I totally get why it’s hard to be agility motivated right now.
No competitions. Not even the sniff of one. Formal training has been disrupted for months – and lots of people have nothing but a postage stamp of a back garden to do any practice in.
On top of that, mentally it’s been tough. Lots of people have struggled – financially, emotionally. Who wouldn’t feel a bit anxious during this time?
But. The big but is that now is probably a more important time than ever to train. This is an unprecedented period of time without competitions. And while competitions are fun, and are what keep a lot of people fired up, there’s a massive bonus to the lack of them.
Because you cannot undo any behaviours you are teaching right now by going in the ring.
That running contact hit you got that wasn’t quite what you wanted... you can do it again. That loose turn you got when you asked for collection... you don’t have to let it go. You can add these things to your list of stuff to proof. And you have time to do that, before you get back near a show.
The champions of 2021 are training now. They’re keeping their dogs agility fit. They’re working on new behaviours. They’re becoming better handlers.
You have a choice, every day.
Competitions will come back. You can achieve beyond your wildest dreams if. If. You put the work in now. You put the time in. You make the effort to get the resources you need. They are out there!
There is a heap of online training, including on here. You can have 121s with me every week if you want! There are fields to rent. There are parks that are open, where you can take a few jumps. There are fully kitted out venues to hire.
Don’t wait till you’re wishing you’d put the effort in. Do it now. Don’t ask yourself if you want to. Do it anyway, and ask later. Ask yourself when you’re heading out on to the startline at a competition in 2021. How does it feel to be that prepared? To know your dog is that fit? That well trained? You did it!
