Thursday, July 19, 2012

A little talk about Love.

Sweet, Sensitive Vito <3
I assume now that most of the dog world reads Denise Fenzi's blog. But if not- you should. Really awesome stuff gets written there. Things about life, and relationships, love, oh yeah and dog training. She is an obedience guru but mostly she is just a really good at playing with dogs and communicating with owners and said dogs. I've never been to a seminar but one day I hope to. In any case. Her blog post yesterday is important enough to share over, and over and over again.

She talks about love. Loving our dogs. Spending time with our dogs. Not just time training. But time with our hearts. I really believe in that.  I think it is important to just forget about training sometimes and focus what is really important- our relationship with our dogs. You can't fake it, or force it. You just have to let it be.  All of my dogs love those moments- and will even ask for it. Pixel is the busy-body in the house and even she will come up and just sit close. Asking for attention and pets. She leans in to me while I whisper to her how wonderful she is. She loves it. I love it.

My dogs are first and foremost my pets. I spend more time just hanging out with them- loving them up on the couch, laying on the floor with them, and laughing at them while they play- than I do actually training. I'd like to think that I have a pretty good relationship with my dogs and they certainly know I love them.  I've learned that the most important thing is not what the dogs can do, but who they are.

This wasn't always the case- I've really grown as a person, and as a dog trainer in the past few years. I once was consumed by the all important goal of titles and competing and training. I spent LOTS of time training- too much really. Always looking ahead to the next trial, or competition. Always with a goal front and centre.  Not that there is anything wrong with that- but for me it created stress and pressure. I focused not on the moment, but on the big picture. And I lost all the little moments. I think about all the great things I've done with my dogs up until this point- and the fact that I can't really remember the journey to get to that point makes me sad.

I am much more present lately- enjoying the little things. The training in my living room, in the park, and in my yard all still happens- and we still have goals. But I'm not in a rush to get to them. I'm enjoying the process. Having as many "moments" with my dogs as I can. I cherish Pixels little kisses, the Boonie hugs, and Vito smiles. The silly ways of Wicca, and Brit's exuberance. I'm focused on the dog, not on the stuff. It is a very different way for me to be. But I'm loving it. It has been the best change in my life. And I'm sure the dogs would agree.



6 comments:

Jenilee said...

Exactly what I needed to hear today...you just saved yourself a lecture to me:).

Koping Weims said...

Awesome post...totally agree...each dog is special and taking the time to notice all the little things and just enjoying your time with them is most important to me too...
Thanks for posting...today is a day when I am thinking a lot about a dog who is gone now...and glad I can remember our journey.

Julia

Kim said...

Totally agree. I am cherishing my moments each day.

HyperHounds said...

I think this is a journey that most dog people go through. In the beginning we are all about the titles. we see the other competitors winning, getting titles and we want to be them. so the stress is put on training and showing. then we get the titles and realize that they really mean nothing. it's the bond, the journey, the relationship that is most important. At that point the focus changes and the titles, the ribbons the scores no longer matter. we just want the dogs to be happy and for all of us to be having fun. This is when we have truely made it in the dog world. I have taken this journey with Strider, and now am proud to say that with Spryte it's all about having fun and enjoying my dog. wow how far we have come! and it's great to see you have also made this journey too.

^..^Corgidogmama said...

When you have deep thoughts and put them in a post, we all just love it Amanda. Your deep thoughts are little treasures and we thank you for sharing them with us.
Makes us think....

Nicki said...

Agreed