As with everyone, I’m sure, I have good days and I have bad days. Sometimes, at the end of the day I feel so exhausted and beaten down that I just want to curl up with the dogs and go to bed. Other days, even after the same type of day (in terms of hours worked and general activity level), I feel so totally invigorated and fulfilled.
Yesterday was very much the latter. Even after two hours of dog-wrangling while teaching classes, I was excited, happy, and energized. I was just glowing with an ear to ear smile and had to share my excitement with friends on social media sites.
Over the last few months, I’ve been designing and writing curriculum for a dog training class that would allow people to try a variety of sports and play some fun games–a class I’ve aptly named “Sports and Games Class.” Each week we warm up with some type of game–simon says, red-light green-light, tic-tac-toe, Dice 21, etc. and then we spend two weeks giving an introduction to a few different canine sports like Rally-O, Agility, and Nosegames. Planning for and writing the curriculum has been quite fun and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the start of this class but I didn’t realize how much I’d love teaching this class.
For two weeks in a row now, I have left the Sports and Games class absolutely energized and happy (again, after two hours of dog wrangling). I love seeing dogs and handlers having fun together but what made this class so different was that the people seemed to be having so much fun laughing with the other students and really enjoying the time with their dogs. This class is the highlight of my week… and I look forward to it the minute after it’s done each week (that might be a little sad but i’m OK with it!) it’s just so much darn fun!
Who knew that seeing people having fun and working with their dogs was so reinforcing for me!
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Sounds like a fun class – wish we were closer! (But we’d have to be a LOT closer!) 🙂
Thanks, I don’t think i have too many readers who ARE close enough to join the class but I wish there were because it IS so much fun!
That would be very cool – especially for people (like me) who hadn’t realised just how many dog type sports there are out there! I had a basic understanding of Agility (ie… I saw the “Wonder dogs” at the calgary stampede, lol), but there really are SO many things you can do with your dog, it only takes finding the ones that most interests your dog (and you).
If you ever take your class on the road, feel free to stop in the Toronto area, and I’ll show up 🙂
Lexy, I’m also in the Toronto area, and almost as big of a dog nerd as Tena here. I can definitely try to point you in the direction of a great trainer or two if you’re interested in getting started.
Tena, glad the class is working out for you. I love when a new class really captures my imagination.
I’d say you are probably JUST as big of a dog nerd 🙂 Lexy, I would trust any suggestion for a trainer given by Jess…
That’s exactly why i started it…. there are so many people who want to do something with their dogs but don’t know what to do … this gives a really brief intro some of the sports available so people can give it a try before committing to a 7 week class in a sport they decide isn’t for them.
Its great to love what you do! :o)