Over the last few months, the dog training world has been quite awful. Organisations and business’ not being what they seem. Trainers ripping each other to bits, questioning their actions, motives, and ethics. People seemingly wanting to comment on everything and anything that causes conflict.
Couple this with the agility world arguing about everything! The great divide between the elite and the normal handlers, equipment and show qualms, rule grievences, people only supporting those in their clique, it seems never-ending.
I’ve questioned even if I want to stay in this industry, but why should I leave something I’m passionate about because of how the actions of others have made me feel?
That brings me onto the reason for writing this blog.
See, I’m a massive advocate for mental health. If you have read my book ‘Milo The Dog That Gave Me It All’ you will realise why that is.
I got into agility as something to do with Milo that would get me out of the house and able to make new friends and help my anxiety. Little did I know just how catty this world could be and how lonely it can make you feel! Over the years, it has definitely made my anxiety worse in a lot of ways, but I’m actually thankful. It has enabled me to grow as a person and develop skills I didn’t know I had in me in order to get through some difficult times! These skills I can now pass on to my students as I explain the importance of how our own emotions affect our dogs’ performance.
If I knew then what I know now I certainly wouldn’t have set up the business, but when I think of this I have to remember the thousands of dogs I’ve helped over the years and ultimately that is what I do it for, the dogs, to help them be more understood in this world we have brought them into. If more people could see the world through the eyes of their dogs, they would probably be quite surprised at how different things are for them compared to how we think they are feeling.
I see so many trainers set up now, all offering all manner of things to do with agility and dog training. Some of these ‘trainers’ have no qualifications, very few qualifications, or lie about the ones they have! It is definitely disheartening when you’ve spent years and thousands of pounds building up your own knowledge. The sad truth is that the majority of paying clients don’t care if the trainer is qualified or not. They don’t ask or presume that because they have set up, then they are qualified. There isn’t actually any legislation that stops trainers with no qualifications setting up, which is shocking really, so legally, they aren’t doing anything wrong, just morally.
Anyway I digress, back to the main point of this blog, which is to ask you to really think about your actions and words and how they might affect others around you even if they are not directly related to the subject.
There was so much talk of the ‘be kind’ movement after Caroline Flack passed away, and I feel it has all been long forgotten but it is still as important and prehaps even more relevant in these difficult financial times we are all facing currently.
This week people have been moaning on social media about people posting anonymously, yet seem to have overlooked the reason for being anonymous is most probably the fact they don’t feel comfortable expressing their views as themselves for fear of conflict, ridicule or worse!
I get that agility is a competitive sport, and with that you will get opinions, jealousy, cliques, and people going after the elite like they hold some golden torch, but please think of your words, actions, and the affect on those around you when you go about your everyday lives, training groups, and agility competitions. Really think before you hide behind a keyboard and type on social media, talk around rings or at training groups.
This industry has previously led me to a very dark place, so I’m talking about all this from experience, I KNOW how the words and actions of others can make you feel.
I’ve been really disappointed over the last few days, weeks, and months of how people in the agility and dog training world have behaved. We are meant to be compassionate people who care, but maybe that care doesn’t extend beyond dogs?!
Yes, we all have opinions, but what makes one opinion more valid than another? Is it how many friends that person has? Who they are in terms of importance? Does it go on experience or qualifications???
Your opinions are based on you, your experiences, your thoughts, beliefs, and values, you will have a bias! These views may be totally different to someone else. They are both important, but who’s are more valid?!? If you feel strongly about something, there are ways to channel your opinion, ways to be heard other than social media.
Obviously this blog is just my opinion, you may not agree with any of it, but if it has opened your eyes to thinking before you speak, type, or post then it has done it’s job.
In a world where we are meant to be being kind, I think quite a few people could do with being a bit kinder!
Till next time, happy training.
Katrina
KB Dog Agility 