Come on Dawn,,, My corgi got a started title at 12 months. The Wildrose training program needs an advocate in hunt tests. All have failed miserably,, but I know you and your brother are up to the task...
How about starting with a AKC junior hunter title??? It really is not that hard...
I'll even help you. I want to see the Wildrose training program succeed... I would like to see the program validated so it has more popularity...
I have many agility clients that have gone on to national competitions with their agility dogs that have gotten a senior and Master hunter in AKC. The methodology is similar...
You can do it..
Angie
That is quite the invitation, Angie. You want to "help" me? I'll tell you what..
YOU run my farm, shepherd my sheep; milk & tend to the dairy goats; feed, care for & gather eggs from the chickens; handle the horses and break the colts; hay the fields; fix all the fences; till, sow, water, weed and harvest the garden; fill in for me at my full-time career; and care for my disabled adult son (who, prior to my brother coming on board, was my only help) and then sure - it
would be "
easy." And yes, you're right... I COULD do it... but I'm juuuuuust not that interested. Of the many things vying for my precious little time day in and day out, the welfare of my son, my career and every living animal on this farm which depend on me (oh, and lest I forget to mention - the
kennel) are far higher in the echelon of priorities than collecting ribbons for dogs (which ultimately, I'd just have to dust - even
more work.) But you're right, for me it would be
much easier to focus on that one little thing as compared to what I actually have to do every day. But we all make our own choices and I stand by mine.
Here's what you don't and probably never will understand about me... I'm not in this for my ego, pride, winning titles or "impressing" anyone. At the end of each day, at the end of my life, all that will matter is not the ribbons, public opinion or titles on a piece of paper... but whether I lived well and was a good steward to all that has been entrusted to me. I am involved with dogs because, pure and simple, I love them. And I have had the honor of meeting some wonderful people (like Steve, the OP) via my kennel. Romping, training and playing with dogs is my respite from the many responsibilities I have had for over a decade as a widow and a single mother of three with a farm and a full time career to hold down. My chosen methodology is a reflection of my desire to derive
joy (not necessarily "hoorahs", titles or ribbons) from working with dogs - and on the up side, it just so happens to turn out reliable hunting dogs.
Now, I don't expect you to ever understand walking a mile in my shoes, let alone be able to - but you might do well to gain this tiny modicum of perspective: anything is "easy" when someone else is doing it; sarcasm, disdain, negativity and fault-finding are for the narrow-minded and short-sighted; and it's always more convenient (though far less honorable) to castigate & criticize another than to encourage, assist or heck... even just leave well enough alone.
That said, where would I be without you and your posts? You bring an element of 'entertainment' to these threads and you certainly put me in the spotlight far more often than any other single poster. For this, perhaps I should thank you.
