Ready or Not, Regionals Are Almost Here...

As I work on my last minute preparations for the Ontario AAC Agility Regional Championships this upcoming weekend, it is with a heavy heart I gather up all the things I will need. I received word this week that 2 of my friends, who are also fellow dog sport enthusiasts, have had their dogs pass away long before what should have been "their time". One of these friends was supposed to be competing along side me this weekend, the other was competing at her own regional championship just last weekend. Both dogs succumbed to an untimely death. It is with great sadness and sorrow that I now try and prepare to compete this weekend. I also have been thinking quite a bit lately about how really unprepared I am to compete. I have not been able to continue with my weekly lessons. This has been eating at the very pit of my soul for some time now. My new work schedule just does not seem amenable to private agility lessons, nor group lessons, nor once a month fun-match style training. I feel that missing out on expert coaching and advice really puts me at a disadvantage at the big competitions. I know we are capable of doing quite well, but without regular coaching and instruction, our skills can't help but falter. I feel like my dogs deserve far more than I have been able to give them these last 6 months, and I am hitting a wall I cannot get around. This has really been my focus... I am actually quite angry that my job has interfered with my agility life so much that I am unable to attend any of the training that I consider so valuable. How it will affect our performance this weekend remains to be seen.

On the other side of things, in light of the recent sad news of these poor dogs who were taken far too soon, I am extremely grateful that I still have my dog with me and that I am able to run with him in a regional championship. How lucky I feel to have my dog by my side. I shall never, ever take for granted any time I have with him. Our time with our canine companions is so short, and it hurts so much when that time is cut off long before it should be.

This weekend I will not focus on the fact that I have missed out on half a year's worth of expert instruction. I will not focus on the fact that I am angry and frustrated with my current job situation. I will simply enjoy the time I have with my dogs, and I will love every moment I have in the ring with them. I will enjoy every "dance" on every "dance floor" with every "partner". Simply because we just never know when it will be the last "dance"...