Comments on: Is There a Difference?

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:56:21 +0000

Hello,

it made my day to read this poast and also find your youtube video “The Journey”. I would not have learned as much about dog training as well as about myselve without the four dogs that are and have accompanied my life and I often suffer a bit when I see working people take one dog after an other as non is perfect and they seem to forget to enjoy living with their dogs.
Thanks for being so successful and still staying this way
Christine

By: Marcella Ward

Marcella Ward — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:04:42 +0000

I love DeCaff. So glad she’s here to teach you and us so many things. This post really opened my eyes and hopefully next time I do something with Shimmer I won’t be disappointed if something doesn’t go as I want it to. I have often said she’s my everything and I’m so thankful for her, and I should act that way if I mean it. Thanks for the always thoughtful posts, Susan!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:30:19 +0000

Write the book, please!

By: Lynnda L in Minneapolis

Lynnda L in Minneapolis — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 01:06:00 +0000

Great post! Consider yourself clicked!

By: Ivette

Ivette — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:37:57 +0000

Thanks for a wonderful post!! I always love reading your blog but don’t always get the chance, a friend told me about this particular post and that I should read it. I am guilty of labeling my amazing dog as a “first bar knocker” at my most frustrating times (like when I need that final GP Q for Nationals!). I agree with your statement that when I look at my dogs all I see is greatness, but I tend to let the waters get cloudy with my own frustrations at times. Thanks so much for reminding me how amazing my dog is and how unfair it is for me to label him out of my frustrations. Thank you for reminding me what’s it all about…the journey.

By: Stacey

Stacey — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:50:36 +0000

This article is so on target! My dog got so tired of the negative comments that he wouldn’t go in the ring with me.

Luckily I received some excellent advice along the same lines you just wrote about. We repaired our relationship but there is always that hint in his eyes when he runs in competition that reminds me that he doesn’t quite trust me the way he could have.

Lesson learned! With my younger dog, I’m more than grateful everytime we train and run, for his positive attitude and his willingness to come back to me and have another go at it. I tell him he’s a smart dog not just a good dog. What a difference!

And Debra’s got the right idea too! No more bad handler comments either!

By: Wanda

Wanda — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:20:16 +0000

The journey is the destination. Otter and Toque are two of the most amazing partner’s I could have in this life’s journey They never fail to teach me and it is so much fun trying to figure out the dance steps to this game we call agility.

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:07:30 +0000

Susan – what a great post! I am proud to say that the mantra I live by and tell all my friends and students is: FIND THE POSITIVE IN EVERY RUN !! It is plastered all over my indoor arena. Even if it is just the fact that the dog stayed in the ring, or just took ONE jump, there is always something POSITIVE that you can concentrate on, always. If you do concentrate on the POSITIVE, then that grows, divides and multiplies until every single move is a POSITIVE. I truly believe that. And also, I believe that when you do think positively, the Q’s, ribbons, titles, just happen. Having lost 3 dogs tragically, I can tell you that the only thing that matters to me is that I HAVE my dogs to hold, hug, and kiss….if they want to do agility, great, but if NOT, no problem, just give me their love!! YEEHAW…

By: LISA

LISA — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:13:46 +0000

thanks again for reminding us of the journey, most people laugh at me because I run a different breed in both obedience and agility ( that reminds me whens the next obedience workshop ) both sports trained through shaping, yes competitive obedience can be positive!!! and I also say at the end of the day ” we’re the highest scoring bouvier ” ( usually the only one entered) or ” we’re the fastest running bouvier” ( usually the only one entered) I don’t need to compare, because we’re on our journey together either that or I’m the only crazy person that will take on a bouvier!!!!

By: Deb D

Deb D — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:09:05 +0000

This post came right when it was needed for me in my journey. I’ve been discouraged lately (with myself not my dog actually) and he is so sensitive that he picks up on it and starts to be less willing to do the things I ask. Luckily I have others that encourage me not to accept limitations in my training or in my dog so I came up with something that seemed to work (at least yesterday) and get him excited again.