Rickard Gustafsson | Saturday, 31 January 2026
I join my partner to a lot of her dog training sessions. Their training is for agility sport. My role here is just being there to help set the course up. Recording the training for analysis. Taking care of the dog between their sessions in competitions. I enjoy this and my interest in dog training is in the everyday stuff, like behaving well and such. And party tricks, that I think is fun training.
Recently I was gifted a course in agility sport from my mother and I’m using my mother’s dog for this. The dog is at a higher level than I’m here. It is fun. I’m not very good, and I’m happy with that. Just having a bit of fun and maybe improve a little. But I’m in no rush improving and have no big goals at all.
Being push to improve here can quickly take the fun away. When the fun goes away my motivation goes away. Who is instructing me makes a difference here also. Who gives me instruction makes a difference here and how the instruction is made makes a difference.
I think this can learn us two things. We need to figure out the level of the one we are instructing and match the level here. As the skill level increases of the student we can probably see a change in motivation also. And we can see the value of hiring a coach and how much harder it can be to coach a family member.
How much instruction I can take during agility training seems to match my level and interest. I can take some instruction, but it doesn’t take much before I start to zone out. Give me some simple task and build from there when I’m ready. I don’t want very much theory either. A little is fine but I’m mostly interested in playing around a bit and see what happens. I want some instruction and then let me be alone for a while and figure it out by myself. This is the total opposite of getting instructions in fly casting, bring on the theory and bring on the instruction. Here I never get tired or lose motivation. It is like everything adds to my motivation, both progress and hurdles.
Instruction must meet ambition and interest. Motivation must be there at some level, at least if the student seeks instruction and isn’t brought there by someone else. This is something I’m taking to heart and will try to remember and become better at. It has been an interesting experience to get instruction with a bit less motivation than I’m used to bring to the table. And a good instructor can increase the motivation. So remember to seek coaching if you want to improve. Even if you don’t want to become top level it can improve the enjoyment in your activity.
Talking of motivation and fly casting. I’m feeling very motivated to get some serious training done. But is so cold at the moment. So cold it hurts. I read in the news recently that it is the coldest winter here in over ten years. And the lawns are partly covered in ice. No lack of excuses here. But I’m working on my elbow with using what I wrote about in my previous FP and working on other things that can be done while staying indoors. Preparing leaders, buying a new fly reel, putting on new overgrip. (Over that nice cork, sorry Paul)
Cheers, Rickard
PoD: Me at a beginner competition in agility sport, didn’t go well the dog lost motivation. But realising now that I should’ve sneaked along a fly rod. There is enough room there for some accuracy.