challenge them back, but as soon as I feel that having no effect, I look away. You know how dogs look away like that, turn thier heads away, but still look at you out the corner of thier eyes, yeah, that's what I do... Basically, I learned all these things from training Shiloh and having to learn to read those little body signals, even in people. Anyways... I suck at concluding...

Disregarded Juniors...

I was at a Funmatch with Shiloh this weekend, and some friends of mine and I were talking about how disregarded junior handlers are. My friend from Kelowna said that many places there don't even take handlers under sixteen. Now, I do understand that some places do this because of kid reactive dogs, but what about the ones that are reactive to men? Women? What places are going to ban certain genders. What about dogs who hate muscular men? Or Long-haired women? Places where I live do that too! I was so ahppy to have been able to find a place accepting juniors first try. It bothers me that no one realizes that WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION!! Most of the older people want to have an agility future... right? You want to continue more trials, try out new clubs. Seriously then, GET WITH IT! If you don't start training juniors now, when will it happen? People that just don't want to work with younger teens are really missing out. I'm sorry to say, but juniors pick up on this stuff faster, and better than adults do. It melds into our brains better than with say, forty to fifty year olds taking in their eight year old dogs that are overweight, and unhealthy. Not saying that they can't learn, but you are more likely to get a better outcome with a group of teens with 2 year old dogs in great shape, and they have a work ethic, and want to do it. Generally this is because most parents aren't saying "Oh! You should start dog agility! It would be way better than playing comunity soccer when I only have to pay for a pair of cleats and shin pads!! Because when you do agility, you know, you have to pay over a hundred dollars (generally) every 6 to 8 weeks, AND about a hundred dollars or more whenever you trial!" The kids that start agility usually WANT to do it, and so they will listen, and they'll be committed. Bottom line is, people NEED to start training juniors, don't force them into it, because they aren't going to want to do it if you do. But lots of kids would LOVE to do it if they got the chance. So that is my take on things! People just donn't realize how important it is to let juniors get involved!

Me, Myself... and Other Things About... Me

 

Shiloh

My horse, Buck

So, this is my first blog post, so I figure I could just tell a bit about myself. I am Canadian, and I'm proud of it :) I am a junior handler in dog agility, in which I train my dog, Shiloh in. Shiloh is a hard-headed, loving, Husky mix. She is my first dog, and first agility dog, and she has taught me a lot about life in the two years I have owned and trained her. I have learned a lot about loss and love since meeting her. She has taught me to show my best side in the worst of times, she has taught me to be brave, and most of all, she has taught me the power of patience. You see, I am a red-head, and I have three older brothers, two of which are Gingers. My one brother and I are very stubborn, and we both have a VERY short temper, so we don't always get along very well. As we grow older, it gets better, but we still have issues from time to time. But my temper used to be so short, I would explode with anger the moment anyone said something that I didn't like. Since I have started working with Shiloh, I have learned to hold myself back, and relax. I have learned to see both sides of the story and have a little patience. So many people I know think it is so insane that I can put up with Shiloh, but I love her, and I love what I do, so I stick with it. Still, I have more patience with animals than I do with people, but I have some certain talent that many don't have, to connect with animals. I like to think I can communicate with them in a way most can't. But through Shiloh I have learned that communicating with animals is all about body language. I ride horses too, not regularly per say, but I have one at my grandpa's farm, and I can read him so well it sin't even funny. What I am getting at here is that I think I can get along with, and have more patience for animals because I can communicate better with them, but with humans I get frustrated when they don't know what I am trying to tell them with certain body signals that they don't usually pick up on, and that I no longer realize I'm using, but animals do. Some think I'm just some crazy girl that is overly-obsessed with dogs and horses, and whatever other animal I obsessively talk about, but I say I have a gift that they can choose to appreciate, or they can ignore it. I have been bullied about dog training, but that makes me want to work harder to achieve greatness and prove people wrong. I have been told too many times to give up on Shiloh, but that is why I love my instructor. Many people disagree with her ways, but what they don't realize is that she means everything to me, I KNOW I could not have gotten to where I am without her. I would not be the handler I am, I wouldn't have the confidence I have. She believes in Shiloh and I when so many think I should just leave Shiloh and get a different dog. I have so much respect for my instructor because she respects me. She helps me when I need it. People don't realize what an amazing handler, and trainer she is. She is tough sure, but that is because she believes that her students can achieve greatness. She doesn't beat around the bush, she gives it to me straight, she doesn't just tell me to get up when I fall, she tells me to get off my ass, and try harder next time, because seriously, that is what I need! Too many people beat around the bush, but my instructor tells me what I need to know, and I know that had I started with almost anyone else I wouldn't have gotten here. Anyways, enough of me ranting about how people don't understand how much I love who I learn from... and Hope you have fun reading my blog :) Check me out on Youtube, annidog11 :D