I don't know how it hapened, but I hit that milestone number. Turning 40 was mildly irritating, and then the next 5 raced past me like I was standing still, and then here I am half way to 90. I'm doing all the things you are supposed to (at least presently) to stave off old age. I'm in the gym now, eating right, smoke free, and I see my doctor on a regular basis. But I don't feel 45. I'm not sure how to explain that. One of my girlfriend's boys, Ryan, says I don't have an adult bone in my body, referring to my often non-adult approach to life, and maybe that will be my saving grace.
I have been reintroduced to some of the people I grew up with in high school after a long break, and one thing which I have noticed is a lot of them have grown up. I mean that they act old. Not elderly, just that they have lost their playfulness and silliness, and seem to impart a solemn seriousness to everything they do. I suppose I am fortunate that in being my own boss I can claim a certain amount of eccentricity about how I live and relate to people, and that even though my company trains dogs for a very serious job, police work, in the end I am training dogs. They are inherently playful. Of course they can be very serious when the situation calls for it. But when they are relaxed, no matter how old, a dog never loses his playfulness. They will still throw down the old play bow and will try their best to race around, and turn a circle or two with a big dog smile. If he is old enough, that might be all he has for you, and after that level of exertion he needs to sleep for a few or ten hours, but it is in there to the end.
I guess I am blessed that after all I have soldiered through and experienced in my 45 years on this planet, that I still can act foolish and be silly in between those times when I have to put on the game face and talk about marketing strategies and cash flow. I don't think any adult can get completely free of the realities of surviving in this world, but I am glad that at heart I feel like I havent changed hardly at all from the kid I remember always being, laughing at everything I could, and being silly. I also think that in my life now I have a few friends who are at heart as immature and goofy as I am despite the fact that they might have important adult jobs.
I have to say, it also helps to be around the two boys, Ryan (12) and AJ (14), as I get a lot of opportunity to stay young in my head even if the outer layers of my being are getting harder and harder to convince that they are still 20 something.
My girlfriend asked me if turning 45 bothered me, and I told her no. It didn't at first. But I suppose the fact that I am reflecting on it means that it did get to me, just a little bit. Time seems to go by so fast, which I know is a signal of age. The boys often tell me they are bored with this or that, and I don't recall the last time I was bored (Oh yes I do, it was the 3 hours I spent going between the DMV and the Social Security office last week to get my driver's license renewed, but that is its own story). But in any event, boredom doesn't happen often for me. Most likely because at my age I make the most of my time, and I can see the remarkable in quiet moments like having coffee on the front porch on a quiet and chilly morning, like this morning.
Last night we had dinner with friends in a fancy Brazilian steakhouse, and all four of the kids were running a bit amuk in the restaurant, making chocolate moustaches with their cake icing, and making coctails that included their water glasses as a substrate and simply adding various amounts of beef, chicken, cake and olives to give it a sophisticated flair. We were involved in our conversations, the four adults, and I noted how happy I was that the kids felt the freedom to be young and silly and carefree, and I hoped that when each of them turns 45 they will still be devoid of any adult bones in their bodies.
My friend gave me a regifted trophy at dinner, and the plate read: "Congratulations on Turning 45." Actually it said 35 and he scratched it out and put a "4" just above the "3". Somehow I feel entitled to an award. A small award, but an award nonetheless at getting this far, and being happy and content with my life and the people I love who are in it.
Something I have been thinking about lately is washing dogs out of a training program. Often times, as a vendor of green dogs, we get dogs returned to us for various reasons. Many times the dog is actually too much for the handler, and while the dog is very strong for the street, the dog is too dominant for the handler. I can't tell you how many times I am asked for a super tough dog, and invariably that is the one that is coming back. I worked a dog from Holland named Ricardo v. Natuurzicht PH1 PSA 3. Before he came to me at 4 years old after competing in the 1999 Dutch Nationals, he put 3 handlers in the hospital, and one on permanent disability. He was a tough dog. So if you ask me for a tough dog, you are going to get one. He was tough and dominant. One thing that good dogs that are mature (very important to note I say mature) all have some of is dominance. It is like arrogance in a star athlete. Most star athletes own their sport, and when your dog owns his work, he is a little self centered (dominant if you will allow the analogy).
The typical response of most police training is to fight dominance fire with fire. You will hear a lot of things like, "that dog needs to be shown who is boss." The problem with this is that once you go there, if the dog doesn't back off immediately, you are likely to spawn a physical altercation that you best be in a position to win. Too many times, when this all blows up, the handler is not prepared to carry through with showing who is boss, and it is the person who punks first, not the dog. Personally, I prefer not to go toe to toe with a dog if I don't have to. I prefer to deal with dominance issues dfferently. I prefer to out think the dominance rather than out muscle it. I think this topic deserves its own article, so I will deal with this isssue in another post. In the 9 or so years I owned Ricardo (100lbs working weight) we never had a physical fight (thank god) - so I know a little something about working a hard, dominant and tough dog.
Other times we have dogs returned because the dog is too handler soft for the training method. A young GSD that is drivey and has good environmentals might be a little soft. After all, we are accepting dogs into training earlier and earlier because of the demand. Dogs can be precocious in drive and nerve, but socially (pack order wise) they will be a little underdeveloped to deal with a strong personality like that of a cop. This dog needs to be built up in social dominance, just not so far as to challenge the handler too much. Instead, what normally happens is the training method is one that is compulsive in nature, centered around a lot of correction, and the pressure is too much for the more handler soft dog who just wants to avoid all the pressure - so he shuts down a lot. This is often interpreted as the dog being weak, but that isn't always the case. The untrained eye of a trainer who just repeats what he was taught 20 years ago will never see that this dog needs more motivation to get him through his adolescence and less compulsion, and he will probably be as tough as the 18 month old dog next to him in class. Where do you think that 18 month old came from? He was once a less confident adolescent.
Trainers in general need to expand their understanding of younger dogs - the furure is in younger dogs, and the successful trainers will be the ones not who can test and reject 40 dogs at the vendor's kennel because they are looking for perfection - but those that have the talent to recognize how to make something out of the more raw material of younger adolescent dogs. Let me assure you this is the future, The days of every dog going into class being titled or a minimum of 18 months old are past. Demand draws out more and more 10 month old dogs who are high drive and environmentally comfortable, but never forget that these dogs are not adults, and how they react to their handlers is more or less the way a puppy will react. You can pressure them in bitework like crazy, but their handler can hurt their feelings easily.
During the early weeks of a K9 school, the dog will react in the extreme of his social state (dominant or relatively submissive) as you work obedience and try to gain control of his behaviors. Most schools I know of (except Tarheel Canine) start with obedience - and compulsive obedience at that - and so the relationship with the handler is defined by the handler trying to impose his will (dominance) on the dog. I suggest that if you do drive work first in the weeks when you are bonding, the dog and you will have an even better relationship. Leave obedience for later when you have a relationship with the dog. This will help build the softer dogs, as their activities leaqd to more and more wins and thus confidence, and it will help you relate better and establish a bond with the stronger more dominant dog without getting into a battle of wills. Obedience by its nature sets up that conflict when done compulsively.
Jerry Bradshaw
"Its what you learn after you know it all that Matters" - Earl Weaver
Baltimore MD - September 13, 2008. The East Coast Regional Championships will be held at Severn Covenant Church Field on Saturday, September 13, 2008. Judges will be Rick Firrow & Jerry Bradshaw.
We are expecting an excellent turnout, as many PSA competitors are finishing their qualification for the PSA National Event in Cookeville, Tennessee on October 25 & 26th 2008. All three levels are expected to be represented, as well as PDC competitors.
Lunch will be served at the field, and there will be vendors selling T-Shirts, and training equipment.
PSA will also be raffling off a bite suit! Tickets can be purchased at the field for $25 each (multiple tickets may be purchased).
if you have questions about the event, contact Jerry Bradshaw at malinois_jb@mindspring.com. We hope to see you there!
I just returned from judging the the PSA Midwest regiuonals this past weekend, hosted by Southern Ohio Protection Sports in Cincinnati OH. I had a great time visiting with old friends and meeting some new ones. Cory Dewberry with help from many quarters put on a great show. Darryl Richey the regional director of the midwest and PSA President came in from Texas, and the Asst Director Matt Faccento came in from Tennessee. Christie Meyer did a wonderful job administering the trial secretarial duties, and keeping the show organized amd moving.
There were Rottweillers, Dobermans, Pit Bulls, Malinois and some dogs I venture not to make a guess at breed competing. PSA opens its arms to all comers if they have the juice to compete. The midwest is growing and coming together, and it is nice to see. Vinnie Faccento won High in Trial, with an excellent performance with his Malinois Female, CJ.
I hope to see all of the competitors come to support their region in Cookeville TN for the 2008 PSA National Championships. Go to www.psak9.org to get information on the National Event which is looking to be quite a show. I am proud to say that Tarheel Canine will be a major event sponsor for the Nationals this year, and I invite you to come by and see our booth at the event.
Turning 45
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