[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: great article
- From: grnram415@xxxxxxx
- To: EJDegen@xxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 04 May 2010 15:27:35 -0400
I didn't clip this as everything in this post is relevent and should be read
again. This is a great post!
I work with many breeds and mixed breeds and talk to many people who want to
compete and do things with their dogs. I am currently working with a Gal who
has English line Goldens. They are creme colored and cannot win in AKC shows,
even tho they are AKC registered and creme is not a fault. She wants to show
and her dogs are beautiful and correct. We have found other venues and rather
than discourage her, I am training her to handle her dogs in conformation.
My obedience, CGC and STAR classes are geared for every dog and owner. I
encourage everyone to test for CGC and if they have the desire, to compete
wherever they can. So far, I have about an 80% success rate of folks that go
past basic classes. I try very hard to encourage everyone and not dwell on
what they can't do.
Yes, I have heard negative comments about my dogs and some of the very things
said in this post. I makes me NOT want to be one of those negative people with
sour grapes or whatever the issue is on that day. It makes me want to make
sure I don't become one of them :-)
Laura
-----Original Message-----
From: EJDegen@xxxxxxx
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, May 4, 2010 10:43 am
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] great article
good advice for all exhibitors in all dog sport venues...not just about
ogs but about LIFE
ON'T YOU DARE STEAL MY JOY
y Connie Cleveland
On the occasion of my tenth anniversary, my husband asked me how I wanted
o
elebrate. I asked that we take a very dear friend, my adopted grandmother
nd one of the greatest of all the great southern ladies, out to dinner
ith
s.
t dinner, my husband, Brian, presented me with a diamond ring. It was
orgeous and I was speechless, but even as I thanked him, I worried about
he expense and extravagance of such a gift. As if he knew that the next
ine belonged to my grandmother, my husband excused himself from the
able.
e was barely out of sight when she reached across the table and grabbed
e
y the shoulder, "I know what you're thinking, I know you think he
ouldn't
fford it and it's too extravagant. I don't care if he had to put a second
ortgage on the house to buy it, don't you steal his joy! It's beautiful.
ccept it as the token of his love that it is and say nothing about how he
houldn't have bought it for you." Then she repeated, "Don't you dare
teal
is joy!"
That was the end of the conversation. She sat back in her seat, smiled at
y
eturning husband, and we had a lovely dinner. I took her advice and put
y
eservations out of my mind. The ring has never come off my finger, but
ost
mportantly, I learned a wonderfully important lesson, never to steal
nother man's joy.
Are you a joy stealer?
"You know if my dog hadn't gone down on the sit, I would have won the
lass", said, unfeelingly, to the winner.
I sure didn't think your dog worked that high a score."
I can't believe you placed, I thought Jane Oneup and her dog would beat
ou."
I thought I had that class won! My dog had a great performance, " said to
he winner.
Isn't that judge an idiot? I can't believe the dogs he put up!" said to
he
inner.
Boy, aren't you glad Mrs Winallthetime wasn't here today or you might not
ave won."
You passed that Master test because the water blind was so easy."
That was the stupidest set of water marks I've ever seen. No trial should
nd that easily," said to the winner.
Do you discourage or encourage fellow competitors? Do you tell them their
oals are too lofty and their dreams too big? Are you trying to be helpful
r trying to keep them from accomplishing something that you never had the
bility or perseverance to do yourself? It is equally as harmful to steal
oy by destroying the dream.
"No Basset Hounds get UD's," said to the owner of the Bassett in Utility
lass.
I've never seen a Rottweiler that could do fronts and finishes", said to
he owner of the Rottweiler practicing fronts and finishes.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a UD and a Master Hunter? Do
ou
now how few people have ever done it?" said to the first time dog owner
etting out to do both.
When FC AFC OTCH Law Abiding Ezra had both his field championships and 65
TCH points including all the necessary first places, someone had the guts
o come up to me, his owner, trainer and handler and say, "No dog will
ver
e a field champion and an obedience champion." My jaw drops when I think
bout it. Isn't it unfortunate that I remember this attempt at stealing my
oy much more than I remember all the cards and letters and
ongratulations
received when those last 35 points were earned?
If you are willing to destroy someone's dream, perhaps you don't realize
hat it is the JOY of pursuing the dream that keeps the dreamer motivated,
ot just reaching the accomplishment.
My husband and I travel and compete together. I remember an event, early
n
ur relationship when I watched his Doberman fail articles. "Darn it, " I
aid, as he came out of the ring," she didn't even try to find the right
ne!" "Oh", he replied, "but, weren't her heeling and signals wonderful?"
nknowingly, I had almost stolen his joy. He was celebrating the
mprovement
n the exercise that had been giving him trouble, and I was focused on the
ailure. Since that experience, Brian and I have learned that the best
esponse to a questionable performance, "What did you think?" That way, if
he handler is excited about some aspect of the performance, you can share
hat excitement. If the handler is disappointed in another aspect, you can
hare the disappointment. You are safely removed from being a joy stealer.
I hope you have a lot of dreams and goals for your dogs in (the coming
ear). Undoubtedly there will be moments of disappointment as you venture
hrough the landmines of injury, failures and other setbacks. Remember that
he joy of the journey is worth the difficulties along the way and don't
et
nyone steal that joy. Guard it well and at he end of the road you can own
t and revel in it with all the other memories of the trip.
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POST is Copyrighted 2009. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
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