I have come to realize that one of the true underlying talents of dog show handlers is our ability to manage energy. We are like skillful surgeons entering the emergency room. When we are on top of our game, our senses are heightened and we manage one drama after another. Something about the dog show feels like life and death. Everyone takes it very seriously.
If you are good at showing dogs, you are a master of sensing and managing energy. We can just look at a dog, and in seconds, know exactly what a dog needs. We know exactly what kind of and how much of a correction an unruly dog needs, we know when a scared dog needs soothing and we know how to build its confidence and help it feel safe, we know how to absorb the energy of a hyper dog to help them settle and focus. To the outside world, this is magic! To us, it’s just normal… it’s how we roll. It’s instinctual for us. I would argue that we all have a very strong connection to our inner animal. It’s why we thrive in competition.
How might we in the dog show community use these animal instincts to serve us in a higher capacity? We can learn to tune into it in a deeper way. Tune into your energy or your clients energy when you or they are gossiping. Does it feel good? If it doesn’t feel good then don’t do it. If a client is complaining, perhaps you can say, “I understand you are frustrated,” but don’t feed into it. Tune in to what feels good and what doesn’t. If it doesn’t feel good consider, “What are my other choices?” In this way, we can use the instincts within us to help create an environment that we love to work in.
Published in Professional Handlers Association, Q2-2018-RHP NEWSLETTER-Inner-Animal