SacPaws.com

    I have not been a very good blogger of late - life is very full!  And we have been busy on the campaign trail.  We were at two shows in Vallejo, we've been to Alan's class in
Sacramento and spent much phone time and a class with Mary Vogler in Lodi. 

    The bottom line is that, for the moment, Spur remains a legless dog after six trials.  One friend noted I haven't been blogging much of late, and said she hopes that doesn't mean I'm discouraged.  I can't say I'm not discouraged, but I can say I am a realist and . . . forgive me . . . I am rather dogged about this.

    One fact that helps me keep it real comes from the simple act of observing what happens at the trials I attend.  In six shows, I've seen just two dogs qualify in Utility A.  Proof positive, in case I hadn't noticed, that utility is tough, indeed.

    And if I'd hoped to find solace in watching the B dogs, there is little there to warm the heart.  Of late, it seems to be fairly typical that about a third of the class entries actually achieve qualifying scores.  These are highly experienced dogs, and recognizing how many of them fail a given class is a tremendous reality check.

    There are signs of encouragement.  At the show last week, once again, Spur refused to do his goes.  But when our turn in the ring ended, Judge Rosalie Alvarez approached me with a smile and an enouraging comment.  "This is a good dog," she said of Spur.  "He's going to get there.  Don't worry about today.  Utility is hard!"

    Also on the encouraging side, my friend Christine Johnson and her Corgi, Pearl, just completed their Utility Dog title- after a full year of trials.  "We struggled for so long with a whole variety of issues in the ring," Christine told me.  "Then suddenly it all came together, and we got two legs in a row.  As if it were easy."

    It isn't easy.  It's very difficult.  There are people who make it look easy.  They do it with hours of practice, with total dedication, with a real focus on learning how to establish that rapport and communication with their dog, with an eternally upbeat perspective and never-say-die attitude.

    I admit, this is a greater challenge than I had anticipated.  What makes it all worthwhile is something more than the goal of earning a title.  It's the great rapport with my dog, with my trainer and with my companions on the campaign trail.

    We are a community and being part of that community is its own reward.