Monday, July 17th 2023

I apologize for the delay since my last post, it has been a hectic last few weeks. Since I last wrote, I have ran a dog in Big Sky's NAVHDA test, in which he earned a max score of 112. Very exciting for the dog, owner, and handler. Congratulations to the chapter on a very well ran test. I also had the opportunity to leave the kennel for a few days to head back home to the Virginia City area for my Uncle's funeral. I enjoyed the time with my crazy family more than I would have thought under the circumstances- followed shortly after by the 4th of July. We have also started hosting training nights on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 with the Yellowstone Pointing Dog Club, as well as local dog enthusiasts, that may be joining our new NAVHDA chapter. We have paperwork that is being reviewed by the board but has high hopes of being approved shortly. This week I am sitting here contemplating the art of balance with a dog. I go down these rabbit holes quite often, to be honest. Tonight, I'm stuck on hard decisions. When is the right time to give up on trying to train a dog? It truly is a very hard decision to make. On the one hand, you have to make financially correct decisions. If a dog doesn't have what it takes, at that moment, to be the dog you had hoped for, do you cut the cost? The most logical decision-making would be in many cases, yes. I have the pleasure of knowing some of the most reputable breeders and trainers of many different types of dogs. I do not envy the decisions they have to make. If a dog, even one you love immensely, has a genetic condition or predisposition to an aliment then it shouldn't be bred. The same case can be made for behavior. After all, that is why we breed dogs seriously, to get repeated behaviors. At what point, do we invest the time, money, and energy into a dog if we don't know if the dog is even going to make the cut? On the opposite side of logical decision-making is the emotional side of this. Yes, we love dogs- that can't be stated enough! Who can say this more so than the people that give their lives to these animals? People like breeders and trainers give way more than most people know to these animals. It is one of the driving factors of our lives. So on the one hand, we must be financially responsible, while also being the advocate for the dog. After all, they have entrusted themselves willingly, to our care. I have seen so many dogs turn the corner after I had lost hope. I see those dogs succeed more than I see them fail. As I often reflect on my relationship with dogs, the good and bad I know this. I tend to want to give the dog the benefit of the doubt. I want to see them succeed. This is the conundrum you are in with any dog sent into training. At some point, you have to gamble. Hopefully, you win way more than you lose, and who knows that loss might just change your life for the better.