If you’re only here for the dog training info then you may be disappointed, or not. I’m going to continue talking about dogs and training, of course, but I’m also branching out a little to topics that are on my mind. They typically circle back & relate to dogs, but not always. Just a heads up!
I’ve always disliked February the most. It’s typically an endlessly gray, cold, snowy month in Ohio. Even in North Carolina we seem to have at least one snowstorm and some nasty cold weather in February. When I was younger I endured February because that’s what you do. I put my head down, put my warm hat on, did my work, and went on with life. Then 13 years ago Chris died on February 9. That sealed the deal for my February hate.
And here we are again in another February. I wonder how many of them do I have left? Definitely not as many as I’ve had. So continuing to hate on them seems self-sabotaging at this point. I need to make my remaining years, months, weeks, days, hours, and minutes count for something more than wishing time away, even February time, which I swear is slower than any other. Though this January has sure been something!
Thinking about time in general led me to realizing that our calendar is truly arbitrary and senseless. For example, why doesn’t every month have the same number of days? Who decided on the beginning and ending of months? Humans. And at this moment my view of humans is hitting quite a low. So I started looking at the passing of time differently and found that the pagan wheel of the year makes so much more sense. The wheel contains 8 important holidays & festivals that align with the moon, the seasons, and natural cycles. February begins with Imbolc, that time halfway between the winter and spring solstice. Rather than seeing February as a dreary drudge through more slush and snow, Imbolc focuses on the beginnings of new life under the surface. That’s a MUCH nicer way to reframe it. It’s more of an incubation and growth phase than it is just a sad dead landscape.
I’m trying to take that to heart this year and decided that I would focus on one longer-term project for February. I actually did this last year without realizing it when I was working on my Cooperative Care Trainer Certificate Program. It was a long hard process but I ended up being very proud of the outcome. And so far over 100 trainers have completed the course and earned their certification! There were days when it seemed easier to let it go, but slogging along doing little bits every day really was the best approach to such a big project.
This year my project is updating my introductory Cooperative Care course for students and setting it up on my new teaching platform. When I first thought about it this seemed like a quick and simple process, but of course it is not. In the dog training world things are constantly evolving, and good trainers are always changing with the times. This is my February focus. It’s big enough to take more than a single month, but I can also see how to proceed through it day by day. And that’s the foundation of good dog training as well. See the big picture but be able to break it down into the fine details, put them in order, and work through them. I think that one of the major deterrents to getting things started is seeing the big goal but not the little steps that will get there. Or, thinking that small steps aren’t really progress. I’ve seen over and over again that moving forward in tiny amounts, even creeping forward, still works. Maybe that’s the lesson that February can teach.
Do you have a February focus? Other than “survive” of course, but that’s true for all of us at this point I think.
Deborah Jones, Ph.D. is a retired psychology professor who now trains animals full-time. She has been training for 30+ years and focuses on positive reinforcement based methods. Deb has written 13 books on dog training and has helped develop several DVD series way back in the day. She has also trained and shown multiple breeds to high level titles in agility, rally, and obedience. She is currently teaching online training classes, workshops, and webinars at www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com. Her latest project is the Cooperative Care Trainer Certificate course. Visit her website at www.k9infocus.com for her blog and more information.
Deb Jones, PhD literally wrote the book to cooperative care… and now she’s created a certificate program to help more people find a kind and gentle approach when providing physical care for dogs.
Love this! I recently bought the most beautifully illustrated book – The Wheel of the Year – looking to find a sense of belonging in a world I understand and identify with less and less. Peaceful Imbolc to you <3
I need a nice illustrated wheel! And yes, the world seems more alien all the time.
I too, am not a fan of February, other than the days are finally getting longer. The deep snow and cold are here, and the barn and kennel chores are twice as hard. I also had a loss on Feb 9. My husband of 32 years passed away in 2023. I am now coming off losing a horse of 19 years, a sheep of 12 years and my beloved pointer Stella (whom many know) of 14 years.
I have 2 “February focus” projects. First and foremost is my new 7 mo old GSP pup Esther. I am thankful her life overlapped with Stella’s, but she is a far cry from Stella. I am trying to help her become a great travel and competition (nosework) buddy. Her energy, humor, and creativity have kept me on my toes and constantly exploring “outside the box”. My 2nd project is to build a small “happily ever after” home on my property, so in a few years, I can hand over the reins of my 28 acre farm to my son and his family. A scary, big step, but it allows me to plan for my future, and keep my beloved farm in the family.
I do notice the days lengthening, and that’s always good. I didn’t realize your husband died on Feb. 9 as well. It’s a rough day. You’ve had lots of losses recently. But puppies help! They are also stressful in so many ways. Neo is almost 11 months now and it’s getting easier, thank goodness. I always forget how hard they are! I’m also thinking about how to downsize going forward. It’s good you can keep your property in the family and still have access.