A Day In The Life – Tips for Avoiding Disagreements

By Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq./Mediator Hamilton Law and Mediation, PLLC

You do all you can, each and every day, to make their lives happy and healthy. Some do this full-time (handlers); others do this part-time (owner, breeders or junior handlers) while they also work or go to school. As you do all you can for your dogs, do you actually realize all you do? Thus this A Day in the Life article was born. Each person’s definition of daily standard of care is different, challenging and can often expose them to comments and criti- cisms, which leads to intended or unintended conflict. Breeders, owners, handlers and juniors (BOHJ) can disagree with each other on the manner in which each is caring for their pets. Advice, suggestion and helpful direction can feel like criticism. Conflicts arise when the speaker is misunderstood, the listener feels disrespected or all caregivers feel overwhelmed.

There can be two reasons why it can feel like criticism when someone speaks to you
about your dog.

First: Who knows the dog better than you, their current caregiver? Second: The observer has no idea or context why you do what you do.

Comments, though well-intended, can be perceived as criticism, non-com- plementary and unwelcome. When one of the above four parties comments on the way in which another is handling their charge fur can fly.

Lets look at A Day in the Life and the varying scenarios and manners in which each caregiver cares for their pets while they:

• Juggle the needs and number of dogs in their life.
• Schedule their care to keep them in show condition. Which means ex- ercised, fed, groomed and trained.

These responsibilities are affected by the differing needs and personali- ties of the breeds in their care and quite frankly the time and desired outcome of the caregivers. Let’s start with the numbers.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=105648

Posted by Alex on Jun 15 2016. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.