Archive for March, 2009
Breaking and honor training day 4
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
The weather this weekend was more like May than March, and the dogs were so wound up with spring fever that yesterday, I took them to the river for training. A weasel came out and watched us for a couple of minutes but the dogs didn’t care for anything but the bumper. We purchased Cesar Millan’s “Illusion” collar which I use on Dakota for training as well as walking, and it works quite well in training.
We spent a good half hour training, then Sophie lost interest and began exploring. I figured that she had earned the right to have some “sniff time” and worked with Dakota on not breaking on the retrieve for another ten minutes or so. Dakota started out with dropping the bumper at the river’s edge, so I would send Sophie down to finish the retrieve – then I realized that this was defeating the purpose of everything I was trying to accomplish.
Working with Sophie and Dakota
So I changed tactics. Just as Dakota would reach the bank on her retrieve, I would step back from the bank to where she couldn’t see me. Since she was intent on finding me, she would forget to drop the bumper and carry it up to me.
(Link to source: Breaking and honor training day 4…)
Tags: Cesar Millan, Couple Of Minutes, Defeating The Purpose, Dogs, Half Hour, Illusion Collar, Lost, Sophie, Spring Fever, Training Day, Weasel, Weather This Weekend
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It’s Just A Dog
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
A co-worker emailed me “It’s Just a Dog”, which is also published on iReports. I’m grateful to the author for this eloquent tribute, which has given me pause to reflect on all my past, present and future dogs.
From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s just a dog”, or “That’s a lot of money for just a dog”
They don’t understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for “Just a dog”. Some of my proudest moments have come about with” Just my dog.” Many hours have passed with my only company being “Just a dog,” and not once have I felt slighted.
Some of my saddest moments were brought about “Just by a dog.” In those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “Just a dog” provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.
If you, too, think its “Just a dog,” you will probably understand phrases like “Just a friend,” “Just a sunrise,” or “Just a promise. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of “Just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
For me and folks like me, it’s not “Just a dog.” It’s an embodiment of all hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday peoiple can understand it’s not “Just a dog.”
It’s the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from just being “Just a man or woman.” So the next time you hear the phrase “Just a dog,” smile, because they “Just Don’t Understand.”
Author: Unknown
(Link to source: It’s Just A Dog…)
Tags: Better Person, Co Worker, Compassion, Days Of Darkness, Dogs, Embodiment, Fond Memories, Gentle Touch, Hopes And Dreams, Joy Of The Moment, Long Walks, Money, Patience, Phrase, Phrases, Pure Joy, Smile, Sunrise, Tribute, Worries
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