Paws For A Moment
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Thinking back I have had a dog or two most of my life and to date that would make it over 30 years. When I was growing up we didn't know anything about obedience training. Training consisted of training the dog not to chew up the house and hopefully not bite the neighbors. The dogs I have grown up with were either mixed breeds or shelties. After I moved out on my own I wanted another dog. I had a definite attraction to the American Cocker Spaniel and have had this breed ever since. Since cocker spaniels have a multitude of health issues and grooming requirements, it takes total dedication to the breed to even consider raising one as well as training them for competition. My first obedience dog was Lil' Miss Tip'y, CD a buff cocker spaniel. She earned an AKC-CD and a States-CD. While working toward her CDX she developed congestive heart failure and had to be retired. (1989-1999) My second cocker was another buff cocker named Lil' Tink'r Belle. Though she was trained for obedience she was shown and retired after one show due to health issues. Her training didn't end with obedience. She did earn her CGC and she has been trained to accept life and live life as a blind dog. I believe her obedience training and additional blind dog training helped make her life more enjoyable. (1992-2007) My third cocker is a red American cocker named Lil' Star-A-Twinklin CGC RN. She is currently training for obedience and will be showing this year in UKC and AKC. She has earned her CGC and Rally Novice Titles. My fourth cocker is a chocolate (brown) sable American cocker named UKC Ch. Cornerstones Lil' Rising Star AKC CD RN - (Tess). She is currently training for Open. My fifth cocker is a solid chocolate (brown) American cocker named Odie. He came to us at the age of 7 and had a few setbacks including having a blind eye and herniating 2 discs in his neck. He is currently training in Pre-Novice and is one happy little guy. Since I still must support myself and my fur-kids I work as an office manager full-time. Though my cocker girls (and boy) haven't achieved as many titles as other trainers (though we have received a lot of ribbons from shows), we have learned and attempt to teach, that training occurs every day. Sometimes in life titles are not meant to be. Health issues are a big part of many breeds and cockers are no exception. Our goal is to train and have fun and if everything goes well and we get a title that is icing on the cake. If my cockers never get to a UDX it's not because we didn't try. Sometimes I end up having to train my cockers to overcome physical limitations which as we all know there are no titles for. These physical limitations may mean the end of one kind of training but the beginning of a new kind of training. Having well-behaved and happy pets are what every owner should strive for. |
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