Today's Reflections: 23/01/2025

Despite it being over 3 weeks into the New Year, I finally feel like I'm bouncing back after the Christmas break, getting ill and then my almost-week-long birthday.

I've definitely been feeling a bit "off" recently and like I wasn't on the ball, but after a great day of in-person sessions today, I feel like I'm well and truly back on it. I also had a real nice moment in my own little head earlier while I was observing a client and her dog work together on some loose lead stuff... honestly it just felt like the love for what I do just hit me like a tonne of bricks.

Don't get me wrong, I do love what I do. But I've found myself in a bit of a mental and maybe actual rut lately in terms of my work. I was feeling demotivated and deflated tbh. But the moment I had today (the one that I literally just mentioned) honestly felt like a good slap in the face. Do you know what I mean? Hopefully you do.

Whilst I was watching this dog and his owner, I was thinking: YEAH THESE TWO ARE FIGURING IT OUT TOGETHER - THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. Which is what it should be about, right? Truth be told, I think the pressure of progress has been getting to me a bit and I've been neglecting some CORE principles of dog training in order to speed things up and you know what? It can actually just take MORE time and certainly create more frustration if you rush... ESPECIALLY when it comes to behaviour change.

I should know better than anyone that change takes time, yet I forget that very same thing when I'm feeling under pressure. But in reality... nothing good rarely comes quickly.

PS If you wanna see some clips from the training session I am talking about in this post, then make sure you keep an eye out for Ruger (@rhodesianridgeback.ruger) on my Instagram @itscethedogtrainer !