Training/working/family

[LilBailey]

Hi

Just wondering how people make averything fit in. I look at my life sometimes and wonder. I have to remind myself that my dogs arn't progessing as fast as I wuld like them too b/c I simply don't have the time to put in as much work as I would like.

At the momment I'm tring to teach our little rescue that she can come inside but sitting on the floor or in the dog bed is ok but on the couch is not. She is very Cliker savvy and VERY food motivated. Things are getting better but it is hard to fit in many little sessions when I'm not home and she is so full on that I can't just have her inside all evening to work with her it is a short session process for now.

I'm Lucky hubby is a stay at home Dad so the dogs arn't at home alone very often and they get exersized but I train them.

How do you fit in everything, Work, Family, Housework, Hobbies if you have any that arn't dogs.

[Sue & Waldo]

I chickened out and got a cleaner!

[Vickie]

If I am time poor (I'm not right now) I just make sure that I make every second of every session really count.

And....my house is mostly a mess vbg

Edited May 16, 2011 by Vickie

[Zug Zug]

I do my best - but yes it can be hard.

I prioritise and trick myself into thinking it's no big deal by doing the following things:

• short dog training sessions of 5-10 mins a go are easier to fit in, and less likely to put off.
  
• If I'm too tired to do much, there is no excuse for not finding time to put my dog in a stay while I quickly put a load of laundry in, etc. or do some clicker work in the lounge room if it's cold outside.
  
• Twice weekly dog training clubs mean I have a definite appointment in my calendar so I usually do at least that much (but even then, sometimes not - last week I didn't make it)
  
• I do short physical training of my own at home, which is quicker than going to the gym (but I had to buy equipment so not cheaper necessarily)
  
• I don't cook much at all (very easy dinners happen here - I love frozen vegetables they are so easy!)
  

And a cleaner. Oh thank goodness for the cleaner!!!

[Staranais]

Exercising & training the dog has priority here, or else she makes life miserable for everyone else. But, I knew that's what life would be like before I bought her, so I don't really begrudge it.

Most hobbies fit around the dog (e.g. I either do things where she can come, or I make sure I exercise her before I go somewhere she can't come).

Most of my study happens at home, so I can break it up with short trick training sessions, like Zug Zug describes.

Housework happens, but we're not sparkly clean.

[aussielover]

I am like staranais; I generally fit in most activities around my dog lol. I am lucky though and she accompanies me to work and uni. Most of my hobbies are animal related; if not I make sure I exercise and train my dog before I go out. If I will be away for a long period I get a dog walker for her.

I am not really into house work; I am more the sort of person that lets things gets so messy until i can't stand it anymore, then I do a big clean!

I actually get my dog to help me clean up, she can put stuff into the laundary basket and open and close doors, so she is reasonably useful

When I am studying I like to take breaks to do some training or even a short walk or run with my dog as a break.

[RubyStar]

Well my house is an absolute pigsty! Training is my priority because it's also my biggest hobby. After working all day and being out a few nights a week to train, the last thing I can be bothered doing is housework! So I usually do the bare minimum and then when I can't stand it, I dedicate a rare spare weekend day to cleaning the house top to bottom

I've been home from work 2 days now with the snuffles and the dogs are going stir crazy being kept inside, so I've done a few short training sessions with them today because we haven't made it out to training this week. We just finished one so they are content to lay on their beds for the time being, but it won't be long until they are staring me down for dinner

Edited May 17, 2011 by RubyStar

[J...]

For me it doesn't fit and that's just the way it is. And that's without an OH or kids to worry about.

I do the best I can with what I have. I'd love to have a set up in my own backyard and work from home so I can go out and train my dogs for 5 mins x 3 times a day but I don't and I can't. The house getting messy drives me nuts but in the big scheme of things, does it really matter? I'll get to it when it drives me sufficiently nuts or when I have a weekend free.

[TerraNik]

I just make it all fit because it has to!!!!!!! I don't watch TV, I try to multi-task and I just try and make every moment count.

But like others... Cleaning the house is fairly low on the list and sometime doesn't get done for a little while... And I probably get less sleep than I should!

[Guest Clover]

I do short training sessions as well, the oddest time is Harri's lesson on getting quicker drops out of him just before bed . It is hard to fit everything in and keep everyone happy though sometimes.

[W Sibs]

Ummm... I have no idea how things works but it does?? I think multi-tasking in the key!

I find that Charlie and Emmy are quite easy and fit in my lifestyle :D Charlie is a very very easy dog to live with and Emmy, as long as she has her routine and gets enough exercise.. she is really good. They get their walks daily, they both have their play time too. When I watch tv, I do training with Emmy at commercial breaks. She's a quick learner... usually after an hour show, she has learned a new trick

If I know that I'm going to have a busy day or have to work late... I make an extra effort to put aside an hour just for the dogs (even if this mean waking up an hour early or stay up an hour later). Park visits, walks, training, play or just simply hanging out. I simply try to tire them out so when I'm out, they'll just sleep.

Housework:

- vacuum and sweeping is done weekly

- dishes are done every night before bed

- clothes gets washed when I realise I ran out of clean clothes (or underwear)

- make sure everything looks tidy before going to bed.

Edited May 18, 2011 by CW EW

[B-Q]

I'm lucky I've got lots of time at home atm. I only work about 30 hours a week and I still live at home.

Plus we have a agility twice a week and herding about once a fortnight. so that keeps me on track on what I need to be working on.

[OSoSwift]

I don't have enough time either really.

I do obedience and am about to start 2 X 2 weavers and doing other agility or rather jumping training.

I am also training my male for the ET and I have one young child at home, one at school. We have only recently stopped calving, but soon have to do more cattle work as well as get organised for meals etc for a OH that does shift work. I have also been busy making dogs coats. Really at the moment I have dropped the ball a bit and need to get more organised but I too find it difficult.

[murve]

me:: I do the washing, vacum, wash floors train Orlando & Sarge, ET training of Orlando & Malika

Daughter:: wash dishes, rubbish run, train Malika & Dodger plus she has Uni

we share the cooking, prepare dogs dinners :D

Our kids are being trained for Obedience, Agility, ET with the occational show