C is for Competing

Competing; nerve-wracking, exciting, buzzing, anticipating; what about you? What does this word mean to you? Because competing doesn't have to be a scary experience, and it should not be! Exciting, yes; but scary, no! You and your dog should love your competing experience, whatever the sport may be. Agility is especially nerve-wracking; you have to remember the courses, motivate your dog, and more. But all these things can easily turn from stressful to positive.

You should know when you and your dog are ready to begin your competitive career. Get your trainer involved and ensure she or he also believes you have been making promising progress; if you aren't quite ready, it could scare you and your dog, making you weaker for the future. And if you go and don't receive good results, it could put you back in confidence. This doesn't mean, however, you are bad; this is your first ever competition, and you shouldn't expect perfection from either of you. You will grow more sucessful as you grow stronger and more confident in the competitive atmosphere.

Ensure competing is a fun and stress-free occurrence, enjoyed by both dog and handler

So please don't stress about competing; it can and is a wonderful experience to make new friends, learn more about your sport, and spend quality time with your beloved dog. Your bond will grow, and you will learn to trust each other more as you grow. It should be enjoyable for all involved.

We are joining hosts SlimDoggy, To Dog With Love and My GBGV Life for the FitDog Friday Blog Hop. We send many thanks their way, and you can join in below.

We also want to wish FitDog Friday and it's hosts and cohosts a happy 2nd anniversary for this hop! A huge well done to you! We here have thoroughly enjoyed joining in!