Goals, preparations & puppy plans!

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend! On Saturday I attended the Kennel Club's first Sports Coaching for Agility Handlers seminar. All the speakers were very good, but Natasha Wise in particular was fantastic! She gave a great presentation on the 'Practical Application of Sports Science' a subject which she studied at university and has obviously successfully used the lessons - twice Medium World Champion with her lovely merle collie Dizzy. I learnt a great deal from her talk and I'm very excited about incorporating some of her suggestions into the training plans for my own dogs and that of the dogs that I teach. 

Last season I really felt like I let Ella down a lot by not being mentally prepared for our runs, to the point where I would sometimes have to just stop and wait a moment before remembering where I was supposed to be going! My training plan for the winter incorporates both mental training, but also some fitness for me - the New Year will see me in the hands of a local personal trainer, working off those pounds - eek!

Despite the extra hour today, I've still rushed around like a headless chicken a bit. Lovely walk this morning with friends along the River Yeo in Congresbury close to where we live and then off to Diva's training session in Bristol for 11.30am. I love that little dog her attitude and spirit are great to work with and she's really enjoying her training sessions - whether for the social side or the agility I couldn't tell you ;-)

Finally, this afternoon I sat down and worked out a specific plan for the next few months - for those of you that aren't a member of our Facebook group you may not be aware that my lovely Ella is pregnant and due in just 3 short weeks time! Her waistline is starting to disappear and she seems a little hungrier than normal, but apart from that it's hard to tell - she's still racing around with Diva out on a walk at the moment :)

I have been dreaming about a litter from Ella for so long now, I can hardly believe that we will soon have puppies in the house! She was mated to a fantastic boy, Harrjak Tigger (or Tigs to his friends ;-)) with an equally wonderful temperament and disposition. I'm sure they're going to make some fabulous puppies who will go onto make their new owners very happy.

In addition to that I'm also knee deep in plans for some new training classes - my friend Suzy Field is rounding up her Mutt Manners Kennel Club Good Citizen classes at Christmas and I will be taking them on in the New Year under the Daybreak banner. They take place in St John's Hall on Hillside Road in Clevedon on Tuesday evenings between 6pm - 9pm. Whilst we'll be following the KCGC curriculum, as usual we'll have our own exciting flavour to add to the classes - more details to follow shortly! :-)

Today I am grateful for the many wonderful opportunities and avenues that sparkle brightly in front of me - I am truly blessed :-)

Diva training with friends :-)

Finding the time

Spare time isn't something that I'm particularly blessed with. My life is pretty busy, filled with lots of wonderful people and animals, and for the most part I'm happy and content. One might wonder how I fit it all in and it's a very good question indeed! Being a wife and mother, owner to 3 dogs, 2 cats and a rabbit - there's no question that all of those roles demand time and thought. I guess really it's a question of perspective.

My Grandmother has never really understood why people keep pets. If I've heard the phrase "They're such a tie" once, I've heard it a thousand times! Quite honestly I've never really considered that my dogs hinder my life in anyway. I suppose because of all the wonderful people and things they've opened my eyes to I consider them life enhancers of the highest quality :-)

My thoughts today are about how perspective can make things positive or negative depending on the outlook you choose to take. I say 'choose' very purposefully, because I believe that we should be very pro-active in the path our lives take throughout this world. Of course it's not always easy to be positive, especially when life's daily demands take their toll - as the mother of a teething youngster I speak from experience! But little things can offer comfort and cheer if only we let them. 

I'm heading out to train baby Diva very shortly, and intend to let her comfort and cheer me up as much as she'd like - it's her speciality, and I rather suspect part of God's plan. I firmly believe these pets of ours are more than just pets - angels with furry faces perhaps? ;-)

Today I'm grateful for my family and friends, who make my own personal journey through life, utterly worth living :-)