h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's over two years now, since I started helping out with training. The wierd thing is I love it. the ups and downs make no difference, the wether is just an additional challange.

The reward is not just in the dogs either. Sure, watching wee pups turn into much better behaved adolescents is one of lifes great pleasures, but what has suprised me is how the owners develop too.

Many come to their first session and are like the timid new kid who has just moved into a strange classroom. Terrified that their dog will be the one to wee on the teacher, toilet at an incovenient moment or, just make a cats behind of the whole class.

Yet just a few classes later they are no longer staring at the dog, making sure it's still there. They start to walk with their heads held high, using the lead to sense what the dog is doing. they start to take pride as the dog learns to come when called, stay on command and pass other dogs (and people) without trying to nail them to the floor.

The most curious thing of all is how the trainer develops too.

I'm not one for public speaking. I hate standing in fornt of a crowd and being asked questions.
Yet all this is a part of dog training AND I LOVE IT!!

I may not ever become a trainer in my own right, but I'm absolutely convinced that I've missed a true call of nature.
Looks like I missed my calling.

Now, if I can ony get my own pair of furballs to understand that playing up in class is an executionable offense, I'll be on a winner.

You have come a long way

Absolutely. But if I were to take it up professionaly, then I've taken but a mere step in the right direction.

Without the many who go to classes and especially my mentor, I'd have barely moved at all.

Sometimes just a little push is needed