WORKING SERVICE DOGS

I have been working for many years now to instill confidence in dogs and handlers.My words are showing up more and more on other sites that sell dogs. My obstacles have been copied as well in many places. I am told that this is the greatest form of flattery.

Today a very good friend of mine showed me a page from Australia that is selling TACTICAL DEPLOYMENT DOGS. These dogs are imported from Europe and are sporting lines. I do not find this very flattering.

There are many obstacles in life. Some are very visible others not. My attention is on what I will leave behind,when I am gone. Today I spent long hours with my dogs. As my life seems to draw more and more attention,I must realize more my responsibility to them. I have a saying that states "THAT WHICH IS NEVER AWAKENED SLEEPS FOREVER", it should be followed by "ONCE YOU AWAKE IT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT".
I am very conscious of that and was made more so by viewing the page shown to me today.

We have Dalmatians that are born deaf with no spots. We have Golden Retrievers that are vicious shadows of their ancestors: over sized Great Danes that will not live to see past 4 years of age. We have German Shepherds Dogs crippled in body and mind amd Malinois that can not sit still and are out of control in any situation. We have Dobermanns with over sized hearts and new diseases daily.

These become obstacles in a world that reaches for a ball or towel to replace communication and work ethic.
Sporting Dogs and Show Dogs are not WORKING DOGS.
I wish they were,they should be.
They are not.
Yet the terms that have caused so many to call me crazy over the years are now being applied to make these dogs appear to be something they are not. That is my responsibility. It is also an obstacle.

There are many types of obstacles in life. They all, if they affect us, affect our dogs as well.

I was taught by a man who was a true warrior, yet he taught in parables. Choosing stories and examples to cause me to think.

It is in thought most obstacles are met. It is in thought most obstacles must be crossed. Thought dictates not only movement but attitude of movement.

When a child crosses over a six inch board into a sand box and his pup follows is this not an obstacle? His attitude is on the sand, not the board. The pup also then is not hindered by the board. He climbs and crosses to join his small leader.If the child is hindered by the board the pup will wait by his side.
Thought and attitude.

I find myself thinking of where my dogs will be when I am gone. In whose hands? Those who use terms they choose not to understand?

My dogs even though I may not be aware of it, face these thoughts as they read my body language and indications. If I stop,they stop. When I move they move.
You and I are formidable obstacles in our dogs lives. We do not need many A-Frames until we cross our invisible obstacles. It is more important to get up and just walk than to sit and stop all movement.
Obstacles are often invisible.
Mike McConnery 07/06/02 ©Baden K-9

©2002-Baden K-9, Mike & Emmy McConnery

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LOR 2J0