Only 3 weeks left and we're not ready! (K9 Freestyle)

[Wonka & Nilla]

Wonka and I have only three weeks until our next Canine Freestyle (Dancing with Dogs) competition and we FAR from being ready. I'm getting nervous. I feel like we were way more prepared/practiced for the last competition. I had been doing that routine (Rock this town) for almost a year before the competition!! Well, with Wonka having that eye ulcer in the late spring we sort of took the summer off from regular training. I started choreographing the new dance moves and working on the new costume, but I didn't really do much actual training with Wonka until late summer, when I was sure his eye was better. Now I'm worried we just aren't going to be ready in time. Wonka is thrilled to be dancing again and so excited to practice (wag-wag-wag goes that curly tail), but he's not even doing the routine reliably enough for me to make a video to post for all of PV to watch.... every time the camera is out to record our practice, he stops to sniff a leaf or just sits and stares at me like he's never heard the word "sit" before in his life. I just don't know if it's me (not giving enough cues or feedback... or treats) or if he just needs more time to understand that this is a different/new dance and his favorite moves are in different places. Sometimes he stands still and looks like he's waiting for his favorite move and wondering why it we haven't done it yet. SIGH. Guess we just need to keep pluggin' along.... time to cut up some more treats.

[CountryPug]

Try to stay positive and he will get it sooner or later, it just may take awhile He is a smart boy and a good dancer, good luck to both of you

[ZoeZoesmom]

I am sure you and Wonka will do just fine! Relax and enjoy!

[Snifter]

I'm sure you'll be fine. Just keep at it, and one day it will "click".

Are you practising all the moves individually sometimes, rather than putting them together in routine? If he's trying to do the old dance it might clarify things for him if you just randomly ask him to do moves he knows and then put them together in the new order for the new dance. I don't know if such a approach would work, it's just a thought.

[Wonka & Nilla]

Are you practising all the moves individually sometimes, rather than putting them together in routine? If he's trying to do the old dance it might clarify things for him if you just randomly ask him to do moves he knows and then put them together in the new order for the new dance. I don't know if such a approach would work, it's just a thought.

We practice both ways - he does the moves individually just fine. And he can do a string of 3 or 4 moves together fine. We also specifically practice the transition into the more difficult moves and he does those fine. It's when we try the entire routine that things don't go as smoothly.

I think I just need to give him more time... and cross my fingers that 3 weeks is enough time.

[shaynapug]

Take a DEEP breathe!!

I think you're thinking the worst!! I know you have smoothing out to do...but he didn't do all that badly in Connie's garage...and that was not anywhere near good conditions!!!!

:-) You'll do a nice job!!! Remember...He's a PUG!!! They love to drive us nuts and do unexpected things!

[Rosiepug]

I agree, just keep plugging away at it. I guess doing the same dance fort a year is ingrained in him and he just needs time to pick up the new routine. It will come.

[Wonka & Nilla]

he didn't do all that badly in Connie's garage...and that was not anywhere near good conditions!!!

That was actually one of the BEST times he's done this new routine!!!

I agree, just keep plugging away at it. I guess doing the same dance for a year is ingrained in him and he just needs time to pick up the new routine. It will come.

The funny thing is, we've learned other new routine's as a group/team with other dogs and he had no problem keeping those routine's separate in his mind from our solo routine. Maybe it had something to do with having multiple people and dogs dancing together vs. just the two of us??? Or, maybe I'm just thinking about it too much instead of practicing!