Dog training and teaching are microcosms of life...just like life there are ups and downs. Life has a way of throwing you at lot of negatives. It is easy to remember the things you didn't do well...the dog and handler that dropped out of class...the person you weren't as patient with as you wanted to be...the dog you just couldn't get a handle on. It sometimes makes you wonder how much you are doing right.
Then, about the time you might be getting really discouraged, you receive a very special call from a student or former student. The first time this happened was at least 3 years ago. A former student had moved to Las Vegas. I had known this lady and her grand daughter for almost 10 years, and worked with them and their dogs over that time. I hadn't spoken tho either of them in long time, and came home to find a message from the grandmother. Her message told me that she was in the hospital, and wanted to get my advice on caring for the dogs when she returned home. I called her back immediately. I can't tell you the depth of my sadness when I learned she was dying; her cervical cancer had returned. And I was deeply honored to be one of the few people she reached out to at the untimely end of her life.
More recently, I received a call from a student that had trained their lab,, Daisy with me, thirteen years ago.
They lost Daisy 6 months ago, and have a new puppy. She said they had such a positive experience with me before, that they wanted to train their new dog with me also.
Today I came home from work and found a message from a former obedience and agility student, who just called, he said, to find out what I was doing, because he hadn't talked to me in a long time. I called him back tonight, and found out he is having open heart surgery tomorrow. I am honored that I was someone he reached out to the night before his surgery. He said he wanted to be sure I was teaching, as he plans on getting a new dog, and wants to come back and train with me.
Tonight I am thankful to know that I have had a positive effect on these people's lives. I makes it all worthwhile.
