More Lies.

Yesterday I said I was attending a two-day obedience seminar.

I lied.

I walked out.

I am incapable of silent complicity when things are simply not okay.

Let me be clear — different opinions are valuable! My concerns were not about different opinions.

In my world, hitting dogs to teach behavior is not okay. I am not alone in thinking that — see, for example, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s Position Statement about punishment by clicking HERE

I want to be respectful and thoughtful about what I say about that whole misadventure. Therefore, I won’t say much now because I am still processing.

But I left that seminar heartsick and angry, and reminded that the sport of obedience has a ways to go.

I Lied.

It is looking like Claire might get a TDX track after all — and that means I need to change gears yet again to make the most of this week’s practice opportunities. The test is Sunday.

Claire and I are attending a two-day obedience starting today — because four days of working a dog show was not quite enough!

Such a great show — put on your calendar for 2020!

But oh man — the blog ideas are percolating from that show:

Why do people think fake ingratiation will help them?

Most owner-handlers are really bad.

Is it good sportspersonship to build a major with your own dogs?

Surprise! Judges are human!

Relationship between a human and a dog — and lack thereof — is really obvious.

Clothing choices — Oh.My. Heck.

Running with scissors and throwing bait: Bad Ideas.

And speaking of bait — Most show dogs are not trained (they are lured and bribed).

And so on.

And I have a whole list of…

And don’t wear that, don’t be that, and so on…

HAPPY MONDAY! I dare you…

Changing Season & Ponder This

In spite of a vigorous training schedule for the past four months, it is apparently not Claire’s year for a TDX.

She was first alternate at the specialty TDX test and she is third alternate at our local test, even with a Worker Certificate advantage.

Tracking Season is now closed for 2019. It is getting hot and the grass will dry up — time to shift gears.

I am a wee bit disappointed that we did not get in a test, but the Disappointment Channel is a real downer and so I switched my mental channel to a happier one. And yes, it is a choice where to park your brain just as much as it is a choice where to park your backside.

The Hope Channel is my favorite — it plays all the happy events and days ahead in an endless loop. One of the shows on the Hope Channel is that amazing day when Claire earns a TDX.

In the meantime, we are turning our attention to other events — and growing coat. No Hair Claire is definitely sporting her summer outfit these days.

Coming up in June — two days of obedience for Harper B, and a return to AGILITY — not Harper for Begone Agility (perish the thought says Harper) but for Daisy and Claire. How fun is that?!

Today’s Ponder This from my stewarding vantage point — who looks their very best when gagging and choking?