For all the dogs who've touched our hearts

Success in Dog Training - It’s The Little Wins

Recognise and enjoy your successes. They may not be in the form of money, ribbons or trophies, but if they are meaningful to you celebrate them.

What is Success?

I’ve been thinking about success (I promise I’ll explain why!)

Success is often very narrowly defined, perhaps because some things are easier to measure than others. Ribbons, trophies, awards, money are obvious to everyone, if you have these things it's believed you've succeeded.

Success is one of those words that has multiple meanings and cultural subtexts. If you say someone is a “success” it usually applies to their social status: “attaining wealth, prosperity and / or fame.” This idea of success can be overwhelming to the majority of us who work hard without acquiring those things. If we aren’t wealthy, prosperous or famous are we not a success?

How then do we value what we do?

Success has another meaning

Success also means: “the achievement of desired visions and planned goals.” It doesn’t matter how small your ambitions are, you can have success at any level. Small however, is a completely inadequate word to describe this; intimate, individual or personal does a better job. Success can only be defined by the goals each person sets.

How does this relate to dog training? (I bet you were wondering!) I’ve been thinking about success because a little voice has been nagging me: “What do you have to show for all this study and work?” It's an interesting question and although my immediate response is to feel a bit inadequate because I don’t have a chest full of ribbons and trophies ( I do have some… mini brag!…) examining my intimate goals shows a different picture.

I started learning about training to develop my relationship with Rumble. I didn’t expect much from him, just for us to enjoy our lives together – which we certainly did! (lovely old boy, I miss him) With Merlin I had visions of using my training skills to compete in sports, instead his wellness became the priority which meant a whole new set of goals.

At five Merlin is happy, as healthy as can be expected and I have a clear path to keeping him in good shape – so once again success.

From this…

To this!

It's the little wins

It’s important to recognise the successes you do have and not let them pass by unnoticed and uncelebrated. They may not be obvious to the wider world, they may not be in the form of money, ribbons or trophies, but if they are meaningful to you celebrate them.

My little nagging voice shows that I have been guilty of this, and I need to enjoy the successes we've had.

But there's something more. I love to train. It is a hobby, a profession, a social outlet, a means of helping others. Training our dogs builds communication, enhances connection and provides an opportunity for them to use their behaviour in creative and enriching ways.

Now that Merlin is in a good place, it’s time to make new goals and work for new successes. Setting achievable, measurable and definable goals, goals that have meaning for us is the first step. The second step is to recognise and celebrate those successes. I’m not going to take it too seriously, not aim for ribbons or trophies, my purpose is for us to enjoy the process together.

Maybe ribbons and trophies will come later or maybe they won’t, but it’s essential to remember that the small, daily achievements which enrich our lives together are what truly make for success.