Scott Glen is my Obi Wan Kenobi I try to train my dogs using his sage words. I will often ask my self WWKCD? What would Karen Child do? Since I have worked with her a lot, there has to have been a chance that we covered this problem or one similar to it at some point in our journey. With that conclusion I am sure she has given me a exercise or sage words for this situation already and I just need to remember them.
I think that I handle like me. I feel like I have been doing this long enough
I will say though I learn best by watching so I take any opportunity to watch folks that are better than I am. I watch their body language, timing, and style, if they do something I like and it works for me I will use it and make it may own. I will also watch folks I know make the same mistakes I do and I helps me see the dynamic of what I am doing better so I can go change it.
How do you change your handling style depending on what dogs you trial?
Z has been a huge challenge for me to change my handling style for. Previous dogs, have been VERY forward dogs that lacked a bit of feel. I spent a lot of time trying to keep them out of the "red zone" ;) They tended to be flank slicers and cut in out out runs and dogs that could do with some grinding on. Z is completely different and there are days that he frustrates the heck out of me. Sometimes it takes me a few minutes of cooling of the remind myself it is easier to change me than it is to change him. He's very effective at what he does if I handle him the way he needs to be handles :)
How do you change your handling depending on what trial you are running at?
I don't change my handling from trial to trial. At least I don't think so. I DO GO TO THE POST WITH A STRATEGY. I have a plan epsecially if I can watch a few good runs before my turn. I figure if I handle my dog and it keeps him happy, he will keep the sheep happy.
