Clean Run - March 2018 - 65

So, for me to be happy and healthy, I needed to figure out a way to juggle my
kids, my husband, work, and agility. I don't have all the answers-I am still working on trying to find ways to have a well-balanced life-but hopefully some of
the ideas and solutions I have found will help you to better fit agility in with other
parts of your life.
Attainable Goals
So, how was I going to take agility classes at least once a week, practice agility with my dogs, go to trials to compete, and still stay sane? I decided to break
down what I wanted to accomplish in manageable, attainable pieces so that I
could still be a mother, wife, and employee. My solution broke it down into four
primary areas: schedule agility activities in my calendar, incorporate agility into
everyday activities, plan agility trials around work and life, and more than anything else, have fun. Within these primary areas I can set my goals for my dogs
and for myself.

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Attainable goals should be important for any agility handler, but even more so
with someone who is pulled in many different directions. Goals can be yearly,
monthly, and weekly but they must be ones that you can accomplish. They can
be as large as going to an international event and getting a title or as small as
writing a goal to practice agility with your dog twice a week. They can revolve
around agility, exercising, taking a class, learning a new technique, or all the
above. The most important thing to remember is that you need to set goals that
need to be compatible with your life, family, and work. There are some great
resources out there. Daisy Peel has a book called Clear Mind: A Goal Setting
Workbook for Agility Handlers. I use this book to help me be organized and set
my own goals and priorities.
Schedule Agility in Your Calendar
Most of us have a calendar that we use to get through the week. Some use paper and some use their smart phones. It doesn't matter what you use, but you
should have one. Why? Because you want to play with your dog in agility and
you need to schedule agility just like a doctor's appointment or a meeting. Write
your lessons, your practices, and whatever other activities you have specific to
agility, in your calendar. If it's not written down it probably won't happen because
life will push it to the back of your to-do list. Agility needs to be your time that you
have set aside for you and your dog. Work might be calling you, dishes might
need to be cleaned, or grocery shopping needs to happen-leave it for two
hours! Everyone will survive without you.
One of my early goals was to go to agility class once a week. This was important
because I knew that I wouldn't make the time if I was home to take an online
course or read an agility book. I also knew life would not give me the time at
home to learn what I needed. So, I registered for an agility class that has been
every Monday for the last seven years and I haven't stopped. I have everything written in an Outlook calendar: appointments, music lessons, kids' sporting
events, and agility. I also share these events with my family so they know what I
am doing and we may all plan accordingly.
Of course, all your scheduling and planning doesn't always work out. Work, children, and spouses don't care that you have a dog class once a week, but we as
agility handlers do. This is our time with our dogs and we should make sure we
go unless there is something too important to miss. I have crazy hours and often
work late nights and weekends. I have tried to schedule my work around my
classes but sometimes it's hard. I have resorted to bringing my dog to work and
meetings so that I can go straight to dog class. A couple of times I asked my kids'
babysitter to bring my dogs in her car and meet me halfway so that I wouldn't
be late for class. My kids have gone with me to agility class when they were
younger if my husband wasn't around. You juggle your way around it. But again,
make sure you put your classes, practices, and trials in your calendar because
March 18 | Clean Run

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - March 2018