Living Vicariously

One of the most amazing things about living in today’s world is the unprecedented access to information. Not just facts and news, but thoughts, emotions, experiences, and insights. I have become so addicted to reading about the exploits of fellow agility handlers, inspirational dog trainers, and others who just make me laugh with their irreverent look at the craziness of life. I can’t imagine living in the world of isolation that was before the advent of the internet. Even though the world wide web has been around for a number of years now, a new culture of “blogging” has emerged, in addition to social networks such as Facebook, and an overwhelming amount of information is shared for free as a result.

You can see my list of “blogs I follow” here on my blog as well as my friends on Facebook. Some are funny, such as Hyperbole and a Half, which has made me laugh so hard I’ve almost cried. I’ve also come close to incriminating myself at work by laughing out loud.

Others aim to be profound and share advice for being more successful as a human being, such as Raptitude. While I may not agree with everything on this blog, there are gems within that are worth searching for.
The majority of the blogs I follow relate to my life’s greatest passion: dog training. Susan Garrett, Silvia Trkman, and other greats have offered priceless advice and insights into behavior modification, trick training, and strategy.

The others are people I would consider peers, although superior in the sport. These are people who inspire me in their agility journeys and people whom I aspire to be more like in various ways. They share their experiences, both good and bad, and relate the lessons they have learned through these experiences. These people set aside ego and allow the vulnerability it takes to admit that while they are not yet perfect, they are enjoying the journey in striving to be so. I want to thank them for their bravery, their ability to be honest and genuine in their faults, their admirable humility, and for allowing me to vicariously celebrate in their victories.

Furthermore, I recall reading that the sport of agility is in danger due to a lack of young handlers. I don’t think this could be further from the truth. In fact, due to Facebook, I have enjoyed watching a number of young, talented, passionate handlers make their presence known over the past year. While I myself initially become involved in agility at age 14, many of these handlers have been involved since the age of 6 and have had support and parental involvement. They’ve demonstrated skills superior to the majority of their elders, and exhibit the passion and dedication to work hard and accomplish what may previously have been unthinkable. These handlers are helping drive the sport with faster dogs, smoother handling, and more advanced training techniques. The rest of us need to work harder if we hope to reach the bar they are setting!

I was unable to watch the livestream of the AKC National Championship this weekend, but followed religiously on my phone through the magic of Facebook. I brimmed with eager anticipation at every update and celebrated each victory of those handlers I have been reading about and following online for so long now.

So to people such as Tori Self, Gabrielle Blackburn, Sarah Duke, Kelsey Kirkpatrick, Lauren Haley Duckworth, Andrea Samuels, Rosanne DeMascio and so many more, I thank you for sharing your excitement, your experiences, your victories and your close calls, and all that you have learned along the way. Congratulations for all of your achievements, and best wishes for your future endeavors. My life is enriched by all of you, and I hope to be sharing a Nationals experience again myself one day!