some advice needed

[Magz]

Hey folks, I am not feeling very confident at the puppy class, I am great in the house or at the walks but finding it hard in front of everyone at the class, I can hide it well, but tonight I just feel rubbish. I desperately don't want this to come across to Kiera as I know she will sense my apprehension. anyone any tips?

[John Thomson]

Hi Margaret,

I'll help in any way I can.........where is the confidence lacking? Is it Kiera and her abilities? Do you feel she is lacking in any way? or do you feel self conscious in a class situation?
From my own experience over the last 25 year plus I have always felt that every other dog in every class I have ever attended was great compared to mine

You have been great for Kiera and should be congratulating yourself for that! Look at how confident she is for such a young puppy. Marcella has said how well she has done this week int he company of the 4 GSD's
_________________
John Thomson
www.cumbernaulddogtraining.co.uk

[Magz]

its standing up in front of everyone else and this is from a girl who did youth theater and was able do act in front of big audiences, but I get easily embarrassed, strange and I feel bad as I know Kiera is a baby and only new to the class situation and I dont want to let her down, feel out of my comfort zone.

[John Thomson]

Margaret,

what I do is act...I become a different person when I take the floor as an instructor.

At our class you would be on the floor with just over 20 puppies and handlers....at no point are you asked to do anything on your own.........we work as one large group.

Pop up on Tuesday to watch.....join in if you wish.....you do not have to wait until puppy school is over to start in Cumbernauld Dog Training....we are a friendly bunch Lot of faces and dogs you would recognise from the forum and walks.
_________________
John Thomson
www.cumbernaulddogtraining.co.uk

[Eleanor]

Margaret

Both you and Kiera did well tonight, in the house she has no distractions and is the perfect BC puppy (and you have no audience)

but this is her first week in a class situation surrounded by puppies she doesn't know and humans she doesn't know yet either

I don't have a 7pm class next week so if you would like come along to the hall about 7.45pm we can do some 1:1 training before the others arrive at 8.15pm

How you are feeling tonight is natural as you have been put in a position which is unnatural to you, but don't beat yourself up, you guys did really well - we can work on this , and believe me we have all been there (I know as Bracken was not an easy puppy to train, he gets over excited if I touch him,to the point that he becomes just silly and I can't do a thing with him and I used to wish the floor would just open up - so your not alone

Let me know what you think about next week

Eleanor

[Magz]

might just come and have a watch I don't know where this all is coming from but its not like me as I said, would be nice to see folk I already know training see how they do it. I feel like a blooming child again, no doubt I will settle in but I don't feel 100% tonight that and the fact I had to send William home as he was feeling sick
OK I will shut up now

[Magz]

[kirsty]

Margaret,

your pup is just great, she was coming back to you when you called her on the lunchtime walk the other day. She was completely confident in the middle of the bigger dogs. In fact I think she was more responsive to you than my two were to me.

I can identify with your lack of confidence. My first night back at class I took Dodge into the beginners class and John sent me out telling me to come back to the intermediate class. I just felt I would let everyone down and if I'm being honest, I was more worried about my performance than Dodge's and as usual he didn't let me down, I kinda let him down as I could'nt show him how to do a finish. But hey, how good are we all doing -YOU TOO- we are giving these dogs loving homes and actually taking the time to try and train and socialise them - give yourself a pat on the back girl. Some folks don't even try and people like yourself end up rescuing them.

Everyone at our training class is soooooo supportive - it will be ok

[Magz]

cheers Kirsty, Maybe its the non rescue factor, she will only ever have me to blame for her behavior, I might be trying too hard don't want to give myself a showing up, she is my first pup ever to be non rescue straight from its parents since Benji but it was a real family affair, I was aided tonight by my mum so hopefully she will come back with me next week as my safety blanket

[kirsty]

Margaret,

Honestly you don't need a safety blanked - you will be fine.

John was always telling me that I looked really nervous when I took dodge onto the floor - that I looked terrified and I was, but as soon as you get her going and she does a few good moves you will feel great. And she will cause she's such a smart little cookie.

Now that Dodge is behaving so well, I feel really confident with him, but it is just the chicken and the egg syndrome - you will worry until she starts getting it right, but you will hamper her getting it right if she picks up on your tension. Think Ceasar! head up! chest out! shoulders back and just go girl

[Magz]

Well I have slept on it realize how daft I sound Think its cause I am under so much stress just now elsewhere that perhaps last night things came to a head. At least I have my walks and doggies to keep me grounded decided that doing things out of the house should be making me feel better not worse. going to change it round to thats my time where everything else should disappear and just focus on fun with Kiera. And she is a fantastic dog that learns quick. soo proud of her. I

[Karen]

Margaret just remember that everyone else is in same boat, you will have good nights and bad nights at training, some nights everything comes together then next week back to square one but hey thats life, we are all busy trying to get it right ourselves to really notice what each other is doing, and with all this socialising you are giving your pup the best start okey dokey good luck.....

have fun

[marcella]

Morning Margaret!
Firstly you don't sound daft ............ not in the slightest. I can understand how you feel. Some people have no qualms about 'perfoming' in front of others and some people for them it's the end of the world and they'd rather run away! I used to be like that. I'd do anything to avoid people looking at me......... but you know what, they're not looking at you at all. People simply aren't that interested! So now I don't worry as much. But being in your 'comfort zone' does help. If it is of any encouragement you're not really out of your comfort zone there ...... you are with your puppy who you love to bits and is a fantastic wee dog! I have been walking with you and Kiera now for a couple of weeks and meet you most days. She is a happy confident puppy and does so well for one so young. So that alone gives you a good headstart.

Another tip I once heard to get over your fear of speaking/performing/whatever in front of people is to imagine everyone there looking at you is completely naked! (Sorry El ) That way anytime you look at anyone you're bound to laugh or smile!!!!!!

[Suzanne H]

Every puppy has something they learn easily and other things they need more work with. I get embarassed when Otto would rather play than listen to a word I say, but I know that he is improving.

But certainly at our class, everyone learns from watching the other puppies and no one judges. Everyone knows puppies are just puppies and are still learning. As are we!

Ian would rather stick pins in his eyes than "perform" in front of people but he's got used to it and does it for the dog.

[Janice]

Margaret I think you're doing really well with Keira. I wonder if everyone thinks they're the world's worst.
I'm only just beginning to feel more confidant with Dale. He's not my first collie and he's very bright so I think I expected things to go more smoothly and felt I must be doing it all wrong. I was really worried that I'd ruin him. It took ages for me to get him to come to me in the house. He just hid in corners and savaged me every time I tried to handle him.
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Janice and Dale