Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 4:14 pm Post subject: First training session with the display team - nervous!
So I have been invited to join the display team, however, its only me at the moment. Cadbury's not quite ready. So I am going along to learn the ropes.
(I may get there and be told I should have brought Cadbury, not sure!)
I can't believe how nervous I am! Its at 7pm, no idea how long it will last. My friend's on the team - so why am I nervous?
Thanks everyone, right to explain how I can make the team without a dog, its because the team has helpers, assistants and you invariably need a spare dog handler as people bring two along, or can't run them for some reason.
So at the moment I am a floating helper/dog handler.
Well it went very very well. I was put with one of the other helpers at first supervising the dogs going over the Dog-a-Saw, which is a combi dogwalk, seesaw thing. She explained how we were there to make sure the dogs walked over the piece safely and also to reset the equipment as some dogs aren't heavy enough to make it reset properly.
I very rapidly saw what she meant about keeping the dogs safe when a lab flew at it and had to be reminded to slow down as the equipment crashed about!
Next I was helping some Newbies to master the hoop jump on the dog walk, my main responsibility was to be at foot level and to make sure none of the dogs panicked and slipped their back feet off. Well, I knew how to do that because Cadbury is renowned for that one! As it was I only had to quickly come to the aid of one collie who lost his back right foot.
Then my trainer asked me to get two spare jumps and set them up for the Newbies to practice tandem jumping.
I did that (having a minor panic when I thought a spider had fallen on my hair in the shed!). My trainer told them what to do then turned to be and said;
"Right, Sophie, keep an eye on them, make sure they are doing the jumps right and tell them if they are not."
Hah ha! I was now IN CHARGE! I was quite pleased my trainer felt I was capable of being left to supervise the Newbies and I spent the rest of the session setting them up, telling them what they did right and what they did wrong and helping them to solve the problem. By the end I had most of them jumping in tandem (one lurcher was just throwing off the rest )
After the session my trainer was pleased with me, but said I mustn't be afraid to speak up to people when they are getting it wrong - so it sounds like I will be supervising a lot more
Oh and I have been invited to the team meal, but unfortunately it clashes with something I already have booked
Look forward to seeing you on the team soon Lacey. Its great fun, but a long night - I didn't set off for home until 9.30pm and the rest of the team were still there have a group photo done.
I love all the extra pieces of fun kit in display agility, Basil used to love the really high dog walk with hoop jumps.
I know, they are brilliant! But having been with the display team now, I can see why my trainer says Cadbury isn't quite ready. He still needs that extra bit of confidence in doing the equipment.
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I was quite pleased my trainer felt I was capable of being left to supervise the Newbies and I spent the rest of the session setting them up, telling them what they did right and what they did wrong and helping them to solve the problem. By the end I had most of them jumping in tandem (one lurcher was just throwing off the rest 
)
