There is something wonderful to be said about taking time off. I highly recommend it. Not just during the holidays, but at other times throughout the year as well.
I sure plan to do more of that in 2026. Call it one of my New Year’s Resolutions.
I read two books and started a third and got more cross stitching done than I have in months. But with that, all the house projects I had planned to complete didn’t exactly get done. Some of them got checked off the long To Do House projects, though, so that’s at least something heading into 2026.
Aidan and Drake have really enjoyed the additional time I’ve been able to focus on them. There have been hours of chasing balls in the snow and rain, training and just doing fun doggy stuff with them.
Weather pending, I am planning a trip to Flint for a Rally match this week. Prior to Aidan being entered the following week at the same location where he’s entered in not just one class but two classes. I have moved him up to the Intermediate class for the first time, while continuing to work on perfecting his novice performances, Before the Rally Nationals in Ohio in July.
I’ve hesitated to enter the higher-level class because despite all our hours of training, he still isn’t nailing a couple of skills 100 percent of the time. There are 65 different skills on the signs and it’s up to the judges which ones will be on this Intermediate course.
However, one of the reasons for showing is to see how training translates to competition. So, we’ll see how he handles both showing twice in one day and the bump-up in skills I’ll be asking him to do in the ring.
Having shown as many times as I have, it’s highly likely that one of those weak-for-Aidan signs will be on the course because it’s a skill that most judges expect a dog to perform while moving up the food chain of Rally competition levels. So, I sprinkle training those skills it into our practices but don’t pound on them – because a happy working dog builds confidence. And he loves doing a lot of the other skills.
Every dog has its strengths and weaknesses when it comes to performing and it’s up to me to be sure that we continue to work on those weak links, but to maintain all the others that he does so well. And like people, it’s much more fun doing things you enjoy, rather than slogging through tasks you don’t enjoy.
So, it’s up to me to find the balance between the two and tip it toward what Aidan likes to do the most. All the while keeping my bigger picture goals in focus.
Call it another resolution for 2026.
So here’s wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year. May all your goals be met.
I also didn’t want to the New Year to begin without thanking the folks who recently supported my staff and my efforts and Chelsea Update with a non tax-deductible donation.
They are:
- Patrick Zieke
- D & B Strategic Marketing
- Sue Drew
- Kay LeFurge
- Karen Peters
- Laura Damschroder
- Ruddock Consulting
- Paul Wensel
- Kathy Carter
- Sandra Szufnar
- Stephanie and Larry Doll
