 Across the Heartland And Starting To Finish Jean Haley 6341 N. Hope Kansas City, MO 64151 obedogs@kc.rr.com |
| My dream was to be an educator, like my mother. But I never imagined that getting involved with dog training and the sport of obedience would fit into that dream so smoothly, expanding and fulfilling it. Right now, I'm training three dogs: a Doberman that came to my home at the age of 8 weeks, a second Doberman who was 3 years old when I adopted her (this is her sixth ad last home!) and a rescue Border Collie. The best of my life is that I'm learning every day from these three companions-something about training, something about helping others with their dogs and something about each individual partner. My formal education for a teaching career convinced me that a good teacher is a lifelong learner. Although my work in the classroom was brief, that principle took root in my bones, strengthened during the more then 30 years I was a journalist at THE KANSAS CITY STAR. Even there, it was difficult to write without trying to enlighten or at least provide facts readers might need. And it was impossible not to learn from the thousands of individuals, everyday people and headliners, whom I interviewed during my life at the newspaper. My first obedience dog cam home as a puppy more then 20 years ago, a pretty and willful Doberman. The only thing I did right with her was to take her to obedience classes, then a private instructor and finally to an AKC trial. Like so many exhibitors who stumble in to the sport because of a problem dog, I made every mistake imaginable and knew far less about dogs and training then I thought I did when I began. Hooked on showing, training and Dobermans, I haven't been without a Doberman working in obedience in my home since that first training class. I wish I could brag about OTCH's, 200's, and other elite accomplishments, but I can't, at least, not yet. But I am proud of every bit of progress each of my dogs has made. I am proud of my first title, Juliet's CDX, of Romeo's UD, of Scottie's UDX (finished when he was intact-now that's a learning experience!), of my current Mary's CDX and Border Collie Happy's CDX and of Chevy's progress I obedience. Perhaps some day they will teach me enough so that we can reach those higher echelons. In the meantime, we will savor learning together and be grateful for the students, instructors and other exhibitors with whom our lives are intertwined. I believe the sport of obedience has room for people and dogs of many levels of ability and expertise. Nobody starts at the top; nobody gets there without hard work and commitment to the sport. This is what I try to express in what I write for Front and Finish®. |
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