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This may be a red herring, not sure, but it seems to me that when I visualize too many times it can actually get in the way of my connection with my dog. I inadvertently act out the movie rather than actually responding to my dog moment to moment. Does this happen to anyone else? It particularly happens when I am late in the running order and have “too much time on my hands.” I don’t want to get distracted by thinking of other things, so I keep visualizing and rehearsing the course until perhaps it becomes TOO automatic. What to do in these situations?
It’s a little unclear to me what’s going on with your routine, but it’s possible to be too rigid. Instead of just running through a perfect version of the course in your head, also visualize scenarios where you need to make adjustments—what if your dog gets ahead of you and you suddenly have to rear cross instead of blind cross? ideally, you’ve walked through both scenarios and in your visualization, you can run it both ways. I try not do this more than one spot in a course, maximum two spots. You can also do this for training purposes, visualizing what you’ll do if the dog misses the last weave pole, for example.
Depending on your dog, they may need more or less of your attention than other dogs. Once I start the leash routine, I don’t rehears the course, I get ready to run. I may take a last look at the opening as I lead out though. In those last few minutes before running, shift your focus from the course to your dog. Think about how they’re feeling, their energy level, and how you will respond to them in the moment, rather than just running the same script in your head.
Please let me know if this answers your question!
Thanks, Esteban. Perhaps my visualization has too much anxiety laden within it? I used to have lots of trouble memorizing the courses, and it has taken me awhile to trust that I actually have that skill now. I used to feel panic about it, and that panic of course interfered with my connection with my dog. But perhaps there is still left over anxiety in my visualization that makes it more rigid and less adaptable to changing circumstances. Perhaps I am more concerned now about the memorization of not only the course but of all my cues, etc. I’ll try working with that and see if it helps.
It’s certainly possible–please let me know how it goes!
I can visualize running the course, but when something goes wrong during the run it all seems to go out the window.
Depending on how badly things go wrong, you can usually bring the dog to a point where you can recall the rest of the course, and start fresh from that point.
Wow 10-12 visualizations/60-90 sec! Impressive. I’m at 5, but mentally exhausted, need to work at this.
Like most skills, you’ll get better with practice!
When I know my young dog will be running too fast for me and more focused on obstacles than on me, should I try to visualize the run as I would like it to be or as it will be until / if / when I can ever train something else?
In general, as it will be. However, you must be very careful not to use incorrect handling in practice or trials to compensate for anticipated errors. For example, some people will over-rotate on rear crosses so their dog will not refuse a jump, when instead they should drive the diagonal line and if the dog refuses, continue to work on this at home. But the dog needs to see the correct cue. So your timing and execution should be done correctly. But you can anticipate problems. For example, you see a tunnel off course during your walk and know your dog may take the off course even with perfect handling from you, so you can anticipate the mistake and think how you want to continue on the course, should you call him to you or let him take an extra obstacle, etc.