It is a beautiful, sunny, almost 60 degree day here in LaPorte, Colorado. I should be outside playing but I have been pretty much housebound this entire week with a horrible flu/cold. I left the house to take Able to Therapy and to take Able to his Ortho appt. and run a few other errands all which left me pretty much drained and exhausted, however, I had a lot of time to think and read and just lay around wishing I was doing something else.
All of this thinking and reading left me with much to think about though, especially in the realm of dog training and just dogs in general. There are so many different schools of thought regarding the right way to raise a puppy, the wrong way to raise a puppy, the right way to train a dog, the wrong way to train a dog, the right way to handle a dog, the wrong way to handle a dog, it is almost too much to comprehend!
I find that with the deluge of opinions on the subject that even I, a person with a lifetime of dog training experience and over 20 years of agility training and handling experience, still question what I am doing and whether I am doing it right.
I can only imagine what this incessant need to impart opinion by so many folks does to the confidence level of a less experienced individual.
What is the "right" way to do it? That is anybody's guess! I try to let common sense guide me, I have been very successful thus far doing it "my way" no need to second guess, it is important to keep an open mind and keep learning, but, it is equally important to trust your instincts and listen to your dog! We are never done learning and we never know it all, as long as you believe that, success will come your way in whatever form is intended.
I find it very valuable to consciously take a step back on a regular basis and look at where I am in my life, this life that I have chosen for myself, fully immersed in a dog sport that can easily take over your whole life if you let it :-)
I take that step back to reconnect with what is really important in my life agility being one of those things, but, there is also family, friends, and, overall physical and mental health and well being.
Being so closely involved with high level competition it is so easy to forget about the other things that make us, us. It is easy to make a Q a rocket science experiment and to get really upset over the NQ that in the grand scheme of things means nothing to anyone but us.
Agility is a game and by my definition game means fun, so, I take a step back to be sure that I am keeping it fun! I love agility, I love to train agility, I love to compete in agility, and, I love to win in agility, but I love my family more and my dogs are part of my family and therefore I am very willing to just let my dogs have time of their own as well.
Everyday does not have to involve training, sometimes a really nice long walk is all the training they get, sometimes just hanging out together is all the training they get, I find these "training" experiences to be as valuable as any time spent on the equipment.
Being in the right place mentally is a huge part of success and I for one realize that if I am in that "right" place things go awesome, if not, not so well. Either way I make it my mission to enjoy the time spent with my dogs and appreciate everything about them.
I am looking forward to many more years of competitive agility with my wonderful furry family members, but, I am also looking forward to many more years of hikes, and quiet moments with those same furry friends.
I am a very lucky person, indeed! Have a wonderful day everyone and don't forget to take time to smell whatever smells dogs bring into our lives :-)
