With both the AKC National Agility Championship and Westminster's first big agility show coming up very soon, there has been a lot of buzz in the agility community about last minute surprises, new inconveniences, and increased expenses. Some people aren't too comfy with that and I've been studying this with a somewhat selfish interest.
People seem expect a lot from these shows. They are a big deal, representing significant emotional and financial investment. There's a lot of rings, the best equipment, a lot of expertise, and a huge crowd of spectators waiting to be entertained. Exhibitors going to such shows seem to expect perfection and predictability in kind with the perceived status of such an event.
At the same time as all this buzz was going on, a friend drove down to New York City to do an agility demo for The Today Show to help promote the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. That's also a big event, but this demo was a very small event. As with most demos the ring was a small cordoned square with only a few obstacles all jammed together. Although the handlers were introduced, hardly anyone present knew of this handler's accomplishments or really much of anything about dog agility. But, there was a huge crowd of spectators waiting to be entertained.
At this demo, the deck was stacked against any chance of demonstrating excellence. There simply wasn't room; the cameramen were in the way, the crowd was rowdy, the show hosts and all the other demo exhibitors were all crammed into this little space. Some of the dogs got stressed, a few got confused, the show hosts made dog agility into their own silly game complete with paper pom-poms. If anyone watching that event was expecting perfection or predictably, they were certainly disappointed. Yet from what I observed, the crowd was all smiles and laughter, loving the dogs as much when they passed the obstacles as when they did them. The handlers showed exceptional good sportsmanship, got into the spirit of the game and worked the situation with as much sincerity as if it had been a national championship. This entire short, admittedly amateurish event came off communicating the message that dog agility, while not always perfect, was just a boatload of joy. Is there any more perfect message to convey about the sport we all love?
Last year I missed the joy boat. I cancelled a national event, a regional event, and a lot of local trials. I used reasons like it would be too much chaos, too much hype, too many last minute surprises, too much pressure for perfection, etc. There would be problems and I wouldn't be able to show to the level I expect of myself. I would seem like an amateur when I wanted to seem World Class. Now I'm hearing people use that same logic about these upcoming big events. Some are already declaring that they won't be able to have any fun, a few have said they might back out, and a lot have mentioned that they never go to such events because of these reasons. I said that too, and then I started to think about it,..
I've read about some past big events over the past 12 years. I've read about schedule changes, venue changes, bad equipment and dark, wet rings. I've even read about handlers who have had to clean glass from the ring or rake gravel from it before being able to compete in a big international event. These are things we think we'd never tolerate at even a local trial, but those handlers who invested all their effort into getting there didn't just go back to the hotel until things were perfect. They took a less than ideal situation, changed it as best they could, and then put themselves into a headspace which believed that whatever else was going on, this was their perfect moment with their dog. They shone, and we were inspired by it. So did the handlers at the agility demo today, and for the exact same reasons.
So, what does it take to be a World Class handler? Its apparently not about being able to excel under ideal circumstances, since this seems to almost never occur. Its more about being able to create your own perfection and predictability inside the ring when everything outside that ring is so far from ideal. It doesn't matter what size that ring is or how many obstacles are in it. The mental energy is the same, and having it in your toolbox is no accident. When you can convince your dog that all is well when it is anything but, when you can convey infectious joy when you have every right to be worried or stressed, when you can step into the ring and focus on every run being about just you and your amazing partner,.. Nothing else,.. Then, by my definition at least, you have become a World Class Handler. Every single other consideration, including the event itself, is really just a minor detail.
I want to congratulate my friend on a great event, and wish you all the same. Don't miss that joy boat, wherever it may take you.
