04/09/2025
The Wins That Truly Matter: More Than Just a Rosette
"If you work on something a little bit every day, you end up with something that is massive.”
This quote perfectly captures the spirit of Smudge and Emma, an incredible agility team. They consistently put in the effort, and it shows in their amazing wins at Bee Happy IDA shows and KC events!
Emma’s secret? She always shows up for Smudge in the ring, guiding him with care. After every run, no matter the faults or eliminations , she celebrates the positives. You’ll hear her cheering, "Smudge made the contacts!" or "He nailed that difficult weave entry!" Sometimes, she'll even "sacrifice" a win to work on a specific skill in the moment. This approach flourishes at our shows, as Emma herself says she feels given the space to train without the pressure to be perfect. This means training the application of skills doesn't stop once you're competing!
Remember, your dog might ace their skills at home, but practicing those same skills in a new environment – around different people, more dogs, and unfamiliar equipment – is a huge leap. It's about helping them transfer what they know to a competition setting, even with your own nerves in the mix!
So, take it slow. Allow your dog to practice their skills in these new, exciting environments. Chase the wins that mean more than any rosette – the small breakthroughs, the joy in every tiny step forward. Because those small acts truly add up to something massive!