“Train the dog in front of you” was a phrase I heard often when I started attending dog training classes.
A challenge many dog owners face is thinking more about the dog they want over the dog they have. They dream of what they will do with their dog, from sitting outside at dog friendly restaurants to hosting lavish parties, traveling by boat or plane, and all kinds of things in between. Such dreams are shattered when the dog in front of them does not meet expectations.
I didn’t have dreams of sitting at cafes with my dog, and since I adopted him during the pandemic, having people over wasn’t a consideration, either.
Even so, I didn’t know what I was in for. 🤣
Ry was a challenging pup. He’s been compared to playing an unfamiliar video game set at its hardest playing mode.
It’s true.
Or was true.
While practicing directions and pacing on a recent canicross run, I found myself marveling at how well we were both doing. My timing of calling out directions was excellent, my voice clear and strong. He responded immediately and turn in the proper direction. We kept a steady pace, not sprinting, not lagging. I threw in a couple “whoahs” to slow, and it was magical.
I was training the dog in front of me.
My brain was adjusting.
My brain can see the whole board, the various moving parts, potential complications, potential mitigation strategies. It is strategic and logical and can see pathways to achieve the goal as things shift. It’s curious and inquisitive, and makes me very good at my job.
That is great for business, less great for dog training.
My brain paralyzed itself with seeing the whole board, trying to process the extraordinary amount of data that was thrown at it with a tiny ball of fur during a pandemic where the normal rules didn’t apply. I still don’t think I fully comprehend things, but I’ve come to realize that my brain adapts.
I can meet my dog where he is, continue to strengthen our bound and foundation, and start to add to it.
Learning canicross is becoming a perfect example.
For those who don’t know, canicross is cross-country running with dogs. It’s best known in Europe where it’s been used for off season training for sled dogs. There are races, obstacle courses, and all kinds of events hosted by North American Canicross (NACC). There are groups and meetups so you can practice race-like conditions. Facebook groups, sub Reddits, and all manner of chats with tips and tricks, gear questions and recommendations, and a generally welcoming community.
Training the dog in front of me has taken on new meaning as we move through our canicross journey.
Seems working on pacing while running also transferred to my brain. It has worked in such a way that seeing the whole board gets it very excited and it just wants to move move move. The pathway is clear, potential obstacles identified, mitigation strategies at the ready, so move move move. Partly how I work so quickly and efficiently.
Dog training is not quick, and not always efficient. It has taken me awhile to learn, and comprehend this fact. And with that comes sadness. I was not training the dog in front of me in the beginning, and it is difficult not to think of things lost as a result.
I remind myself that I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time, take a breath, acknowledge the shift and how far I’ve come, and return to the dog in front of me.
Our canicross progress has gone well as a result. And boy does it feel good to run again!