Just a weirdo :)
A little update to let you know we're still alive and kicking, just super busy with keeping up with August Running Contacts and Foundations classes ha ha. And ah, a bit on why I don't do so many trials (and no seminars) anymore... - for those who were trying to guess, but failed 🙂
The Beauty, The Beast and The Genious 🙂
So... - Le sure scared me at EO, but looks like it was just a scare. Her orthopedic, physiotherapist and osteopath all find completely nothing wrong with her and think she could be running agility long time ago, but we decided for a more conservative route and kept her on a complete rest for 3 weeks and then slowly added activity, starting with longer walks, cavalettis, downhill backing up and shoulder and core tricks and then also rear end strengthening tricks and sprints. And we even braved our first short agility session on low height two days ago! Le looked great of course, but then, if you're a Super Midget, it's hard to not look great 🙂
Along with Le, Bu is on "building muscles" plan as well. She is 12,5 now and has been losing more muscle mass as I would like, so she got to do double walks (longer walks with the rest of the gang and then another one with Le who I walked separately until just recently since she wasn't allowed to run wild), lots of conditioning tricks and we even started with some agility again, just to make her happy and more active as she is just not a dog who would be active without a little push. - Very unlike Bi who is now 10 and still as crazy as ever and super busy playing with Ta (who is the only one in our house who can keep up with Bi's energy level).
Bu, looking good and having fun at 12,5 years old
Ta is still a bit wild - but a bit less clumsy, so our current project is teaching her to jump better, using her rear end more rather as just using her shoulders! Interestingly enough, she never knocks, but I really don't like her style at all - never had a dog who would find so hard to use her body! - Even though we've worked on body awareness tricks more, more correctly and more systematically as with any other dog! Such a puzzle why this is so hard for her!!! She is like a huge unmatured male... - just that she is a tiny girl!
With To, we've been focusing exclusively on her S's. It's just sooo frustrating that on every course, my first thing to check is how many S's there are and how to avoid them! She has been A BIT better, but it's still crazy hard for her to not knock in that scenario! I'm super happy with fewer bars in all other scenarios though! And of course, with her speed and listening skills! She is really super fit at the moment, but we're nearing her heat now... - that is always followed by her fat and fluffy stage 🙂
And me, well, I'm enjoying some time off trials and looking forward to no trials the whole winter ha ha! I actually wanted to cancel AWC as well, but then they talked me out of it, so I guess we'll still run that. I'm looking forward to running those courses, but I have to admit that those big trials getting longer and longer (AWC starting on Wednesday already this year!) is really hard on introverts like me!!! I tend to enjoy the first two days - and then just want to go home... So... Just to clarify... - if I don't congratulate you after 4/5 days at EO/AWC, it's NOT because I'm not happy about your success. It's just because 5 days without my green empty view is exhausting to me and I just really really want to go home to this view:
And o.k., to this view too 🙂 (And please excuse Bu, she is a bit like me and doesn't crowd with her own species much)
Yeah, agility trials are just not designed with introverts in mind... I wish there was such a great alternative to trials as online classes are to seminars!!! 🙂 You know when somebody puts a picture of a seminar somewhere exotic on Facebook and everybody is "ah, lucky guy". MY feelings are "oh my, poor guy - how lucky am I that I don't ever need to do another seminar again and I can sit right here at my desk, with this view that doesn't include a single person"!
And no worries, I do enjoy talking to people sometimes... - But at times, I really need the silence. And solitude. And my green woods. So when I look big headed and distant to you - I'm probably just exhausted... You know those people who keep a TV on all the time? For me, it would be a torture to have a TV background sound on! And if you really want to know how weird I am: I don't mind the sound of slow-motion RC videos at all!!! 🙂
I was weird already as a kid... - all I dreamed of was a dog! Surprisingly, the hormones did their job right as I actually was surprisingly social and trying to be cool as a teenager, staying out all nights and backpacking around Europe and stuff. I also used to enjoy seminars that I started teaching in 2003. I sure did LOTS of seminars - things like 22 consecutive days, several times per year. And I really enjoyed it - till the last one I did! And then the next day I woke up and I would do ANYTHING to not have to do another day of a seminar EVER again!!! I guess it's called a burn out. I could easily retire that same day because yes, I really did THAT many seminars. And o.k., because I'm super low maintenance 🙂 (because yes, of course I hate shopping - oh my, people everywhere - and not even dog people!!! - could it be any worse???).
So why I didn't retire? Because I LOVE to help people to succeed with their dogs... Or just have even more fun with them... It's my favorite thing to do! So what now... Online classes!!! Perfect introvert solution! No people, just messages and videos about their progress, newly found joy, wins or challenges that need some brainstorming... How cool is that!!! My dream job for sure!
So now, after I totally scared you off - even introverts enjoy a good old chat sometimes and are happy to see their students in live! We just need a break sometimes. Sometimes all we need is a little walk in the woods with the dogs. Sometimes we need 7 months away from trials.
And while thousands of likes on Facebook can be somebody's dream, you have to understand that for weirdos like me, it can be exhausting. Weirdos like me need breaks from likes and congratulations and people. E-mails and comments on my website are always fine - I never need a break from that! So for all seeing me work on my classes when at trials and telling me I should take a break sometimes... - I AM taking a break - right there, right then!!! I'm doing what I love and doesn't exhaust me... Facebook is fine too as long as I can open and close it when I feel like it and stay away from it for as long as I want. And no, of course FB messages and notifications do NOT go to my phone (what a nightmare would that be!!!)! Phone calls and visits... - well, you better tell me by e-mail with 2 weeks notification notice!!!
The weirdo 🙂
Thank you for understanding and letting me be weird. I know it's weird to you, but that's just who I am. I know most people strive to be recognizable and thrive as a center of attention. But some don't. Some of us don't like attention and find it exhausting to just be surrounded by people. It might be hard to understand and that's o.k., but it still doesn't give you the right to spread untrue rumors. If you are asked about something that you have no clue about it - just say you have no clue about it. It's o.k. to not know everything.
I love my solitude and quiet as well, so I totally understand. I often wonder how you do it all! Taking care of yourself and your pups is the number one priority. I appreciate all you do.
:)… I do understand it perfectly… I wish we could do trials online too.. I just enjoy truly the company of my dogs and a very few people from time to time..(need to get unicorns girls…since there is no one around… ;P) I live in the middle of nowhere among cows by choice.. and the worst thing is.. to have to go to the office to the city in the mornings…and have nothing to tell to not dog’s people(how lucky you are…)… the best thing is a walk/swim in a desert beach and see your dogs enjoyment playing by their selves or with me… but I never though it as weirdo.. just a matter of choices, priorities and preferences… I know there is more people like me… and yes I agree you are really really lucky to be able to do what you like in life in your way… No need for explanations…:)
Living in the middle of nowhere is the best! And I love your desert beach!!! But yeah, maybe trials are not THAT bad in comparison to going to work every day!
Oh I totally understand you 🙂 I loved to be surrounded by my dogs as they were the only one -- except my family -- who never ever disappointed me and are always on my side.
We love you the way you are! 🙂
🙂
Thank you for sharing this Silvia! And for the record you are NOT weird!! We are all different and that’s a good thing.
Your online classes are awesome and they give people like me who live on the end of the world an affordable way to train with the best!
I actually enjoy being weird 🙂 I just don’t enjoy people trying to find all sorts of explanations -- when they could simply ask instead…
I love this post. We’ve been taking a bit of break this year too, not entering many trials, only went to summer camp, no online classes. Gave me a chance to do more walks, and get back into things I used to do before agility. It’s been really nice, but it’s been a challenge that people keep asking me what’s wrong or why they haven’t seen us. I didn’t expect that.. That photo with the macbook is so perfect. <3
Yeah, I was surprised how many people just presume something is wrong… -- And even spread their hypothesis! 🙂
You are so great the way you are! 🙂 And your online classes are perfect for Musli because you know how sensitive she is, especially with dogs who are barking and people who are screaming… she is a bit weird too, but that’s why I like her so much!!
We love you just the way you are
🙂 🙂 🙂
How interesting :-), very brave to publish this article if you don’t mind me saying X. Anyway, love the online courses (which is why we keep coming back and going out of comfort zone). Glad you put that you love still doing them :-). We have met face to face fleetingly a couple of times at AWC, but when Jess is there in future (there’s a bold statement)I’ll make sure to say hello on day 1 😉 LOL. Keep up the work and keep pushing us.
Sounds like a good plan! -- Both qualifying with Jess -- and day 1 chat! 🙂
With that view with all those windows allowing the sun shines thru? I wouldn’t want to leave either. There is nothing wrong spending quality time to ground yourself and restore energy. You are good at what you do because you work hard and talented. Lies and rumours can make a insecure person feels good for a second but never last.