Welcome
to the monthly newsletter from
Conquering Ring Nerves
The
Unique Dog Handlers' Training Program to Combat Ring
Nerves!
"If
you always do what you did, you'll always get
what you got"
Issue:
January, 2002
Publisher & Editor: Diane
Peters Mayer
President, Conquering Ring Nerves
Co-editor:
Vanessa Klapper - Director of Fitness
A.
PeakSpeak
B. Ask the Coaches
C. Training Tip of The Month
D. Handlers Tales
E. Second Chances
F. Book Picks
G. Announcements & Coming Events
H. Invitations
A.
PeakSpeak
Hello
and welcome to the first issue of PeakNews.
PeakNews
will offer a range of information about ring nerves
and the ways to conquer it.
PeakNews
monthly features will include: Q & A; training
tips and exercises; articles by and interviews with
personal trainers, coaches and other professionals
on stopping performance anxiety and achieving peak
performance; book reviews and much more.
PeakNews
also aims to serve as a worldwide forum for dog handlers
who suffer from ring nerves. By reading other handlers
personal stories or sharing your own struggle in
the ring, you will connect with competitors who understand
how you feel, and what you experience at shows. Our
subscribers come from across the US, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, Finland and South Africa.
Our "Second
Chances" column, which highlights the stories
of rescued dogs who have become or are becoming competitors,
is one way for us to do our part for the problem
of the stray and abandoned pet population. To thank
you for your story, Conquering Ring Nerves
will make a $25.00 donation in you and your dogs
name to the shelter or rescue group of your choice.
Please
join us to become the handler of your dreams. Your
dog will thank you!
Enjoy.
Diane & Vanessa
B.
Ask the Coaches
Dear
Coaches:
I am so afraid of showing, that even though
I am still diligently training my dog, I haven't
even entered him in any match shows. I am so afraid
of being less than perfect (200 scores), that I
have lost the real reason for showing. Can you
help? P.D.,
NJ
Dear
P.D.:
You are setting yourself up to fail even before you enter the ring! Your
perfectionism, the "either we score 200 or we stink" syndrome
is terribly detrimental for both you and your dog. Remember how you train
your dog? He learns little bits at a time, eventually gets ready to compete,
and slowly builds his confidence in the ring. Do you expect him to score
200 as novice? Do you expect a 200 every time he competes? If so, you'll
continue to be afraid to take the risk of putting yourself and your dog
out there, in the competitive show ring, and then you'll never have a
chance of getting that 200.
You
also have to train yourself to be a competitor. Have
patience and know it takes lots of practice in the
ring to be confident and successful. Here's a tip:
set small, achievable goals for yourself. For example, "I'm
going to work on my footwork this time." If
you approach competition this way, you'll always
come out a winner. View each show as a learning experience
and just one step on the road to achieving your goals.
Learning
how to relax will help get those nerves under control.
Making sure you are breathing properly by using diaphragmatic
breathing, (Yoga Breath), will be a good start, and
you will feel the effects immediately. Retraining
yourself to breathe this way most of the time, will
keep you generally relaxed, and aid in good physical
and mental health. See Training Tip of the Month
to learn Yoga Breath.
When
you can stop those ring nerves, and put your perfectionism
aside, then you can work on having fun with your
dog while competing. After all, isn't that the "real
reason for showing", enjoying working with your
dog?
Regards
and keep us posted on your progress,
Diane & Vanessa
Note:
To submit a question, please send an email to: CAYPNews@aol.com
C.
Training Tip Of The Month
Does
pre-show anxiety make you feel shaky? Here are 8
steps to keep you on solid ground.
- Breathe.
Proper breathing is the number one technique for easing anxiety quickly,
and getting and remaining calm. Learn diaphragmatic breathing (Yoga
Breath) and practice it until it becomes second nature. Yoga Breath
will help you stay physically and mentally relaxed and in the here
and now, and keep pre-show jitters away.
**Note: See the end of this column for Yoga Breath
instructions.
- Stay
in the Moment.
Do not obsess about past show experiences or dwell on what "might
happen". If you learn how to be present centered, you'll be less
worried about your performance, more connected to your dog and able
to concentrate fully on your event. So, "be in the now" and
watch your anxiety plummet.
- Face
Your Emotions.
When negative thoughts and fears emerge, Do Not fight them. Trying
to stay calm by "white knuckling it" won't work, and will
actually increase your anxiety. Immediately begin Yoga Breath, and
allow your feelings to surface. Acknowledge them, name them. For example,
say, "I know I am afraid of the judge". Then, refocus on
how well prepared you and your dog are, and that you will do your best.
This is hard, we know, but with practice, it works!
- Do
Not Focus on Winning.
Compete for the love of working with your dog and moving as a team
toward success, not a title. View each show as a learning experience.
Break down major goals, like earning your AD, into small manageable
pieces. For example, "I'm going to work on breathing properly
during my event." Remember, no matter what happens, you get to
go home with your wonderful dog!
- Get
Physical.
Any type of physical exercise can help relax your body and mind. If
you don't work out regularly, then days prior to a show get on the
move! Walk, run, bike, play a favorite sport, garden, or clean your
house with vigor. Exercise helps to reduce muscle tension, produces
endorphins to ease anxiety, and just plain feels good. Remember to
stretch properly before any physical activity, and that includes before
competing in a dog show.
- Detoxify
and Fuel Up.
Reduce caffeine and nicotine days before you compete, because both
increase the production of adrenaline. Stay away from junk foods. Choose
a low fat diet and lots of fruit and veggies. Drink plenty of water
a few days prior to competition, to flush out your system. Remember
to sip water on show day to stay hydrated and keep fatigue away.
- Take
the Pressure Off.
If the anxiety gets to be too much for you, then Do Not go to the show.
If you do go, you Do Not have to go into the ring. There is always
next time. To scratch is not to fail! Do what's best for yourself and
your dog, and forget the rest.
- Practice,
Practice Practice.
Ring nerves will not go away over night. Have patience and be kind
to yourself. Just as you train your dog, you have to train yourself,
to be able to Compete At Your Peak.
Yoga
Breath:
- Sit
in a chair with both feet on the floor. Your
hands rest comfortably in your lap, palms
face up.
- Close
your eyes.
- Breathing
only through your nose, exhale to a count
of 3.
Note:
As you exhale your stomach should contract.
With an inhale your stomach will expand.
- Pause
for one second.
- Inhale
slowly to a count of 3.
- Your
chest should be as still as possible.
- Concentrate
on your breath as it goes in and out of your
body.
- Breathe
slowly and quietly, keeping your breath as
smooth as possible.
- Continue
inhaling and exhaling for 3-5 minutes.
- Make
sure you practice with your eyes open, and
while standing and walking.
- Practice
daily, and use Yoga Breath wherever you can.
It's a great help in the on-deck position.
D.
Handlers Tales
Ruth
is a Competing At Your Peak alum who agreed to share
her ring nerve story for the first issue of PeakNews.
Many of you may have had similar experiences and
will relate to her story. Thank you Ruth.
Ruth:
My first competition with my English Springer Spaniel,
Penny, was an obedience match in September, 2000
when Penny was 1 1/2 years old. I was very excited
because Penny had been doing quite well in training,
but as the day of the match approached I became more
and more nervous. On the day of the match I could
barely breathe and my legs and hands shook almost
uncontrollably. Every minute prior to our entry into
the ring seemed like hours. I was terribly distracted
and irritable and Penny, who is usually very clingy,
seemed remote and detached. Finally we entered the
ring, and during our first heeling pattern, Penny
vomited. It was downhill from then on, and we scored
miserably. Hours of practice and preparation amounted
to nothing, it seemed. Worse still, I emotionally
rejected the dog I love so much by being disappointed
in her. She knew I was upset and begged for my attention
which I withheld. Two days later, during our pre-dawn
walk, I knelt beside her, hugged her, and cried because
of my attitude toward her. I was beginning to see
how competition was effecting every aspect of my
personality.
In
Spring, 2001 we entered our first obedience trial.
My anxiety over competition had not abated but I
had learned not to blame Penny for any failures.
And fail we did. It seemed that Penny and I were
nothing more than backyard champions. At the very
least I had learned that my nervousness incapacitated
her as well as me. During the summer, Penny and I
attended a week long camp for agility. Mid-week the
instructors sprung a mini-competition on us. What
had been a relatively stressless week suddenly became
very stressful. Uncontrollable nervousness set in,
hampering my judgment. I overestimated Penny's ability
and speed, and we came in dead last. My disappointment
turned into a huge funk which colored every aspect
of the camp for another day and a half.
At
camp we could consult with a sports psychologist
who worked with Olympic athletes. She gave me some
pointers about competition but there was nothing
I could really sink my teeth into. Fellow campers
contributed platitudes like "Just go in there
and enjoy...have fun." Yeah, right! No one seemed
to understand the level of my uncontrollable fears.
The last thing in the world I could do was enjoy
being in the ring! I found a quote. "Competition
is to the soul, as sugar is to the teeth." I
agreed wholeheartedly. My soul was decaying from
the mere thought of competition. Finally, after long
hours of agonizing thought, I decided to quit competition
altogether. As much as I loved obedience and agility
training, I could not risk the pain and agony of
going into the ring, for myself or Penny. And that's
what competition was for me - pure emotional pain,
before during and after.
I
became a dilettante - a dabbler - in obedience and
agility training. I still went to classes but vehemently
stated that I wasn't going to compete. Yet, I always
searched the listings for a show-'n-go, a match or
a trial near me. When I found one, I would toy with
the idea of entering, but the nervousness set in
almost immediately. It was futile. Then, one day,
I came across an advertisement for Competing at Your
Peak: How to deal with ring nerves. I raced to the
computer and visited the website. I liked everything
I read, so I filled out a questionnaire and signed
up for the next month's free telecoaching class.
The coaches, Diane and Vanessa gave me some breathing
instructions over the phone and lots of moral support.
Shortly thereafter I entered another obedience match.
I practiced the breathing exercises for days before
the match and at the match. I was still nervous,
but not nearly as nervous as I had been in the past.
But miraculously I was able to make decisions. Penny
had picked up some bad habits and I wanted to correct
her in the ring. The judge said I couldn't be scored
if I used corrections. I said, "That's fine.
I need to do what's best for Penny, and she needs
corrections before we need a score." I had not
been able to make those kinds of decisions before
talking with Diane and Vanessa, and practicing my
breathing exercises.
In
October Diane and Vanessa held a four hour Workshop.
What a wonderful experience! They taught us more
breathing exercises, ways to feel safe in the ring,
and how to dispel negative thoughts before competition,
among other things. About three weeks later, Penny
and I entered 2 trials where she placed third and
tied for first.
The
following week Penny and I attended the 6 hour Competing
At Your Peak seminar, where we learned physical exercises,
great techniques on how to concentrate and stay focused,
and clicker training for humans. The day after Thanksgiving,
Penny earned her CD in obedience, coming in 8th out
of 36 dogs. She had earned it in 4 trials.
Was
I nervous despite the workshop and seminar? Yes,
but I wasn't incapacitated as before. I was able
to think and concentrate and do my exercises and
enjoy the experience. Oddly enough, I was almost
free of nerves prior to the last trial. It felt like
there was something wrong, that I wasn't nervous.
In all three trials, either the judge or the stewards
told me I was the only person they saw who smiled
throughout the exercises in the ring. The truth is
I couldn't stop smiling at Penny. Diane had taught
me that "No matter what happens, you still get
to go home with the dog you love." That's what
made me smile - seeing that adorable little Springer
in the ring with me.
I
know handlers who are completely at ease in the ring.
That's a gift. Lacking that gift, the best thing
for me was to sign up for Competing at Your Peak's
programs. It has completely changed my outlook on
competition and given me tools to minimize my awful
anxiety and nerves - nerves which almost ended Penny's
career before it started.
My
Bio: Ruth, a high school special education teacher,
lives in Upstate New York with her husband and English
Springer Spaniel, Penny. Growing up on a farm with
all kinds of animals, Ruth loved dogs the best but
as an adult felt her lifestyle was too busy to have
one. After her husband's cancer surgery, he could
barely walk to the mailbox and back, so she purchased
an ESS for exercise. Penny has brought miracles to
their life in more ways than one. Introduced to the
world of obedience training, Ruth is now in Open
and agility training with Penny. She firmly states
she will never, ever be without a dog again in her
life. A husband maybe, but a dog never!
Note:
Please share with us your experiences in the ring:
achievements and successes, difficulties and how
you coped, funny and/or embarrassing moments, etc.
To submit a story, please write to us at: CAYPNews@aol.com
E.
Second Chances
This
column is reserved for stories of your rescues, and
their new lives as companions and competitors. In
this first issue of PeakNews we feature the story
of how Conquering Ring Nerves was born. It
is fitting to tell this story here, for CAYP came
about because of an abandoned beagle mix with incredible
eyes and big time "behavior problems".
By
profession, I am a psychotherapist and Personal Life
Coach, in private practice for over a decade, with
a specialty in treating people who suffer from and
are hampered by anxiety.
In
the summer of 1999, my husband and I decided to adopt
a dog. It had been 8 years since we had to put down
our Bassett hound, Ollie. Our criteria for adoption:
female, at least 4 years old, had some training,
calm disposition, likes cats.
In
September 1999, we found a handsome 2 1/2 year old
male beagle mix, Peter (now called Benny), who had
been relinquished to a local shelter by his family.
His history stated that he had spent his days chained
up in a yard, that he " barked excessively" and
had other unnamed "behavior problems."
We
were attracted to him, not only because we thought
he was beautiful, but he was the only dog not jumping
and barking. In fact, he sat in his cage as still
as a statue. Only his eyes moved, warily watching
us. It was love at first sight.
Goodbye
all rational thought. Tear up the criteria list.
Forget "excessive barking and behavior problems".
Hey, he likes cats!
Within
days of Benny's coming, we realized that Godzilla's
destruction of Tokyo was a cakewalk compared to what
Benny was doing to our house. He suffered from SEVERE
separation anxiety and would start ripping at anything
he could get to if either of us left the room, or
God Forbid!, the house. He startled easily and screamed
and jumped at the slightest noise, and lunged at
other dogs and people, barking wildly.
We
needed a dog trainer, fast.
When
Benny's trainer, Pam Dennison of Positive Motivation
Dog Training, found out what I did for a living,
she asked me to coach her to conquer the "ring
nerves" she suffered from when she competed
in Competition Obedience dog trials. She also knew
many other handlers who suffered too, and asked me
to run seminars for them at her training facility.
So,
Conquering Ring Nerves The Unique Dog Handlers'
Training Program to Combat Ring Nerves, was born.
Vanessa
Klapper, a Personal Trainer and group fitness instructor
from New York City, was asked to join the company,
so we could offer a "complete" approach
to helping handlers conquer ring nerves.
By
following my heart and not my head, I adopted a dog
who I love dearly, and found work that continues
to bring me great joy and fulfillment, that is, helping
great handlers and their dogs find enjoyment and
success in the ring.
And
with Pam's guidance and wonderful training methods,
Benny is a thousand times better, with a CGC somewhere
in his future.
Note:
Please send us the story of your rescued dog and
how it became or is becoming a competitor. As a
thank you for your contribution, Competing At Your
Peak Inc. will donate $25.00 in you and your dog's
name, to the shelter or rescue group of your choice.
To submit a story, please write to us at: CAYPNews@aol.com
F.
Book Picks - These books can be purchased from
Amazon.com by clicking on the book title.
 The
Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
by
Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D.
If you suffer from severe ring nerves and panic, have stopped competing
or are thinking about doing so, this book may be of help. It offers information
on everything from stress to panic attacks with accompanying exercises
and worksheets.
 Using
Your Brain For a Change
by
Richard Bandler
One of the developers of Neuro-Linguistic Programming or, NLP, Bandler
based his theory of communication and change on information science and
computer programming. He states that if we can change our internal pictures
then we can change our feelings, reactions, belief system, and behavior.
Case studies and exercises are included. (We teach a clicker training
exercise based on NLP, in our Workshop).
 Thinking
Body, Dancing Mind
by Huang and Lynch
A workshop participant recommended this fine book to us. The authors
founded an approach to competition based on Western psychology and Eastern
philosophy called Taosports. They believe that by concentrating on the
process, not the winning, and by not fighting your circumstances but
yielding to the moment, you will find satisfaction, joy, and success.
G.
Announcements & Coming Events
WORKSHOP
Ring Nerve Clinic
Saturday, March 2, from 10:00am-2:00pm
Join us and get back into competition!
SEMINAR
Combating
Ring Nerves for All Dog Sports
Saturday, March 23, from 9:00am-4:00pm
See and feel the difference a day makes!
TELECOACHING
Can't
make a Workshop or Seminar? Join a telegroup and stop
ring nerves from the comfort of your home.
Begins: Wednesday, March 6th from 8:30-9:30pm Eastern
To
register or for more information please click
here.
Or call Diane at 215-348-8836.
Workshop
and Seminar will be held at
Positive Motivation Dog Training in Blairstown, NJ.
H.
Invitations
We
invite you to submit your questions to Ask the
Coaches, and your stories to Handlers Tales and Second
Chances. Please also email your suggestions for
topics you would like to read about, and any comments
you have about PeakNews.
To
submit your contributions, suggestions and comments,
please write to us at CAYPNews@aol.com
We
invite you to sign up for one of our free Ask
the Coaches calls, where you'll meet
and talk with handlers who also experience ring
nerves. We'll teach you exercises, give you training
tips, do problem-solving, and have fun too.
Our
next call is Tuesday, February 5th, 9:00-10:00pm
EST. We'll work on breathing techniques, and give
you a tip on how to relax your body in a split
second. So, take part in the group and invite a
friend to sign up too. See website for details
and telebridge number.
Thank
you!
**Note:
Columns may vary from month to month.
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