Can't Focus!

[carrie]

Rather than looking for high stress situations for you, try imagining the situations that give you a high stress reaction.

It is the hormone adrenaline that you are fighting against.

You have no way to stop it being dumped into your bloodstream when you don't want it but you CAN control an adrenaline dump when you can cope with it.

So go to a low stress training area and then take a few minutes to imagine yourself in a very high stress situation.

By putting some effort into really seeing and feeling a situation that causes your nerves whilst in a calmer environment you can learn to deal with it.

Understand that the adrenaline is natural, your feelings are too.

It is so true that your nerves can help you - you need to learn what to do when you get that adrenaline dump and the only way to do that is to practice managing it.

Once you begin to experience the hormone dump in a calm situation try to imagine what you would like the heightened awareness could do for you. How can you turn it from a negative to a positive?

Imagine being certain that your dog will respond to everything you want it to do.

Imagine that all you were waiting for was this anxious feeling to make sure you don't forget anything.

Imagine feeling that you are not ready for anything until that adrenaline rush arrives.

Good luck, it does need practice!!!!!

[SunsetRose]

I remember when Angie and I were taking the CGC test. That was a first for both of us, having to work under pressure, with an audience. This was also at an ASPCA dog day type thing, so there were many other dogs and people, she has never been in a situation like that before and before we got in that ring, she was trying to pull and not focusing well.

What I found to do that is pretty helpful is to take 5 to 10 seconds to calm yourself down. Just close your eyes, breath and tell yourself that everything is going to be fine, your dog is going to focus and you'll both suceed. It also helps to keep in mind that even if you don't make it this time, you'll be able to take the test again, no big deal.

I also want to mention that make sure your dog enjoys doing what you want her to do. There are some dogs that have a nack for therapy work. Angie loves it, once she's "at work", her full attention goes to the people she is visiting. She can easily change her activity and attitude to the situation. One minute she can be active and ready to obey somebody trying to tell her to sit or roll over and have fun showing off and entertaining and the next she can be ready to sit quietly in a lap. She can be ready to go for a walk and trot happily next to somebody in a walker or with crutches, or she can be ready to take a nap with somebody under the blankets.