Children that want to learn Schutzhund.... - Page 2

Peter

I have two young children and any chance I get, I go training.  I would never even think to ask an acehole like you to watch my kids.  In fact, I never have to ask anyone to watch them.  Everyone offers to watch and play with the kids.  I don't bring them out every time, but when "Granny" cant' watch them, it is the only option.  As to helping out, my kids run to retrieve the blinds! 

     Looks like it is time to change someone's diaper!

   Looks like somebody missed puberty! 

I'm not sure why but the Schutzhund crowd seems to be a bit uptight. No one goes out of their way to say hi, when they don't know you and I never hear clapping or congrats on how another's dog did on the field. I hear idle chit chat, "oh your puppy is so big now"! They seem so wrapped up in their own self and competitive and/or insecurity in their own dogs. At the PSA club I train with, their are usually kids present. The TD has 3 of his own that live their and those kids help out more than most of the members sometimes. They are running to get water for decoys, putting up and taking down blinds, handling pups when their aren't enough hands. I have never seen a members child get in the way or cause any issues.

This was my first experience with a club so I kind of took how nice it was for granted. Visiting other clubs, you always get a different feel, people are different, rules are different. I think the most important thing a club can do is post their rules and enforce them well. I can see how it would be annoying to be trying to focus at training, with a gaggle of kids running amok and screaming their heads off. Never witnessed that yet, and I hope I never do. My daughter is invited to go to training anytime I go. She is 12 however and stays out of the way. Biggest issue is... she wants to take her dog. Since the dog has to stay crated 90% of the time, she finds it boring. It's hard for children to be patient and wait their turn. If children are brought up around dogs and taught to abide by the rules, they grow up to be the right kind of dog people.

With the way things are in Germany, everyone participates on one level or another, even if only spectator's. It's great. Kids see it all as normal. They know how to handle dogs, how to approach others dogs and we hear less issues over there concerning dog incidents. Dogs are a way of life and nothing is hidden from children. They see it all and learn it all form the get go!

Children are the future, how else will they succeed if we do not show them the way?

DH is very right.  In Germany clubs  don't have an hours worth of drive between them.  Every town has its own club. In those clubs only a few people own and train dogs.  Most of the people that go are there for social reasons.  Clubs are a local hangout.  Some of them get there early in the morning to watch tracking and drink a beer.  They are almost like a country club.  Members kids hopefully become members, and maybe their kids will become members. 

I think it is great to bring the young kids into the sport, but I don't think that is the age that needs the most attention.  I think 25-40 is lacking.  I understand that these young kids are into it.  Then they realize that there is an opposite sex or sports.  Quickly, mom and dad being away at the club is a good thing.  Time alone.  Then they hit college and are gone exploring. they get out and get a job.  Life is very hectic and not enough time for that old sport.  Maybe they meet someone, get married and pop a few pups out.  Where is the time now?

That is why I think it is important to extend that hand to the 25-40 age group.  Young and healthy, they can contribute a lot.  Too many times have I seen a young person visit a club and get treated like a moron because they haven't been in the sport for 20 yrs.  In the sport of Schutzhund, these are the young people.  I would have to go out on a limb and say that the majority of people in Sch are retired, do it for a living, or are single and married women without jobs, sometimes kids.