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A String of One of Those Days

By katie, on December 22nd, 2010

Where to start?

As you may have noticed from the conspicuous lack of training posts lately I am in a training slump. Actually when it comes to life I am in a slump.

This is never a good time of year for me, but this year it seems to even be affecting my motivation with the dogs. Being unmotivated to train rarely happens to me, so maybe that’s why it’s unsettling.

It is especially bothersome since Magnus is at a critical stage before and entering the dreaded adolescence and I need to be giving him a better foundation than I am.

We have this wonderful opportunity with his Agility for Fun class, and I just don’t feel like I can get up the energy I need to really give it the attention it deserves. It doesn’t help that due to other obligations we had to miss class last week, thus I already feel behind for tomorrows class.

Between health, weather and all the other “real life” distractions I just can’t seem to get it together. Normally the dogs themselves are enough motivation for me to give myself a swift kick in the behind and get going, but even that doesn’t seem to be helping right now.

But enough of the pity party. What I really want to know is what you all do when you get in a slump. I know that probably never happens to the likes of you loyal, dedicated dog handlers, but if it did what would you do? I read about all the great things you all are accomplishing so I know how brilliant you are-so how do you get yourself motivated?

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  • http://bztraining.blogspot.com Kathleen

    “I know that probably never happens to the likes of you…” (sorry, I choked on my coffee at that point and the rest of the monitor is now unreadable.)

    What do I do? I post it in the blog, of course. Somehow writing about it always seems to help. When I was in a REAL slump a while back, I went through a huge multistep problem solving process (in the blog). Never did finish the process, but somewhere in all of that I felt inspired again and so I guess, in an odd way, it worked!

    I believe it started here: http://bztraining.blogspot.com/2010/07/ambition.html and progresses over way-to-many angst filled posts. :)

    -or-

    You can just go out and buy a few new training books and seek inspiration there. A calendar was really helpful (with cheery smiley stickers for when I train) and it’s a great time of year to buy one.

    • http://www.lessonsfrom4legs.com Katie

      Kathleen, I am so sorry for the demise of your monitor!LOL I know we all get in slumps now and then, but when you read what everyone else is accomplishing it is inspiring and overwhelming all at once. At least to me in my current lazy state.;))

      I remember your posts on problem solving I will go back to them and review. I do like the smiley face idea. Maybe I need to get a special Cavalier calendar just for that. See? I knew you guys would have some good suggestions for me! Thanks!

  • http://reactivechampion.blogspot.com Crystal and Maisy

    My life is one big slump.

    Lately, I’ve been doing “just two minutes” a day. That seems easy and doable, so it doesn’t feel stressful. But “just two minutes” tends to turn into multiple sessions, or longer sessions, or whatever.

    • http://www.lessonsfrom4legs.com Katie

      I know how you feel Crytal! I am sure it’s partly the weather for me. Usually when I don’t feel like doing anything too mentally taxing I will just go for a walk, but the weather makes that near impossible. I did get our with Magnus for a short jaunt the other day, but the ice and salt is hard on their little feet so we didn’t go far. I need to invest in Muttluks I guess. Do you find that hard in Minnesota weather?

      The two minute rule is a good idea. Like you say once you get started it usually grows from there.

      Great suggestions! I hope we both get out of our slumps soon! maybe we need some kind of “get out of a slump challenge” to help us all cheer each other on. Hmm. . . I will have to think about that one. Thanks or chiming in I really appreciate it!

  • http://cavalier-a-day.blogspot.com Beth

    Usually, Chispita just pesters me until I do start training her. If I ignore her and just keep doing something else, she grabs something she is not supposed to have, like one of my younger brothers’ toys. She knows she is not supposed to have them, of course; she takes them to get attention. She thinks that she’ll end up with a treat in exchange for the thing she is not supposed to have (it usuallky does). But then, if I go back to doing something else, Chispita will go and take another item, and another, until I do start a training sesson. When I’m done training her, she is usually mentally and/or physically tired, and full of treats, so she stops pestering me.

    Reading training books and magazines, especially the ones that talk about clicker training, also helps a lot. The best clicker training book I ever read was Reaching the Animal Mind. Have you read it? It talks about clicker training in many animals, including dogs, of course. There are usually good ideas for new tricks in the training books, so that gets me interested in training again.

    And reading dog training blogs is also helpful. Yours is the best for that, Katie. It’s because of your blog that I decided to start clicker training Chispita in the first place.

    I hope you get out of your slump soon.

    • http://www.lessonsfrom4legs.com Katie

      Thanks so much for such a nice comment Beth! It’s really nice to know that the blog helped someone! I feel like I should know this, but do you keep a blog with training stuff on it? I love CKCS a day site, but didn’t know if Chispita had her own blog.:)) If so I would love to read it. I think I will be able to get motivated again, we all get in our ruts or slumps I know, and all these nice comments have helped already! Thanks again!

      • http://cavalier-a-day.blogspot.com Beth

        Chispita does not have her own blog right now, but I have been considering making one. I’m a little too busy now, but in a few weeks I’ll probably be able to make one.

  • http://margebl0g.blogspot.com Sam

    I know how you feel – I’m sort of in a Marge slump right now, too. I blame the cold weather, end of the semester (because who WOULDN’T want to relax after working so hard), and just general business surrounding the holidays. My blog honestly doesn’t help me when I go through these slumps – I usually abandon my blog for a bit, too. LOL

    Just try to ride it out – don’t force yourself to train a whole lot, because if you’re not into it, your dog won’t be, either. Just try to do a little bit each day. I bet if you go back to class and have a good session, you’ll feel a lot more motivated to train!

  • Priscilla

    Hi Katie, your post actually made me feel much better as I know I am not alone : )
    I think I live in a slump most of the time as I always find no time to do anything with Eva and Mika and I feel tired easily.
    Rosie is home and she helps a lot so you see those tricks and clicker trainings, if not, I don’t think I can come out things like these : )
    Hope you feel much better soon!!! Blame the rain, snow and the cold weather, LOL!!!

  • Marie

    I hate this time of year. It doesn’t make me want to do anything at all. I guess you already know that when I’m in a slump, I tend to hide. No blogging, etc.

    I do agree with Crystal though. Planning short training sessions really does help me. I can manage to get out and do something for just a few minutes, and then sometimes, I get into to feeling more motivated once we’re started. If not, then at least we got a short session in.

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  • http://www.lessonsfrom4legs.com Katie

    Thanks for all of your encouragement! All these nice realistic thoughts and idea really made me feel better and motivated me to just keep plugging along. It’s so nice to have such loyal support from people who really get it.:))

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