Instructors Take on Success

Success is this theme for the latest Dog Agility Bloggers Action Day. Which is today! Success is broad, everyone has a different interpretation and everyone takes different successes from different situations. The Dog Agility Bloggers Action Day brings together a whole range of people to discuss one topic, and creates a huge varity of answers. The Dig It Instructors have each given their brief take on Success, as part of today's Action Day!

Ruth Turner: My idea of agility success is taking at least one thing from each run that I was pleased with, and that we did successfully, and celebrating that thing.

Audra Hurst: Success for me is when you run your dog and it flows, and you feel like you are a team and you just want to go and do another run straight away because it felt so great.

Katie Burns: Success is competing in partnership with my dog and having mutual trust in each other so smoothly.

Michelle Dakin: To work the dog I have in training at competition. 

Sarah Stokes: Depends on which dog I'm running, for Greg it's the team work as others have stated. For Ffi Fo it's having her confident to be in the ring and having er wagging her tail all the way round.

Rachel Richards: Success for me with Daisy is her having a real BLAST and ending the run with a huge smile on her face no matter what happened in between start and finish.

Lou Cadman: Success is getting the awning down dry! Arriving and having everything set up, dogs walked and dinner on before it gets dark
Beating the course/judge and doing the best run you and your dog could possibly do.
I think success changes as you progress up the grades. When you start out it might be remembering the course or dog staying in the ring. As experience is gained it might be nailing a weave entry or a specific sequence etc.

Sarah McLean: I like to be consistent, so success to me is trying to get as many clear rounds as I can! I love going home from a show saying 5 runs 5 clears :), 2013 we had 1 Elimination all season. Its not all about winning, if I feel we have run the course and stuck to criteria in my handling and also Kita has stuck to criteria then I am happy!
Oh and if you are consistent winning comes without trying.

Bex Bebbington: Success for me and Polly is having focus and having that connection walking into a ring so I know she isn't going to just run off sniffing. Even if she goes wrong or makes up a new course, success for us is just her being focused and staying with me, actually wanting to do agility. Success with me and Gemma is when she does those spot on weaves or gains some speed from nowhere. Gemma also makes me feel success after any run, and never fails to lighten my mood after a lack of interest and concentration from Polly

Read about others interpretation of Success here: http://dogagilityblogevents.wordpress.com/success/

May the Forth Be With You!

Our UKA Shows are normally the more serious of shows at Dig It (not that we ever do serious), however this show was by far the silliest we have had for a while!

It all started well with a bright, fresh start. Dark clouds were looming but the rain held off for most of the day. Chief Agility Judge Michelle opened her ring with a tricky but fair beginners Agility. Gaz and Izzy smoothly made it around the 270, pulling off from the A Frame in style, unlike Milo who didn't even think to avoid the A Frame! At least he did a beautiful 2on2off at the bottom, leaving Katie behind still near the start line.

As a few Eliminations started tumbling Rachel and Daisy stepped up to get 1st place (despite 5F) in Standard Beginners Agility and Lydia pulled off a cracking run with Freddie for a 1st in Medium Novice Agility. 

Instructor Bex was making some yummy home made treats (well the dogs seem to enjoy them, they sound quite tasty for humans too) plus a raffle and she made a whopping £85 for her biology conservation trip!

As the Steeplechase courses were set up and everyone had eaten one to many cream eggs, things started to get a little out of hand! Instead of writing about it we've captured all of the best bits in this funny video... trust it to be the Dig It Instructors larking around the most!

On a serious note we all went away with great plus points. Avril was happy to see her shy little Oakley running with such confidence (so much so he kept on going and didn't turn the corner despite Avril shouting "Stop Running!"). Adele and Luna pulled off a great Steeplechase run at their first UKA Show, Sue and Rosie won a class at Champion level and Guinness and I pulled off some nice handling moves, despite getting E'd in everything.

We finished late afternoon with everyone going home still chuckling about the fun and laughter we had. There are always lovely comments made about Dig It Shows being a nice, friendly atmosphere and I think this show was no exception!

It's going to be a good year!!

Amazing April: Winter Series Show

Ahh. April is here! Daffodils. Lambs. And the last of our Winter Series Shows!

It was a mostly dry day throughout with one or two short spells of heavy downpour. Ruth kicked things off with a fast, flowing Beginners Jumping that rocketed out some sub 30 seconds times. Over in Ring 1 Matt's Intermediate Agility tested the handlers ability and in Ring 3 the Veterans and Anysize plodded around a comfortable Agility course.

The day ran quickly, although help was surprisingly scares at times, and everyone was itching to hear the overall series results!

Gill Vann from K9 Skool was running a Rescue League throughout the Winter Series and she was busy scurrying around collecting results, while also running her dogs and doing a spot of scribing.

Onto Steeplechase and everyone cheered as Deb and Beanie managed a great clear run! 3rd place! Hurrah Deb, all of that patience is starting to pay off.

Everyone was in great spirits as the day started to come to a close and jokes and laughter were wafting across the radios from ring parties to scorers box.

The Rescue League was announced and up in 1st place, our very own Sue with Rosie! Not only that but they also took Winter Series Medium Advanced 1st place! Two very pretty rosettes for them.

More instructor success came as Lou and Poppy took 1st place in Small Advanced Winter Series and Bex and Gemma 1st place Small Intermediate Winter Series! 

Back to Dig It and both trailers were unloaded onto the field and the rings were erected for our outdoor training rings and our summer shows! It is so exciting to see the field set up in all its glory. Summer is definitely close by!

Thank you to all for making our Winter Series the enjoyable, friendly and fun atmosphere that we all love!

Remember November : Winter Series Show

The first show in November marks the start of Winter and it was a tad chillier than anticipated! We had a busy show and due to someone not being able to count (Lydia) we ended up with more entries than planned so opened up a third ring for Steeplechase.

There was cheer and laughter in the air (very loud laughter from Avril) and a number of instructor misfortunes contributed to the enjoyment. Sue never made it to the show due to her house mate leaving for Birmingham with her car keys! Then I covered myself in hot chocolate while doing the drinks run and had to lose my jumper (brr). Lastly Katie's Springer, Milo, jumped up at her and ripped a big hole in her jeans and she had to wrap a jacket around herself apron-style to hide it!

There were plenty of mishaps in the ring too! Rob and Buddy (famous from previous posts) had a cracking run until Buddy somehow mistook a jump and got stuck with his front legs on one side and back legs behind, with the pole under his armpits! He eventually managed to scramble over and didn't even knock the pole down. Lou's dog Twiggy somehow got in between the timer and the jump wing (no one quite knows how) and then her other dog Poppy had a wild run; firstly self-releasing off the seesaw and then running off the dog walk and over the finish jump, leaving Lou stood at the second to last jump waving goodbye!

However it wasn't all bad. Intermediate was definitely the busiest class this time and it's pleasing to see that a lot of dogs have moved up the grades during summer. The show still had its beginner appeal and Deb had her first run in a new place with her youngster Beanie and they did really well. Bex and Gemma got placed in every run. Katie and "baby" Milo got a 2nd on his 2nd Birthday! Sue, Avril, Lou and Sheli all got placemets with their dogs and Adele and Oliver beat Lou to 1st place for once!

We had some great judges putting together lovely courses and we all really enjoyed running Emma's Steeplechase. Rachel ran Emma's dog Tess, but half way around she realised her mum was in the ring and had to run over to say hello! Poor Steve our website designer then got bullied into scribing for Judge Emma, who happens to be his daughter.

Away from the agility everyone couldn't help but notice the new added muscle to the show in the form of a tall welshman! It was a great help having two guys at the show and Nick (Mr. New Guy) and Ash are always a welcome sight when it comes to packing away time. Even if Ash was wearing a very bright, pink hat. It clashed a bit with his ginger hair!

It was a late finish but the spirits and atmosphere were high as usual (although I think it's safe to say we all collapsed once we finally got home at 8pm)! December will be back to the plan of 2 rings and away before 6pm!

July Summer Show

Wow it was hot hot hot this weekend for our UKA and Can You Dig It Show! We certainly like extremes; heavy rain in May and a heatwave this time. Snow in September?!

Everyone made sure their dogs stayed happy and cool and we were kindly donated a kiddies paddling pool by Instructor Katie which was a great relief for the dogs to have a dip in. We also got our big shelter up to provide more shade for people and their dogs.

Rode Heath Scout Group came with their fabulous cake stall and had sold out by early afternoon and on Sunday we had the delicious Burger Van Man who we love. There were also a number of different stalls including Oscars Dog Food and Eddie the Toy Man.

The biggest success story was Jill Francome and Harry who competed at their first show and got 1st, 2nd and 3rd across the two days! Well done you guys.

Sunday was especially busy and we had to open up an overflow car park! We even had a handsome Policeman come to visit us to check that all the dogs were okay. He left with a big grin after being invited into Lydia's caravan.

Another friendly and enjoyable weekend!

Interview with Lydia Critchlow; the Brains & Brawn behind Dig It

Lydia Critchlow set up Dig It Dog Training Club in 2005.  Many people hear Lydia's name and speak to her via email but may never meet her.  Therefore we grabbed Lydia for a quick interview so you could learn more about the Brains & Brawn of Dig It! 

Q. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?

Lydia: Check my iphone.

Q. Talk us through your average day.

Lydia: Every day is completely different. An average day would involve taking the dogs for a walk, go and do my horse after a quick breakfast, maybe treat some private McTimoney clients, work at Physio-Vet for a few hours or it could be all day. In the evening I'll be checking emails, sorting paperwork for the club, maybe instructing a class, looking after my mum in the meantime. Then I always try and stop work at 10:30pm and have some down time.

Q. When did you first start training dogs?

Lydia: I grew up on a farm with working sheepdogs so I grew up training them and got involved in sheepdog trials. There's a photo of me holding one of my collies when I was about 3. But I started helping to train the dogs and training dogs myself when I was about 8. 

Q. What for you is the best thing about owning a dog?

Lydia: Cuddles on the sofa, definitely cuddles on the sofa! When you tell them what you're going to do today or when you go and kiss them goodnight, that's the best thing, and they cuddle you back! Not asking them to do anything but having them there to chat to and them being yours is the best thing.

Q. When did you know you wanted to work with dogs specifically rather than other animals or other jobs?

Lydia: I always knew I wanted to work with animals definitely, but not specifically dogs. When I was at uni a friend I lived with worked with dogs on her placement year and that was very different to how I'd grown up with working dogs that stayed outside. I fell into a career with dogs about 9 years ago when I was at NWF and I had Treacle and then Red, and I thought he was good quite at this so I best start training him properly, and then one thing led to another from there. But I do like to have time away from dogs & I'll go and help out on the farm and go be with my own horse sometimes. A happy balance is the key.

Q. Do you follow your head or your heart?

Lydia: Heart! Definitely.    

Q. What is the biggest challenge you've faced?

Lydia: Erm, answering this question, haha! I'd probably say doing my thesis for my masters, because that was hard, really hard. But then there are other challenges I've faced. Probably my thesis though as it was long term and demanding.

Q. What do you feel has been your greatest achievement?

Lydia: Setting up Dig It and Dig It being successful. Qualifying Freddie for the Olympia Semi’s in his first year competing is definitely something.  Actually the biggest thing for me is being self-employed and working for myself. Deciding what hours I want to work and when I want to work, even if that decision is to work really late. Being successfully self-employed and not struggling, having enough time to do everything. 

Q. Who's the favourite dog you've owned?

Lydia: Peaky! It has to be Teak my Kelpie. She is driven, really really driven, although sometimes for the wrong things. And she is the most cuddliest dog ever and she chats away to you while you're having nice cuddles together.

Q. If you were a breed of dog what breed would you be?

Lydia: I'd have to be a Border Collie, because I work and work and keep working. But when I crash out I really zonk out.

Q. Do you prefer sports cars or 4x4s?

Lydia: 4x4s! Because I'm about to get one! Yes!

Q. High heels or wellies?

Lydia: Wellies.

Q. Why did you decide to start offering puppy classes to people?

Lydia: Because people that came to the agility originally had young dogs and puppies coming through that they needed to do a bit of obedience with first of all, so it was really because of them.  We started off as a group of people doing agility and that increased to bigger classes. Then I went on the APDT course and that really inspired me to teach the puppies something before they even started agility.  And when I got Red I went to three different puppy classes at different places and I didn’t like all that they taught, so I though right we'll set up our own, and I want to give people what I wanted to get out of a class.

Q. Are there any famous or infamous dog trainers that you've found most inspirational?

Lydia: Gwynneth Williams. She hasn't just taught me things with Red she's taught me things with every single dog I’ll ever teach or own!! So although she is very modest and thinks she's just helping me with one dog…. I use all of the training she's given me for every single dog that I have and will have. And that's a massive asset to her. Even the things you already know she gives you a different take on things, like she uses different rewards all the time and explains things – how and why... I must have asked her hundreds of questions over the time I’ve known her. The things she says to you and what you take on board are fab.

I'd like to say Victoria Stillwell also because I've met her and she is a really nice person, but I haven't done any in-situ training with her and I think that's the situations when you get the most of out learning from another person.

Q. If you could do any job what would you do?

Lydia: Ooh I don't know, something where you're on your own, a farmer maybe. In fact I want to be a cattle rancher in Texas and ride horses all day. And work Kelpies! Actually I'd be an Australian cattle rancher and work kelpies and ride horses all day! Yes!

Q. If I gave you an elephant where would you hide it?

Lydia: In my nicker drawer!! Or my sock drawer.

Q. How did you first get involved in Agility?

Lydia: Through my friend Rena from university, who now has gun dogs and kennels at Werrrington, she had a friend that did agility at Whitchurch and Rena went with her Labrador ‘Bramble.’ Our friend Karen let me run two of her dogs and that was it! I was hooked!

Q. What is it about Agility that you love over other dog activities?

Lydia: Agility is something different every day. I know you teach the same obstacles but every course you run is totally different and I love the dynamics of it and how it changes.

Q. If you were invisible for one day what you do?

Lydia: Ooh if I only had the time to be invisible. Yeah actually I'd use it to spend some time relaxing, I'd go for a long walk, in fact I'd go to the beach and sit and watch the waves and have some chill time.

Q. Do you have a motto or saying for your dog training?

Lydia: Its actually Harper Adams' motto but its a really good one, which is "what you put into Harper, you get out of Harper" and that's really really true.  

So ‘what you put into your dog training.. you will get the same out of it!’

Q. If someone says to you "How do I become a great dog trainer?" what advice would you give to them?

Lydia: Follow your instincts about what you think is right and wrong, and don’t be spoon fed by other people. You're a responsible person and you've got a brain so use it, make your own informed decisions, don’t be shoe horned into something just because someone else said its a good idea.

Q. If you could only give one piece of advice to all dog owners what would it be?

Lydia: Think about how your dog's feeling and responding to things. Consider how your dog feels about things, anything, walking, on a lead, being stroked, being looked at, being left alone, everything. Really think about how your dog feels when its in certain situations and decide what to do.

 To read more about Lydia and other Instructors check out the Meet The Instructors page of our website:  http://www.digitdogs.co.uk/about-us/instructors/