Dilemma

Ok so I know this is not a big deal but what would you do?

We are taking a session off from agility classes after next week until the weather is not 100 all the time. My trainer is doing a tricks class and I want to go with one dog. But I don't know which dog.

My trainer wants Summer. She keeps suggesting I sign up Summer. I know it's mostly because she looooves Summer.

I kinda want to take Summer. Summer is a great tricks dog and knows more tricks than Mia. To be fair though Mia learns some things faster- jumping over my arms and anything involving moving around me for example. I think summer would have more fun though. On the other hand I think Mia would have fun too. She loves shaping and clicker training. It might help boost confidence. Mia needs lots of that. Summer though is so social and would enjoy hanging out with her favorite people more.

Dilemma: summer is in nosework now and Mia is not. So if i signed up summer then Mia would not have any classes and Summer would have two. I feel guilty.

One other option would be to see if my nosework instructor would let Mia drop in even though she's way advanced compared to Summer and her class. Mia adores nosework.

Both dogs in tricks class is not an option.

So basically... I want to take Summer to tricks class but feel I should take Mia. Wwyd?

Is Mia aware summer is doing nose work...?

Because unless she's somehow become capable of knowing then I don't think she'll mind

I do understand though, but it's our silly nonsense, I don't think the dogs care as long as they get to play and walk

If I were in this situation, I'd say I'd split classes between them, so each of them had a 'thing'.

Mia knows when I'm going training. From my clothes to the bag I pack... And she gets excited every time and wants to go. Of course they both do. It's probably just me being a silly human but I feel bad that Mia isn't going to get to go for a whole month.

Then there's your answer.

Sometimes a break is good for a dog.

But I think a tricks class could really benefit Mia too.

The way I see it, tricks classes are a good way to keep your dog mentally stimulated without the pressure of "having" to learn something. It's for fun, versus agility or obedience where there is a sort of pressure to do things right.

I would take Mia.

I would break down and have a class for each so as to avoid the guilt.

Or, you could try doing something different with Mia, like a fun, new, but class-less activity to make up.

It sounds like you want to take Summer but guilt is making you think of Mia.

I would take Mia, tricks will be good for her impulse control, they build confidence AND you can use them to keep her focused on you for going to startlines, during startlines or waiting in agility etc.

I would take Mia, then you have some weekly lessons with both of them

If it were me, I would take Mia. Not so much because of "guilt," but so that each dog has something to keep her busy during the break from agility.

And personally I think tricks training bleeds over into everything else you do/train with a dog.

If you want to take Summer, IMO you should take Summer.

Mia will be fine not having a class for a month

I think a tricks class could be great for her too, but I still think you should take who you want to take.

Oh, good, I'm not crazy. I agree with this.

Since you said Summer would enjoy it more, I'd take Summer. Maybe just do some extra stuff at home for Mia, or find some other type of class for her?

Y'all were supposed to give me a unanimous answer!

The more I think about it, the more I think I'm taking Mia. When I frist heard about the class, I thought to myself 'Oh good, that will give Mia something to do' but then people were asking me if I was signing up Summer. Poor Mia, Summer is the popular one.

I think some stress-free training will be fantastic for Mia.

^agreed.

If you think Mia would benefit from the exposure then take her, of course we all are just people on the Internet, we don't know your dogs like you do, maybe switch their classes once or twice & see who enjoys what activity the most.

Well, Summer has taken a trick class before. I train tricks at home and both like them. Summer is on her third round of nosework classes right now (so 13 weeks into training) and enjoys them a lot. Little slow on the uptake but hey... it's Summer LOL. Mia is imo as trial ready as she will be for nosweork however ORTs are few and far between and our first go for it will be in the fall. She's already taken all the nosework classes that our facility offers and is extremely consistently alerting on just odor.

The. You could switch them up perhaps, give them BOH variety as well as something to do , still I remember how crappy I felt when I would good to shows with bear & have to leave the others behind... So I understand your "human" want to have them both in something. People say dogs don't feel left out *whispers* ... but I think they do.

I vote Mia as well though it seems you've already made your decision.

I know how you feel though. Right now the only dog that is currently taking classes is Joey. We're in the middle of a CGC preparation class That we started a couple weeks ago.

I feel bad when one of my dogs are taking classes and the others aren't