Last night I took Ziva to dog club for the first time in about 2 years, it went 10 times better than I thought it would. Due to a catalogue of bad experience in the club at a crucial time in her socialising period, Ziva hated dog club and anything to do with anyone touching her whilst she was in a show stance. For the first year or so I continued to take her, but i eventually realised that being in that room in that atmosphere was detrimental to her. To be honest it wasn't helped by the fact that I got more and more wound up and emotional about it.Ziva is a happy bubbly playful person who loves life, she is confident around anyone and everyone, until she has to be shown. Well the moving bit is not a problem, she loves it, and neither is the standing still, but mixed up memories seem to come flooding back as soon as the judge starts examining her backend. If she is not in "stance" this does not happen and she's happy to accept any contact.
Ziva has not been in the show ring for about a year, I had felt that if she hated it that much, then what is the point? But with Sammi being miss cocky confident and not really needing ring craft I thought I would give our Zee one last go. Two years ago she would have been curled up on the sofa shaking when she saw me getting ready to go, last night she came with me happily as if we were going for a walk. She walked into the hall confidently and for the first time showed them her true self in that club. She was sociable and happy, she moved like a dream and was happy with any contact, until I stood her. As the trainer approached her in stance she moved her bottom sideways and clearly showed signs of being uncomfortable being "gone over!" But after 3 or 4 attempts of just "standing" on a loose lead she relaxed and settled down well. Again we attempted it in stance and she moved sideways - but free standing she was comfortable and relaxed. I too am in a very different frame of mind these days, back then it ment too much I guess, I was also ill and didn't yet know it , and the death of a friend has put a hell of a lot in life into prospective for me. If I can get Ziva back in the ring and enjoying it then I'll be over the moon, if I can't, what the hell? In her I have a wonderful friend who has and does give me so much of herself.Watch this space ....
