Mentoring
Mentoring has been a passion of Cathy's for many years. We would not be where we are today without great mentors in our life. We feel it is now our time to give back. We spend a lot of time mentoring others. We have dedicated a lot of years to mentoring young people whether it be friends of our daughters', through sports, pregnancy resource centers, in the youth ministry and most certainly the dog show world.
We have much to lose if we don't invest in the next generation!
Showing, Handling and Grooming dogs can be a great opportunity for a young person that has a desire to work with animals. They have to be willing to do the work required to be successful, however, if they are the opportunities are endless. We have found that working with the dogs has helped in many other areas including discipline and school work. When we take a junior handler under our wings, we want to have an open line of communication with the parent/guardian in order to make it a success on both ends. We also ask the juniors to sign an agreement which represents their committment and also lets them be held accountable for what is expected of them.
Mentoring certainly goes further than working with a juniors. We all need mentors to learn about our breed and in order to develop a successful breeding program. Don't limit yourself because you aren't comfortable with asking for help. Find someone in your breed or a local dog club that can assist you with finding the right mentor for your need.
We encourage you to take the time to find a mentor if you are just getting started in dogs and if you have been around for some time, please take a few moments to share your expertise with someone that is willing to listen and learn. It will make a difference in someone's life and don't be surprised if it is YOURS!
"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."
Benjamin Franklin