OK, here it is......THE LEGENDS OF DOCKDOGS!!!! A small piece of the history and my editorial comments..... ;-) In 2009, I attended the Dockdogs Rules Committee and presented a motion to add the LEGEND DIVISION for dogs 10+ to our rules. While, at the time, some were skeptical for the reason we would add another division for old dogs, I saw that this population of dogs was quickly growing and I wanted to give competitors an avenue to feature their old dogs, to give them a way to feel competitive instead of retiring there dogs when they werent able to perform as the once did. Many may have thought this recommendation was for personal reasons but it wasnt. I saw the sport growing and prayed that if we instituted a LEGEND DIVISION that someday we would have MANY old dogs continuing to remain involved and active in our sport, contributing to longer, healthier lives and even more fun and opportunity for our OLDER population of dogs. In 2010, at the National Championships in Dubuque. the FIRST LEGEND CHAMPIONSHIPS were held. I wish I could share the numbers of dogs that were ranked or participated but I will have to add that later, (once archived rankings and results are again available). What I can tell you is that we had an AMAZING group of LEGENDS and at that time our LEGENDS could compete with both Veterans and Legends and we had some that did just that! It was incredibly moving to see these OLD dogs jump their hearts out and even throw down some amazing jump scores! Jump ahead to today.....we are now on our 5th year of the LEGEND DIVISION Championships and we now have 36 World Ranked Legend Teams with MANY MORE that compete on the club level or that may not show in rankings!!!! This was my dream in 2009, the dream that some may have thought was crazy but I knew we would see dogs sticking around to enjoy there older years doing active things and LIVING LIFE, not just laying on a couch giving up what they enjoy and that keeps them young at heart! Its true that I have a special attachment to these OLD DOGs and these divisions...... Tanner is the reason for that. He has taken me along for a great ride, but more than that I have also learned so much from him. We as humans, dont know how to deal with watching our dogs grow older and seeing their abilities changes, sometimes we just give up because the dogs performance doesnt give us what we need...... but there is so much more to it. What does the dog need? Cant they compete in a new way? Isnt it about maintaining their health by staying active and building our life and our bond through sharing the fun? It doesnt mean that it has to be dockdogs but dont they need and deserve something they love that keeps them active? My hope is that every owner has their own ah ha moment, the realization that this is about being what your dog needs instead of giving up because they dont give us what we want. Our hopes and goals may need to change from wanting titles and placements to just getting scores or even achieving enough to be ranked or even just enjoying their 60 seconds of dancing on the dock. Those things are success, they are a way that we humans can reframe what our role is for our dog on the dock or in any sport. Its not easy to watch them age, but its going to happen and you can make it a good thing and you can make some of the best times of their and your life...... This is what I mean by NEVER GIVE UP.....I only hope that people will continue to give their dogs the opportunity to LIVE LIFE and not just wash them out for the younger, more able dog. They need us, and thank god for all of these amazing LEGEND DOGS and their owner/handlers that give them a way to keep on living and loving life!!! PLEASE ENJOY THIS LEGEND DOG TRIBUTE VIDEO! FEEL FREE TO SHARE! (Unfortunately this is not all dogs but I have done all I can to include all those photos that were shared or that I could track down on FB) https://youtube/watch?v=QZn0k5Sxvzk&feature=youtu.be
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:13:06 +0000