“So much to learn!  I’m no good on the computer the Web Course scares me. I keep getting things wrong.  My poor dog!”

 

I get it.  Just talk to my agility pals about what a mess we all made when we first started. And we can argue the point, but I think I made the worst messes of all. 

Well, we all got to Grade 7 in agility (the highest) within a couple of years of beginning to go to shows and competing, with a lot of tenacity and some great instruction along the way.

Learning about Learning

Getting comfortable with a new set of skills is a set of skills in itself.  I mean, getting happy about learning new stuff.

I remember when I first did a lot of computing, I used to fight the idea of getting new software because it annoyed me.  I was good with the software I already had, but learning a new programme?  Agh!

Then I did that a lot.  As the years went by, I learned a lot of new programmes, and I learned that I can do that and it’s actually quite fun and the new ones are usually much better than the old ones anyway once you get used to them.  Usually.

Outcome thinking

Outcome thinking is very popular, well at the time of me writing this, it is.  And that’s fine, having a goal in mind helps us see where we’re going, eyes on the prize and all of that.  But it’s just part of the story.  The bulk of the story is actually in the getting there, the journey.  Let’s do the maths.  I’d say upwards of 90% of our lives is spent achieving goals, less than 10% experiencing active enjoyment of those goals.  And if we hate the 90%?

 

Learning Takes Time

• Learning takes time, allow it to take that time
• The more you learn the easier it gets to learn, brains do not fill up
• Savour your outcomes.  If you’ve achieved something, stop a sec, give yourself a virtual click and treat.
• It’s normal to feel bad about not learning as fast as you’d like.  Anger makes motivational chemicals in your nervous system, embrace the chemicals.
• Repetition is good, drilling is good
• Shy girls get nowt.  Engage!  Ask questions.
• Mistakes are there so we can fix them
• Just keep doing it.  We want to do it brilliantly, but no way we can do that if we don’t do it in the first place.

 

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Notes

Great Instruction

Greg Derrett
Susan Garrett
Anthony Clarke
Susan Salo

Oh and I can’t leave this section without thanking the lovely people at the (now sadly closed) Dog House in Peterlee, and Rachel Young.

Agh!

Learning to do things on the computer, that’s what I mean by “The Digital Dog Trainer”

Anger

At yourself, not the poor dog!

 

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