"Our visions begin with our desires." Audre Lorde

Issue: August, 2002

Publisher & Editor: Diane Peters Mayer
President, Conquering Ring Nerves
Co-editor: Vanessa Klapper - Director of Fitness

A. PeakSpeak

Hello and welcome to all of our readers and new subscribers.

PeakNews offers a range of information about ring nerves, the ways to conquer it, and how to really enjoy competition, plus your stories, interviews, book reviews and more.

The Audio Ring Nerve Program is available! And we're happily working on No. 2: 10 Super Steps to Easing Pre-Show Anxiety, coming in 2003.

The August Training Tip, "Guided Imagery," builds on July's "Ring Nerves and Routines."

Ask the Coaches and Handlers Tales will not appear this month.

We repeat the request from a South African reader for handlers to correspond with in our new section, Handlers ISO.

This month you'll read about a rescued Doberman in Second Chances, submitted by an Australian reader.

PeakNews offers a unique format in which to engage and connect with handlers from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland and South Africa who, in some form, all experience "ring nerves."

Your questions, comments, and stories enrich PeakNews immeasurably. So submit for the September issue. We need submissions for Ask the Coaches, Handlers Tales, ISO, and Second Chances. Also, any reader's replies or comments about what you've read are appreciated. Deadline is September 20th.

Please join us to become the handler of your dreams. Your dog will thank you!

Enjoy.

Diane & Vanessa

B. Training Tip of the Month

Use "Imagery" to guide you to success.

Last month we talked about becoming aware of your "ring nerve routine," (see July, In a Ring Nerve Rut?), and how ring nerves may have become an inherent part of it. The featured exercise included writing down the changes you needed to make. This month's Tip will help break the cycle of "nerves."

Guided Imagery is a wonderfully effective technique, used by top athletes to train the mind to stay focused and win. Coupled with a state of deep relaxation, it can help you to re-program your fearful mind and tense body, put a positive spin on competition, and eventually reach "peak performance."

Before you begin Guided Imagery:

Guided Imagery:

**Note: Our Audio Ring Nerve Program contains a Guided Imagery exercise.

C. Second Chances

Here's a wonderful story of love and fierce determination.

In Australia we have a national organization called the RSPCA - they run rescue centers for all types of animals throughout the various states. One morning my partner and I drove up there to buy kitty litter (we have two 13 yr old cats), on their adoption board they had listed a 4-year-old female brown Doberman, which is the breed of dog we had decided to buy. My heart melted, and I wanted to go and have a look at her but we had an appointment and had to leave. The next morning I was watching a taped show that had a report on these centers and the euthanasia process. Needless to say I used a whole box of tissues while watching it. I spoke to Greg and then rang the center who told me that we would have to go and see her the next day (Sunday) as she wouldn't be up for adoption on the Monday - her last chance.

We renamed her Jewel and she was an angel for about 3 months then she decided that perhaps she was staying and started to show her true colors. She started to show aggression to other people and dogs - not a good combination as we all know. Several vets told us that she should be put down, that there was no hope of changing her behavior, we were determined to give her the chance to prove them wrong and were in the process of choosing our male Dobie. In short she went through the same socialization process he did, did training classes every week and progressed well. I trained her up to Novice (CD) level (stand for exam & not trying to bite the "judge" a big step) and entered her in a couple of competitions but we think that she had an abusive past and whenever she entered the ring she looked like I had beaten her while training - after two judges saying that she really wasn't happy, and looking at me like I wasn't good to my dog I reviewed why I was doing this to her. I know in my heart that she can win a ring while training but for some reason she reverts to this behavior when around others and she is too precious to put her in this emotional state for my own reasons.

She has been my teacher over the past three years - she has progressed far beyond any expectation others had. I am a qualified dog trainer/instructor and manager of a training business and believe if we didn't take her home with us that day I wouldn't have the experience and knowledge of behavior problems that I have and definitely wouldn't be where I am today. Jewel came to us for a reason, which obviously wasn't to be a competition dog but to give us her knowledge and experience - she trains exceptionally and has a lot of fun in obedience, tracking, agility, jumping and her passion flyball. She is a dedicated dog, loves her "brother" who has several titles thanks to her being my trainer and our vets now say she is around 9 years old (because now they can look in her mouth) -thus she is in retirement annoying the cats any chance she gets. We can only hope to have her for many years to come lighting up our lives and opening the hearts of everyone she meets, my heart breaks because we have had her for such a short time but we can credit her with a now formed life long obsession with The Doberman. We love her dearly and would do it all again without hesitation.

Bernadette & Greg
Jewel & Khann

Bernadette and her family live in Melbourne Australia. CAYP is honored to send a $25.00 donation along with Jewel's story to: RSPCA, Peninsula Animal Aid Branch, P.O. Box 81, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia.

Note from Bernadette: The RSPCA is a national organization and they are not funded by our government or councils. They do all their work on donations alone. They care for all animals including our native animals. They run awareness programs, have fun days for charity and have an annual dog walk in every capital city called "Million Paws Walk." All proceeds go to their fund.

Thanks so much Bernadette and Jewel!

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

D. Handlers ISO

Rosemarie Ludwig wishes to correspond with readers of PeakNews. She does not have a computer. Her contact information is:

P.O. Box 324, Umtentweni, 4235,Rep. of South Africa.

Rosemarie competes in agility with her Border Collie, Kim.

E. Book Picks - This book can be purchased from Amazon.com by clicking on the book title.

Play to Win!: Choosing Growth Over Fear
in Work and Life

by Larry Wilson & Hersch Wilson

Though the Wilsons main focus has been corporate training and development, Play to Win is for anyone who wants to "leave fear behind and choose to grow and thrive in every part of your life."

The chapter titled The Four Fatal Fears, "I fear failure; I fear being wrong; I fear rejection; I fear being emotionally uncomfortable," is very relevant to the "ring nerve" condition. Exercises included.

F. Announcements & Coming Events

It's here! Our Audio Ring Nerve Program For All Dog Sports, with Training Manual is now available. Click here to order,
or call Diane at 215-348-8836.

Seminar - Combating Ring Nerves For All Dog Sports -
For Handlers and Dogs.

Make plans now to attend our popular six hour seminar on Saturday, October 19, 2002, 9:00am-4:00pm in Blairstown, NJ

Learn great exercises and techniques to help you relax, concentrate, stay connected to your dog, walk smoothly in the ring, and much more. Don't miss it!

See the difference a day makes!

Click here to register
or call Diane at 215-348-8836

New!! Program for Handlers with Aggressive and/or Reactive Dogs

Stop "freaking out" when your dog does. If your dog has major behavioral problems, your responses to its actions may be fueling the fire. Our program will teach you why your nerves stand in your dog's way, how to stay calm and collected in all circumstances.

We'll also be presenting this program at:

The One and Only Camp for Aggressive Dogs (and their humans)!
Presented by Ted Turner and Pamela Dennison, Sept. 18-Sept. 22, 2002.
For more information or to register, contact Pam Dennison at:
dennison@goes.com

The Program for Handlers with Aggressive and/or Reactive Dogs will ALSO be offered in a four hour Workshop on Saturday, March 22, 2003. (No dogs, please).

You can become a calming influence for your dog!

Seminar, Camp and Workshop will be held in Blairstown, NJ.

To register for this workshop, or for more information and details about all our programs and products, click here or send an email to Diane Peters Mayer at:

Dpetersmayer@aol.com or call 215-348-8836.

G. Invitations

We invite you to submit your questions to Ask the Coaches, and your stories to Handlers' Tales and Second Chances.

Please share your experiences and questions with your fellow readers, to help make PeakNews a dynamic arena in which to talk about the various aspects of ring nerves with handlers from all over the world.

We'd also love to hear from you with topics you want to see covered in future issues, and any comments you have about PeakNews.

Write to us at: CAYPNews@aol.com

Thank you! See you next month.

**Note: Columns may vary from month to month.

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