The payoff is like that feeling of sweet success after months and months of hard work.  The payoff is what you get when you set a goal, make a plan on how to achieve that goal and then stay on task to reach that goal.

I think in my lifetime I have had many different goals and have succeeded in reaching some of them.  It is strange that I cannot think of those in the past but of the most current successes.  It seems that the accomplishments that mean the most are the one that were the hardest to attain.  If it were easy then we probably would take it for granted.

For months now I have been dedicated to Pippin's performance in the ring. His start line, his bar knocking, his contacts.  The start line could be better, the bar knocking can be fixed and the contacts are a must have if we want to go anywhere and be successful. 

So we planned, we worked hard every night, we found expert help and we received the big payoff!!  The contact performance was phenomenal, the start line was good and the bars stayed up!  What a feeling. Did we qualify? No we did not but it wasn't because of bars or contacts.  Pip slid right off the table.

Next goal............table work!!!

 When I go out to my agility field to set up a course my dogs get a glint in their eye and bark in excitement of what is to come. They know that each will get alone time with me to work skills and feel brilliant.  All 4 of my dogs love the sport of agility as it is a game to them no different than throwing the Frisbee or playing chase with each other.

Our sport is constantly evolving. The need for speed is ever increasing and with that the demand of safe equipment. When I started agility most of the equipment was hand made out of wood.  Now we have rubber surfaces, aluminum or fiberglass, our weave spacing grew, our jump cups improved and many of the venues have gone to the break away tire.

I think we truly are working hard to make sure we are competing in safe conditions but injuries will continue regardless. Even those of us that properly stretch and condition have freak injuries that happen. It is an "accident". We certainly don't want bad things to happen but sometimes shit happens.  Sometimes when my dogs are racing around the backyard not looking where they are going, I am fearful that they will run into something and hurt themselves.

I cannot truly live and enjoy life if I am constantly in fear of what might happen or what could happen.  I try to make smart and reasonable choices for my pack but I also want my dogs to be happy and love their life. 

Life is a journey and meant to be explored. My dogs like to hike off leash and drink out of streams. Life is meant to be enjoyed and savored. Like the Yin and Yang, one cannot experience excitement, love and satisfaction without sometimes experiencing sadness and loss.

My heart goes out to those that have loved and lost. I know the feeling all too well and it really makes me appreciate each and every moment.