Communication Workshop with Alistair Bray

Today we headed over to Block Fen for a communication workshop with Alistair Bray, run by Cambridgeshire Canine Centre. This focused body language, verbal control as well as the dogs conceptions of what they must do in a given scenario (Alistairs example was when a handler says left when they really mean right yet the dog does it anyway). I've not trained with Alistair before but its always good for a fresh set of eyes to make you try things differently and I certainly really enjoyed today (huge thank you Alistair and Ellen!).

I worked D and Si worked Blaze. I'm pretty sure most of our dogs exceeded our expectations in more than one exercise. We did one where there was a straight line of jumps into the tunnel but the handler had to cross behind each jump yet at the same time ensure the dog was driving forward. That kind of thing is right up Incas street but not so much D as he pays so much attention to what I am doing, however, he really surprised me. Blaze worked really well too, especially for a baby (wel..once he had done enough laps of the field, much to Sis embarrassment, lol). I do love Ds attitude towards work - he (usually) always tries his hardest to get things right. I think I was just slightly gutted I hadn't taken Pip as she would have loved today.

As I know D is really tuned into my body language. More than often enough I don't need to say anything for him to respond to me as long as I'm clear in what I want. In the same way, he responds well to verbal if I'm clear enough and give enough notice (something which I'm not so good at). I know I lack confidence in our abilities, not because I lack confidence in his, but because I lack confidence in my own abilities as a handler. I guess that's why G6 with him scares me. I've been there before (albeit in medium) so its not like I cant cope, and I don't doubt Ds ability to cope...but maybe "we" cant cope?? or maybe, as usual, I am just worrying unnecessarily. I think thats probably more the case, lol.

The next one in Feb is a Power & Speed workshop. From what Alistair said today its mostly focused on grid work - aiming for the dog to take the fastest line and to understand where to apply power without adding extra strides. Having done a fair bit of grid work with Wendy I am actually rather excited about this. I certainly remember one session where D was absolutely determined that he could bounce everything, when really he really couldn't. It could be interesting ;-)