Even though Sadie is a fearful dog, I’m convinced her natural state-of-being is joy.
When she feels safe, she oozes delight. She launches her body into midair and twirls it around just because the snow tickles her toes and the sun the shinning. Her tail whirls like a helicopter at the mere sound of Ira’s voice.
Learning Treibball with Sadie is sheer joy! Check out this video montage created by Mary Manka who also owns the barn in which our class is held.
Sadie and I are having a blast learning individual cues that will be chained together later.
I’m reminded of the Suzanne Clothier workshop, Working with Fearful Dogs, that I attended last fall. She emphasized working within the dog’s safe zone. Although Suzanne’s focus was addressing fearfulness and reactivity, I’ve carried the question as to whether or not Sadie feels safe, and make adjustments accordingly, into every situation, including Treibball.
So, what makes Treibball safe for Sadie? Several things.
When Sadie and I first met Dianna Stearns, the instructor, at the Treibball Winter Games a few weeks ago, Dianna was very sensitive to Sadie’s shyness. At my request, Dianna didn’t approach Sadie. Dianna let Sadie approach her and immediately offered Sadie a treat keeping her hand close to her own body. Sadie took it. Sadie started bouncing back and forth between Dianna and me, kinda like she (Sadie) was working out her own version of treat/retreat. Pretty soon she was just following Dianna around.
Dianna made it clear that Treibball is taught exclusively using positive reinforcement, true to the spirit of sport as developed by Jan Nijboer, a Dutch man living in Germany. No punishment. No pain. Mistakes are ignored. Getting it right gets rewarded. No fear. Just fun.
And, Sadie and I are in this just for fun! I don’t have visions of one day competing in Treibball. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t. That’s entirely up to Sadie. I think by my not having an agenda I’m not pressuring Sadie, even unconsciously, to perform.
Another big plus is that Hilary Lane of Fang Shui Canines, and the co-founder of the American Treibball Assocation, is there. I’ve come to know Hilary over the last year and her presence is wonderfully welcoming. She also knows Sadie is shy and gives her lots of autonomy and freedom to approach or not.
I can hardly wait! Next Sunday will be our fourth class of an eight-week course. After the first class I was flying higher than a far flung frisbee. I went to last Sunday’s class feeling edgy and out-or-sorts. As you can see from the video, that funk evaporated!
Learn more about Treibball here and watch more of Mary’s Treibball videos here.
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Thanks for sharing your Treibball experiences, Deborah! We love having you in class. Mary and I will continue to add videos to the American Treibball Association channel on YouTube, so Sadie may get to show off her joy more often!
Thank you!
Love that she is rockin’ the ThunderShirt!!!! Treibball is fun, TeeVee and I agree and hope to see you soon!
She looks terrific. Great work.
Awesome 🙂 Has anyone said anything one way or another about if the dog uses a balance ball for fitness/strengthening/balance exercises and also does Treiball? I don’t want to give up Jellybean’s flexibility and balance work but you and Sadie do make Treiball look awfully fun 🙂
Interesting question. When Sadie was a puppy we used to mess around with the exercise ball and she would put her front paws/legs on the ball. Even though we’ve not played with the ball for over a year, the first thing she wanted to do was bat it with her paws. She just didn’t get rewarded for that. So I guess if you could cue JB as to what kind of work you were doing to do with the ball, maybe she could make the distinction?
Wow, you guys have really made a lot of progress for only 4 weeks! Nice job.
Thanks Amy. I have to say, though, the rules and language are still a little confusing. But, We;re having fun,
I’ve always disagreed with the notion that “poodle” comes from the German word for “puddle.” I’ve always thought “poodle” is a synonym for joy. Sadie is just being true to her name.
I’ve noticed Honey showing a new shyness around certain kinds of moving objects. I think she’s had a broom or construction debris fall in her presence one too many times. Treibball looks like a good game to remind her that unpredictably moving objects can be fun.
BTW, my husband and I always liked your “laughing” picture on the blog. But the picture with Sadie is even better.
I glad you like the new picture of Sadie and me. Thank you.
Maybe, you’re right about poodles. Most all the one I know are happy dogs. Some are total clowns. Sadie’s a little to serious to be a clown but she does know how to have a good time.