In the Mood

We all have bad days.  The trick is learning how to make good
ones.

As an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, I always begin an evaluation by explaining to test takers that any test is reflective only of that moment in which the test is taken.  In education terms, it is considered a “snapshot,” a moment captured, and just like a photograph, it doesn’t show hours of practice, good days and bad, or even the whole day.  It just shows, in the case of the CGC evaluation, how well dog and trainer complete the ten items in roughly fifteen minutes, but competitions, such as agility, rally, obedience, or K-9 Nosework trials, should be considered the same way.  The failure to perform at expected levels does not necessarily mean the dog or the handler are incapable or lacking skill. Sometimes health is an issue.  Sometimes our dogs are over stressed.   Then again, sometimes one of the participants just isn’t “in the mood” for the event.   Any number of factors can be at play, and since our dogs can’t explain their reasons, it’s up to us to reflect and analyze the situation.

The first thing we all consider is, did we train enough for the occasion?  Did we give the proper cues and did the dog fully understand the cues at the given moment?  Sometimes, because we’re anxious, we muddle our cues by either broadening or making them more subtle (motion cues v. verbal cues, large motion v. small gestures, etc.).  When we alter our cues, particularly if we’re in a new location (a show ring rather than in the living room, for example), our dogs can get confused or become unsure.   Because dogs are poor at generalization, too many mitigating factors can create a different picture for them altogether, making them draw a complete blank.  That’s why it’s important to train in a variety of places and under a variety of circumstances.   Once we’re sure that our dogs know and understand the cues we’re giving, we can look at other matters.

As mentioned, new environments can be distracting.  To asses safety, dogs gather information through scent, sight, and sound, especially dogs that don’t travel much and nervous dogs.   Allowing time for exploration can help a dog become more relaxed.  If possible, take the dog to the evaluation area a few times before the event, creating calm and positive associations.  If visiting the actual place isn’t possible, then going to similar settings can help.  In cases where there will be a variety of possible settings, such as with dogs being trained for rescue work or even Nosework, taking dogs to a variety of different places on a regular basis can help them learn that new places are safe and interesting.

Not surprisingly, health can also effect evaluations.  A dog with stomach problems or even dental issues, once returned to good health, might easily pass the evaluation.  When my dog started indulging in an increasing variety of displacement behaviors (sniffing, scratching, drinking excessive water) over a month long period, I thought that I might be stressing him too much.  But he also chewed on his feet at night and scratched, common signs of allergies.  He was wheat sensitive and I had been giving him dog treats with wheat.  After I altered his diet, he started to regain his former focus and enthusiasm.   It’s important to be aware of when our dogs aren’t feeling in top form since that can have a tremendous impact on their performance.

Finally, stress can impact our dogs’ behaviors.   Many times, it’s our own stress that’s being relayed to our dogs.  The scent of adrenaline and other chemicals can alert dogs to our anxiety.  From our dogs’ perspective, stress and fear are often linked.  A “fearful” scent concerns our dogs, especially since their well-being is tied to our ability to keep them safe.  Sometimes the accumulation of multiple minor events can make our dogs stressed and unfocused as well.  We’re all entitled to a “bad day.”  Making the evaluation process fun both for us and our dogs can help everyone become more relaxed and create a better performance.

Competitions and evaluations should be fun and a source of positive feedback on our interaction with our dogs.  It’s important to remember that while our dogs like to spend time with us and enjoy mental and physical challenges, ribbons and titles hold no meaning for them.  Taking a break or adding some interest can make a sport or event fun again, and that can get everyone back in the mood.