Mini Rant About Expectations

[Leslie and Halas]

This happened last night at flyball, but I was just reminded of it reading Linda's discussion about Finn and one of Karen's responses to that discussion.  

We had a guest-dog at flyball last night.  A man brought in a border collie-mix that he's been fostering for 3 or 4 months.  We are in central Illinois, and a woman on the east coast is interested in adopting the dog, BUT ONLY IF SHE KNOWS IT WILL BE A GOOD FLYBALL DOG!!!!  If not, then she's not interested.  

The people that run our flyball team reluctantly agreed to let the dog come to our practice and give the woman their opinions.  We don't mind having guest dogs at flyball at all.  In fact, we love that.  But they weren't too crazy about trying to evaluate the dog.  The lady had a list of about 20 things that she wanted to know whether or not the dog could do.  Never mind that it takes a really long time to learn flyball.  It took Halas a year to be able to do a full run, and it was many months after that before he was ready to run in a tournament.  Whether a dog will be good at flyball can't be determined in one practice.  In one practice, you can only determine if the dog has some potential, catches on to the couple of things you show him, and seems to enjoy himself.  This lady wanted to know if the dog could already do certain tasks that take months to learn.  So here comes this dog, in a building she's never been to before, with a man that she's only known a few months, with about 5 or 6 other strange people and their dogs, and she's being asked to do some things that she's never done before.  I turned to some of my teammates, and I said, "The doodle rescue group that I know would never adopt a dog to this woman, just based on the fact that she wanted to put this condition on it."  

In my opinion, even if this dog was a flyball natural, I wouldn't let her adopt it, just because she has these expectations.  What happens if she gets the dog home and it doesn't meet her expectations?

The dog, Mia, really did a great job.  The people and other dogs didn't bother her a bit.  She did great on her recalls, didn't mind the noise the box makes, and was grabbing a tennis ball off the ground and bringing it back to her handler after only a couple of reps.  She seemed to enjoy watching the other dogs run. She even ended the night by going over a jump.  All things considered, that's a really great first flyball practice, and she does show a lot of potential.  But this lady had way more advanced things on her list that she wondered if the dog could do.  It's like she's hoping someone trained a dog for flyball, and then gave the dog up.

The whole idea of getting a dog specifically for it's flyball potential isn't really something our team is into anyway, so that's another part of the reason they were a little reluctant to try to evaluate her.  Our dogs are all family dogs first, flyball dogs somewhere down the list after that.  We all have the dogs we want, and if they are good at flyball, great.  If not, no big deal.  There are plenty of other dog activities to enjoy.  We see other flyball teams that selected their dogs specifically so they would be good flyball dogs.  There are even breeders mixing certain breeds in order to try to get the perfect flyball dog (a team of 4 Border collie-staffordshire terrier mixes just set the world record in UFLI flyball). But that's just not the way our team thinks.

Anyway, Mia may join us a few more times.  It was fun having her there, and she seemed to enjoy herself.  Overall, I think it will be a good experience for her.  And to whatever family does adopt her, maybe the foster can say that she seemed to enjoy flyball.  I just hope that this woman that requires her to be a good flyball dog isn't the woman that gets her.  Mia is a sweet girl, and she doesn't deserve to go to her new home with those kind of expectations placed on her.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Yeah, whatever happen to the concept of the DOG's happiness???

[GBK]

Right on Joanne I totally agree!!!!!  Happy Dogs is what I strive for, even when they are a little naughty :)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Now just wait a minute - are you saying that Stuart can't tap dance?  Wasn't that on my list of things that he had to be able to do before I'd adopt him?  Turn the car around - I'm taking him back!  LOL.  Are people just nuts?  And who would let her adopt that dog?  Shame. 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I have a funny imagine of stuart in shiny red tap shoes and a top hat. :) I bet he's a smart dog and would learn quick!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

If I reviewed this women's application I would have probably filed in the "round filing receptacl".  Mia needs someone who will love her whether or not she is a good fly ball dog. I like Frannie's comment, but it is a sad fact that there tons of Chinese girl babies in China orphanages because their parents only wanted a boy.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I just read an aritcle this morning that said there are 163 million women and girls missing from the population in Asia due to families aborting female fetuses. I find that absurd! not to mention the long term consquences if this continues at this rate. In the community that I grew up in, where there is a large immigrant population from Asia, the local hospital had to stop informing patients of the babies sex to avoid this problem. Now I am all about diveristy and immigration, love it in fact, but this is something I can't tolerate!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I agree, if it's lacking one of her expectations she would probably get rid of the dog. Teach the dog yourself right? Not a good home to be out into. I'm happy that she got to experience what fun is though! Would this dog receive love in this home?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I couldn't agree more.  My only expectation when it comes to dogs is giving them a wonderful loving home and in return, hopefully receiving a loyal, loving companion.  That's gone pretty well with my first two dogs :) LOL

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Dogs understand unconditional love....to bad their humans don't.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I hope that woman doesn't get ANY dog. She sounds awful. People are so stupid sometimes, that it never ceases to amaze me.

[GBK]

I agree with you too Leslie!  What does this lady really expect?  Like someone else expressed, what if the dog got hurt and could not play flyball anymore.....  She gonna give it up?  Kinda disgusts me.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You are sure right about the DRC not letting this woman adopt with her 'list of accomplishments/demands'