AgilityNerd • 13 years ago
Michele - I, and most instructors I've trained with, will almost never demo with their own dog. Mostly because it takes time to get the dog, warm them up a little, get in position and show the handling a couple times. I'm also not sure students really see the difference between what I'd show and what they are doing themselves. So much of handling is the handler gaining "situational awareness" of where they are relative to the obstacles, relative to their dog, and then body awareness of how they are moving/positioned.
So I'd rather break the skill down into its parts and have the student and dog progress through the parts until they've built up the skill.
If it is a timing/handler position issue I can show them on the course: when your dog is here (put a cone in that spot or make a mark in the dirt) I'd like you to be here (where we are standing) and you should be facing X and arms/shoulders Y, and you'll see your dog over your shoulder, or whatever... So then they have concrete landmarks to compare with their actual handling when they try it again with their dog.
As an instructor you can then give the handler feedback in relation to the ideal position(s) you showed them. e.g. you weren't far enough ahead; you need to turn in to your dog sooner etc. I guess you could say this approach is TAGteach lite :^)
I guess my students believe that what I'm asking them to do is possible so I don't get much push back when I challenge them to do something they initially think isn't possible. :^)
Hope this helps...
I was reviewing this thoughtful post again, and a year later I have another question. What say ye to the instructor having a demo dog, i.e., taking the first turn to show students how something is supposed to look. Some students in our club's classes resent the instructor "stealing their valuable class time training their own dog". I for one, really appreciate seeing what I should be striving for, and that it is doable. As an instructor myself, I wouldn't know how to teach without being able to demonstrate the procedure. Is there a customary policy most instructors follow?