So I know I left the last blog post kind of hanging in regards to what my *homework* was but I did so because I feel it's an important enough topic to have it's own page. I am also hoping that by writing it down before I go out and try to put it into practice that I will be better set to think on my feet if it doesn't go exactly how I envision it. I am a firm believer in the power of the mind which is what usually keeps me awake the night(s) preceding a trial. I will run through my game plans over and over trying to work out the best strategy for several different scenarios. If I am lucky this will get me some extra sleep over the next couple of weeks ;-).
Terry's advice was simple...go back to the basics and work on inside flanks. It didn't matter what type of stock I was working but I was to start and end each session with inside flank exercises. The middle of our training would be configured of a healthy dose of driving so that I didn't suddenly end up with an orbiting dog with no sense of walk up and push at trial time. How we were going to accomplish this was by doing the most baby step of all. In a small pen with my back up against the fence I am going to flank Diva around and BEFORE she stops at balance I am going to pat my leg and call her in to me. Rinse, repeat, and for good measure, repeat some more(In both directions I might add)! When I am no longer having to pat my leg to get her in to me and I can send her around continuously in both directions we will move up to a little larger area and start the entire process again with my back up against the fence. Gradually I will step away from the fence and we will progress to playing the around the clock game with flanks. Once that is reliable then comes handler movement to make sure that her flanks are independent. This isn't something I expect to get done before SEMASA but you have to start somewhere and anything I do between now and then can only improve our performance at the trial.
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