Unconsciously incompetent

Currently I am reading Kathy Keats "Success from the Inside", it is a great book that talks about the psychological side of becoming successful in any given sport (or any goal for that matter).  In the book Kathy lists the four phases you pass through while learning a new skill. The very first step describes me to a tee in herding:

"First you are unconsciously incompetent.  You aren't very skilled and you don't even know it.  You have no idea what you are doing right or wrong".  That line pretty much sums up my herding lessons.  I am trying to get my dog to circle the sheep, change sides, move them at a slow pace, lie down on balance points, etc.  Half the time I have no idea why something went right or wrong. My instructor is busy telling me "yes stop there" or "move to your right" or "back up" and I am happily trying to obey but still not sure why I am doing it. I have brief moments of clarity where I think I have it figured out, and then I go and make the same mistake a few minutes later.  As frustrating as it can be sometimes, I am not discouraged at all.   I am really enjoying the challenge of learning a new dog sport and I am always eager for my next lesson.  I understand that the setbacks and frustrations are all part of learning a new skill and one day we will be at the fourth phase "unconsciously competent when you don't have to think about the skills." That day is a long way in the future, but for now I will celebrate every small success as it happens.

I think one of the biggest draws for sheep herding is watching my dog do something that is instinctive. I don't have to teach, bribe, coax or manipulate my dog to do anything. She wants to herd. Spryte gets into the pen and instantly goes to work. She is focused and confident, and an intense calm comes over her that I never see anywhere else.  Spryte knows what she needs to do to move the stock, all I have to do is channel it.

Each week I'm excited by our progress. Sometimes it's as little as stopping her at the top of the sheep and starting her again, other weeks I am able to send her around the sheep and when I back up she calmly brings them to me in a relatively straight line. This is a skill we both still struggle with, but each week it gets a little bit better.   I am doing my part by watching videos and reading what I can about herding. Spryte is doing her part by patiently putting up with my mistakes and never giving up. We are both learning what our jobs are and sheep herding is starting to happen.

One day soon I will have to get pictures of Spryte herding, or maybe another video. For now the pics on here are from our walk yesterday around the acreage.