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Training Partner!


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So I just bared my soul on the "Goals for 2012" forum, and I decided it's time to own up to my own short comings!!!

Being new to dog sports and showing I've found it really intimidating starting out. Regardless of how nice everyone is, I still feel like my complete ignorance makes me stick out like ... well... dogs balls!

So I thought I'd start a space to see if many others feel the same and if anyone (experienced or none) would be interested in being a dog training buddy, to keep me accountable and motivated.

Don't know if this will get off the ground but if not at least I tried. :)

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I think it's a great idea too :thumbsup:

I had a 'real-life' training partner but she's moved to Newcastle this year so I'm training on my own. I'm thinking of going to the local obedience club just for the ring run-outs, but that's not the same :(

Dog training buddy's are great to keep the motivation up - especially those times when you think you've hit a brick wall.

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Training with others definitely is required for motivation! I don't have a training partner as such, but I do meet up with some others to train with even if we do our own thing. Just having others nearby is good for the motivation. Hope you find someone!

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I have a training buddy for my tracking but not for obedience though a group of us meet up one night a week to do our own thing in the same place. If you were closer to I'd invite you along but Victoria is a bit of a commute :laugh:

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Oh wow! Thanks all :)

I'll reply to your PM tonight Dyzney. Haha Kath, maybe if I had my own private Jet... rofl1.gif

Well maybe it's worth me editing my first post to make this thread more communal? As it seems I'm not the only one looking for someone to keep me motivated and train with.

I think Talien's point is really valid as well, that often you don't know which direction is best for your dog or even if you think you do you might be on the wrong track (as I think is being discussed in another training thread) a second or third pair of eyes with you training is a nice way to train as they can pick up the things that you miss. As is the way with horses, its nice to ride with a friend who can watch you and tell you where your going wrong when you can't actually see it yourself.

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Sounds like a really good idea :) I don't have training buddies as such but I've met so many doggie people just through getting my dogs out and about that I have a fair few people to train/socialise with! There is a group of dogs and their owners who walk through the local reserve each morning, I found them just by wandering. I went to obedience classes with my girl from the time she was a puppy, went through the levels, started trialling, and now we have a "triallers group" which is a mixture of newbies and more experienced, and we all help each other. I also instruct classes now and I really love teaching people with aspirations to trial! I've even met good friends at dog parks. Good luck!

Edit: Just thought I'd add that I did find it really hard at first!!! I felt like you, like I didn't really "fit in" as I had no idea what I was doing. I researched a lot on my own, printed out and read the rules, looked on Youtube, went to a few trials, talked to lots of people, read the training threads on DOL. I found that there was almost a bump I had to get over which was when we were almost ready to enter our first CCD trial and once we entered everything became easier (and everyone became very welcoming all of a sudden).

Edited by wuffles
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I'm lucky that I can train with my partner looking on & he can often pick up things I am doing wrong, that I don't notice. Sometimes he takes videos for me to watch. He doesn't trial the dogs but he is 100% interested in what I do & comes along to all my trials & club training on Monday nights. I call him, my "agility assistance spouse" or AAS :laugh: I am very lucky to have him :thumbsup:

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I think I must be spoil I have 2 training partners :D

my OH who has not trained dogs for about 15yrs, & is now getting back into it, he been to a few trials with us & found other trialers to be friendly & he enjoys himself, to the point he has decided his new pup will be doing trials :laugh: dont know the breed yet :laugh:

my other training partner is from the club I am with, she is trialing her shelties, she is doing higher classes than us so this is great with her help :laugh:

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I wouldn't say that you need someone close by - though it's a big benefit.

My training partners are 2 hours away, we rarely get together to train however we're only ever at the end of an email for training discussions, motivation, stupid questions :o and critiquing youtubes if that's what you're after.

I would love to have someone on my doorstep but realistically I don't, that's what happens when you live in the dog training backwater of Western Vic. ;) But finding people who you click with is more important to me as a "training partner" than finding someone close. :thumbsup:

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I am an experienced obedience person and I have some terrific training buddies who keep me motivated and continually pull me out of the hole I have dug myself (thank you girls, you know who you are) thumbsup1.gif

These same people sympathetically listen to me whinging about the stoopid things I have done at a previous training session, nodding at the appropriate time, which makes me feel soooooo much better wink.gif

They have also clipped me over the ear when I have got frustrated or expected too much of my dog.

I think I can safely say the shoe has been on the other foot and I have been able to offer them the same advice, the sympathetic nod and the clip over the ear whenever they have needed it. We are a happy group of positive trainers and I wouldn't want it any other way.

As for help and advice - I am time poor, but I have always tried to help when I can, not the time wasters, but the people who want to improve and are prepared to put the time and effort in. I am sure some of you are reading this and nodding biggrin.gif

and if all else fails........I email the guru with the subject heading of......HELP rofl1.gif

Edited by Ptolomy
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I am certainly very grateful for all the Ptolomy help I have received :thumbsup:. I am pretty sure she is most (ok ALL) of the reason I became so thoroughly addicted :o. I would never have got to the stage I have without all of her help. Thanks mate - you were always at the other end of my HELP emails when I was running into problems and without you walking me through the UD exercises step by step while I was teaching Ness I wouldn't have half the knowledge I have now :thumbsup:.

You have certainly helped me more then I can ever repay. I am pretty sure she is in part responsible for me getting my second dog as well :rofl:.

Edited by ness
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I think I can safely say the shoe has been on the other foot and I have been able to offer them the same advice, the sympathetic nod and the clip over the ear whenever they have needed it. We are a happy group of positive trainers and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Having been clipped many a time, I now wear a helmet to Sunday training :eek:

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oh you poor thing Caffy :( yes I have coped a few clippings too but it has helped I must admit :D

I do have a friend who is trialing too, but finds it a little hard to go to training sometimes due to her work :( she lives 21/2 hrs drive from me otherwise I could kick her in the ##@@@ & train with her when she is free to train :D

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Gosh, I live in the inner suburbs and can't find very many people who are at all interested in training. The local obedience club was far too inconsistent, and Tarja found paddock-bashing for an hour with them boring. Oh yes, there was the severe kennel cough she picked up there, too :mad There doesn't seem to be anyone who actually trains in the local park, everyone just lets their dogs have a run as far as I can tell.

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I would love love love a training buddy!! I don't find motivation the issue, more just having some eyes to really see where i'm going wrong would help!! and find it even harder that I don't really have a club to go to to practice either!! I'm thinking of starting again next year with a club or their trial ring runout nights, so hopefully that will help - so anyone around the Bris area, i'd love a training buddy!! :D

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