I have been contemplating this particular question at length and yet, I still haven't found any semblance of a conclusion. Let me restate that; I haven't come to any conclusion that quenches my never-ending thirst for knowledge in regards to Agility...
Is Teaching Enough?
Three. Little. Words.
Three little words, that hold so much power in their implication.
Looking back, it has been just over seven years since I have enrolled any of my dogs in a structured Agility (or the like) class. I suppose for one reason or another (excluding the expense or travel time) there came a point that I was no longer receiving whatever it was, that I needed, to compel me to keep participating in said classes.
I'm asked on a regular basis "who" I train with, and often times people are quite surprised when I tell them that 95% of my training is done at home in my yard. The other 5% is made up of training time with friends, seminars, online classes and the occasional private lesson.
As of late, I find myself spending a great deal of time at trials discussing which instructors and seminar givers are coming to my area. I also find myself picking the brains of my friends who have worked with individuals who I haven't had an opportunity to.
There was a time that I tried going to as many seminars in the area as I could, it didn't matter who was giving the seminar. If they were within a few hours, my goal was to simply go to the seminar. The content of the seminar wasn't important, me getting myself to the seminar and actively listening to the material being presented was. More times then not I simply audited the seminars but on a few occasions I was able to snag a working spot with one of my dogs (and there was one time that I ran a dog who I had met for about five minute before I handled her.)
Although my pocket book suffered a bit, I do think this was a critical turning point in my Agility "career", and I do think I learned some very valuable lessons along the way. Lessons that I hope have made me into not only a better dog trainer and handler but most importantly a better student.
Yes, a better student.
During my streak of "Seminar-going" I was made to feel many different emotions while working with different individuals;
I have felt jubilant,
I have felt compelled,
I have felt triumphant,
I have felt challenged,
I have felt adept,
I have felt ambitious
I have felt marvelous
and on the other hand,
I have felt ignored,
I have felt nervous,
I have felt inferior,
I have felt judged,
I have felt angry,
I have felt stupid,
I have felt ill-advised,
All because of the way a single person had chosen to teach or present a certain concept to me.
By no means am I implying that any individual intended to make me feel such things, yet I can honestly say that I have felt the above emotions at one time or another while attending different seminars.
That brings up the subject once more; is teaching enough?
Every single seminar that I have been to has presented some kind of new idea, training method, handling method, theory or the like. All are presented in a similar fashion, yet when it boils down to it what separates one from another?
The teaching.
Doesn't it?
Within the last couple of years (and without even realizing I was doing it until recently) somewhere along the line I started to create a Venn diagram of the sort in my head, and have been neatly categorizing instructors and subconsciously placing them into several different categories.
A Venn what?
A Venn diagram. Like the one below.
Except mine looks just a tad different...
I'm asked on a regular basis "who" I train with, and often times people are quite surprised when I tell them that 95% of my training is done at home in my yard. The other 5% is made up of training time with friends, seminars, online classes and the occasional private lesson.
As of late, I find myself spending a great deal of time at trials discussing which instructors and seminar givers are coming to my area. I also find myself picking the brains of my friends who have worked with individuals who I haven't had an opportunity to.
There was a time that I tried going to as many seminars in the area as I could, it didn't matter who was giving the seminar. If they were within a few hours, my goal was to simply go to the seminar. The content of the seminar wasn't important, me getting myself to the seminar and actively listening to the material being presented was. More times then not I simply audited the seminars but on a few occasions I was able to snag a working spot with one of my dogs (and there was one time that I ran a dog who I had met for about five minute before I handled her.)
Although my pocket book suffered a bit, I do think this was a critical turning point in my Agility "career", and I do think I learned some very valuable lessons along the way. Lessons that I hope have made me into not only a better dog trainer and handler but most importantly a better student.
Yes, a better student.
During my streak of "Seminar-going" I was made to feel many different emotions while working with different individuals;
I have felt jubilant,
I have felt compelled,
I have felt triumphant,
I have felt challenged,
I have felt adept,
I have felt ambitious
I have felt marvelous
and on the other hand,
I have felt ignored,
I have felt nervous,
I have felt inferior,
I have felt judged,
I have felt angry,
I have felt stupid,
I have felt ill-advised,
All because of the way a single person had chosen to teach or present a certain concept to me.
By no means am I implying that any individual intended to make me feel such things, yet I can honestly say that I have felt the above emotions at one time or another while attending different seminars.
That brings up the subject once more; is teaching enough?
Every single seminar that I have been to has presented some kind of new idea, training method, handling method, theory or the like. All are presented in a similar fashion, yet when it boils down to it what separates one from another?
The teaching.
Doesn't it?
Within the last couple of years (and without even realizing I was doing it until recently) somewhere along the line I started to create a Venn diagram of the sort in my head, and have been neatly categorizing instructors and subconsciously placing them into several different categories.
A Venn what?
A Venn diagram. Like the one below.
Except mine looks just a tad different...
Kidding! (Sort of...)
In all seriousness, if I had to actually write out a Venn-diagram I suppose it would look something like so;
For my own sake (and everyone else's for that matter) I kept it simple in regards to what the categories are; competitor, instructor and coach.
What exactly do they mean?
I took a quick peak at the definitions of each and they are pretty self explanatory:
Competitor: noun /kem'peteter/ a person who takes part in an athletic competition.
Instructor: noun /in-strektor/ someone who teaches something.
Coach: noun /koCH/ An athletic trainer in control of their team.
But what do they mean to me?
Competitor: First and foremost someone who strives to not only do their best, but to BE the best. Someone who pushes themselves to the next level of competition as an athlete and a handler. These individuals are at a point in their Agility career where they thrive on the "new" challenges Agility continues to offer. This group push themselves to rise to said challenges every time they step to the line with their dog(s).
Instructor: Someone who is able to skillfully teach and present different ideas, criteria, training options and such, to another individual or group in such a manner that the information is understood and fully comprehended.
Coach: An individual who is able to emotionally and physically motivate another person and/or group enough, to not only pursue but to obtain their goals. This person strives to help others reach their full potential!
Is one better than any of the others? Absolutely not. Do I find myself drawn to certain individuals that may fall into multiple categories? Absolutely! Finding said individuals? That simply comes down to a lot of trial and error.
I have worked with an individual who is a fabulous competitor and instructor, yet they dropped the ball in the coaching category and made me feel not only stupid but ill advised. At one particular seminar, I remember feeling like a deer in the headlights while working with my dog. I also remember how I couldn't wait to walk off the course and go crawl in a hole somewhere and remain their for the remainder of the day...
On the other hand, I have worked with an individual who is an absolutely fabulous coach and an even fiercer competitor. I remember walking away from that seminar so ready to take on the Agility "world" that I could barely contain my excitement several hours later. Yet, if you asked me what mechanics and handling maneuvers were taught? I would have to think long and hard about it before consulting my handy, dandy, video camera to give you any semblance of an answer!
In a perfect world, or heck even in a perfect instructor I would love to find someone who fits neatly into the cute little pink "All" area of my Venn diagram. Does that person even exist? Maybe? Maybe not? At this point I haven't found that individual, but maybe the Agility Gods will shine down on me one day and find that individual for me...
Or, maybe that is the point?
That such a person doesn't exist?
Maybe the point is that teaching is all just a balancing act? Finding that perfect blend to act as a fulcrum so you won't tip off into the deep end from one extreme to the other?
That still poses the question; is teaching enough?
Maybe? and maybe not?
For myself,? I can honestly say I am leaning towards a "no".
For the masses? The verdict is still out on that one...
And maybe instead of questioning the importance of teaching, maybe I should run away with my balancing act to join the circus and become a lion tamer!
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