Which means I am taking a break from college a semester early and going back to a 1,100 mile long-distance relationship. We've done it for a year already before so I'm not worried about not making it but ugh, I don't want to :(
I'm trying to focus on the positive aspects of this. I get to work with Silke more. I get to watch the puppies at the doggy daycare grow up. I don't have to worry constantly about money issues. I get to pay off my car and school loans.
Because I won't be going to school and I *need* to keep myself super busy, I've decided to start working toward a CPDT certification. I had a nice long chat with Silke last night about it and she is going to help me out. I am going to start contacting shelters in the area to volunteer and work on training the dogs for experience. Silke is giving me access to all of the books/DVDs/etc that she has (and she has a lot!) to start learning more. She is also going to start allowing me to teach portions of her classes that I have been sitting in on. When she has private consults for aggression and other behavioral problems she said she would let me know so I could be involved with those as well. She gave me names/contact info for other trainers in the area that she thinks would let me help out with their classes. I am also signing up for a 5 day Sue Sternberg seminar for next May.
I realize that I am nowhere near the point of being a trainer. I think that's obvious. But everybody has to start somewhere and it's something I really *want* to do. We shall see...
As far as Frodo goes, I brought up yesterday while talking to Silke that I want to get Frodo in some sort of class now that we are staying and I can go to a class for the whole duration of the class. She said she has one person interested in a tricks class, she herself wanted to take one of her dogs to the tricks class and our friend Sue was interested in the tricks class. Both Sue and Silke have reactive dogs so it would only be the four of us in the class. I hope it works out as I think it would be really fun and laid back. She also mentioned having a set time every week where we get together with the dogs and work on something, whether it be rally, tricks, K-9 Nosework, etc.
And last but not least, this has given me the most horrible puppy/dog fever ever. I think part of it is because I want a dog that I can take to daycare with me now that I know I will still be working there. Another part of me wants one because I figure I can have it trained by the time I move to MN and won't have to worry about getting a dog that gets us kicked out of an apartment. Somebody needs to talk me out of this decision...
Have to say... I got my last puppy while working at a groom shop. It was fabulous to be able to spend all day every day with him.
But that said, one dog was my favorite. More than one dog is way more decisions, who to take, who goes to class, what class to make priority, what goals to make priority, who to walk, who to ... I probably won't have one dog for a Very Very Long Time.... but I sure miss those days!
I've decided I'm a one-dog girl. I already struggle with feeling guilty about not spending enough time with Maisy... where would another dog fit in? And, I don't think she wants to share. She already struggles with the cats...
I think that's super cool that you're going to start studying for the CPDT! I'm hoping to take the exam next spring. I just need 70 or so hours. I've got all the lead instructor time, so the rest can be as an apprentice (why yes, I do things a little backwards), and my trainer has graciously agreed to accept me as a student. I can't wait!
I think it would be much easier for me to be happy with one dog if he was able to do the things that I really want to do. Mainly I want a dog that I can take to daycare, that will play fetch with me, and that will go for really long walks/hikes with me. Frodo won't/can't do those things with me.
I am going to wait at least until after this winter. I am hoping to be putting a lot of my time into this CPDT studying/volunteering/teaching and then maybe I will be too busy to even think about it! Or I will steal the perfect ACD from daycare, lol.
That's awesome that you are so close to taking the exam! I'm excited to get started but it seems daunting!
What made you choose Sue Sternberg?
My trainer sent me a bunch of seminars/courses for dog training and her's looked really good and fit into my schedule. I figured it couldn't hurt!
Unfortunately I will probably not get to go now and I am enrolling in the college here again and I will be in class when the seminar is taking place. :/