Why do we have dogs? Most people get dogs for companionship, whether that is emotional support, friendship, unconditional love, or physical health, someone to encourage you to exercise. Others may get their dogs to be working dogs as security, service, or farm dogs. We all have expectations when we get a dog.
I wanted to share with you an opportunity that I received during a recent agility trial. What is most important to me is whatever I am doing with my dogs whether it’s obedience or agility or just out on a hike or walk for the day my goal is always the connection. The reason I enjoy doing all these activities with my dogs is because I get a chance to connect. I see that connection regularly but I don’t usually get a chance to capture it and share it with others. I don’t usually have a photographer who can take pictures of those moments in time. As a Dog trainer, most business advisors would say I should be taking these pictures and catching these moments quite regularly with not only my dogs but also client’s dogs. Yes, I do hope to get better at that. But unlike others, if I am focused on getting the camera sets and getting the tripod at the right place and then making sure that I am watching what’s going on with the scenery I feel I lose that connection whether that’s with the dog or my client. Maybe I’m just not as good at multitasking as others. I truly can tell when The dogs I am working with whether my clients or mine are truly connecting. I also know when they are disconnecting. My goal is always to have more contact connection time than disconnection. Does this mean I don’t want to give my dogs or others a chance to explore the world and do what they wanna do? No, I want them to be able to enjoy what they enjoy and focus on the stuff that brings them happiness. But I always want to be able to bring that connection back quickly. and I truly try hard to not give my dog a reason to disconnect from me. So I think these pictures show a little bit of that connection that I have with my dogs. I treasure them because of it.
My goal as a Dog trainer is to teach you how to have that connection with your dogs.