I'm finding it increasingly more uncommon that I have had the same agility instructor from the beginning (for the most part). I don't have any issues about training with her, she's respectful, so why wouldn't I stick with her? A few of my friends seem to go from instructor to instructor and never sticking with one.
I can't even imagine all of the reasons why, but I'm curious. Why do people end up switching?
The only reason I could foresee is a change of equipment, or classes. I would love to train with someone who only does NADAC as I don't get enough time to work contacts in general, working contacts on rubber or other non-slatted material happens even less. Class times could be an issue too.
I've never had an obedience instructor, so I can't comment on that front.
2 comments:
There are a lot of people out there teaching beginner agility classes that have no clue what they are doing.
Then there are a lot of people out there who teach "competition" agility classes, which is fine for most people, but if/when you want to get VERY competitive and you're talking about improving obstacle performances and handling to tenths of a second... you need a truly competitive instructor.
Changing venues (AKC/NADAC/USDAA/CPE etc) can often lead to wanting to switch to a different trainer, too.
My first instructor taught all-pet courses. My second instructor is amazing but now only does occasional seminars and workshops, and privates in the summer. When she stopped teaching a regular group class I examined what exactly I liked about her class and what skills I needed to work on, and I looked for another instructor who could help me with those things.
Honestly, if my second instructor (Amanda) had not stopped teaching regularly, I would have had no reason to look elsewhere, although I do like taking seminars for the occasional dose of someone else's opinion. She and I just "click". Likewise I have now found an obedience instructor with whom I "click" but unfortunately finances are preventing me from working with her at the moment.
Thanks for the response, exactly what I was looking for to make me think more.
It can definitely be about handling style too. If you are "asked" to handle one way, but you want to try another. I think that videos should definitely be used in classes. It's probably not practical, but then the instructor can explain why things are happening (I see a ton of late cues, especially front crosses, that are "blamed" on the dog).
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