OMG! I cant believe I havent updated this blog since the beginning of the year ... that's nearly two months ago ... actually a friend kindly reminded me last week that it was about time I did so.
So ... what's been happening?
Since 4th January I've been full time detector dog training at work ... wow, what a wild ride of learning it's been. My technical knowledge of the why's and how's of dog psychology and behaviour has been stretched to the limits and my practical handling skills have grown tremendously. Just because you train dogs for 10 years doesn't mean you can pick up the lead running in a different field ... although I've given it my best shot and I am sure I fit the bill but there is still sooooo much to learn!
Yes, I am enjoying working as a dog handler ... although I can't say the same for the shift work and long days, however, having to sacrifice much of my freedom (and put my agility training on the back-burner), it has certainly made me step back and look at life from another angle ... things certainly do look different now ...
I'm not engulfed in my little world of dog training and agility trials, I don't plan all day what I'm going to train that night, I don't spend hours going over and over my last run or analysing my dogs performance issues! I don't even read my Clean Run magazines anymore (the last 4 months issues are still in their plastic on my bedside table!) ... It's not because I don't want to - I simply dont have the time! So, another one of lifes little challenges, priorities reshuffled and you wonder what the hell have you been doing for the last 10 years? I've been training dogs ... which has gotten me to where I am today ...
So I guess spare time to me is now what you would call gold. It's very prescious and the time I do have is mainly spent with Party and socialising her to the best I can ... I really want her to be the dog I can DO things with ... in the past my dogs have be primarily just trained ... little time spent on life skills, socialising and just learning to "be a dog" kind of stuff. I need to be able to take Party anywhere, anytime ... then maybe, just maybe, we might find time to fit some agility and obedience training in.
Recently Party and I visited the dog beach with a few other dog handlers ... here's some pic's of Party (thanks Ken Innes for the photo's) ...
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