Club Dilemma ~ Do I stay or do I go?

labgirl

labgirl

Forums Sage
Last year I changed agility training clubs. The move has been amazing for both myself and Merlin. His confidence has grown enormously and the things he can now do amaze me. We still need to transfer that to competitions, but I feel more confident that we will with time.

Most importantly he adores our new trainer. This is not always the case with Merlin. But he has really taken a shine to her and loves being in her class.

Here is where the dilemma comes.

Some of the folks from my current club have decided to split away and form their own agility club to focus on KC training. I had wished them well and thought no more on it. I have just been asked by my current club to shadow an instructor, so I can ultimately be a trainer, and I said yes, because I had no way of knowing that Merlin's trainer was leaving to go to the new club.

This literally all happened last Tuesday. Today they announced their trainer line-up at the new club and there is my instructor.

What's the big deal, do both clubs, you say? I would if I could, but they both train on a Tuesday:gaah

So now I am in a tricky situation. Do I stick with the club that has asked me to help train because I don't want to be disloyal, or do I follow my trainer because I know she understands and will get the best out of Merlin and, ultimately, the best out of Sparrow when she is ready?

I don't know who would replace her as our trainer, she is the most experienced and is KC qualified. My head says go to the new club if I can get in a class with my trainer, as this is about my agility journey with Merlin, not about a club. But in my heart I feel so guilty, because I get on really, really well with the founder of my current club. Trouble is, she is not a serious competition person, she has competed, but not at the level my trainer has. I want to work through the ranks with Sparrow, I would love one day to be at Crufts.

So do I stay behind, or do I make the jump?

Two other considerations:
1) I can still train Sparrow on a Monday night at the current club in 'Beginners'.
2) The new club is 10 minutes up the road from me, if that. The current club is 25 minutes without traffic, with traffic 45 minutes.

Any thoughts?
 
I would stick with the trainer you know is doing the best by your dogs. Your loyalty needs to be with Merlin (and Sparrow) and what is best for them. It's great the current club wants to teach you to be a trainer but, if you are interested in that, there is no reason you can't become a trainer at the new club.

Make sure the current group knows it's not THEM but you are following the trainer you believe is best for your dog at THIS STAGE of your training.
 
Try both out. Then go for what is best for you and your dogs. I had a similar choice to make last year when I had to choose between two specialty clubs.
 
Silaria said:
I would stick with the trainer you know is doing the best by your dogs. Your loyalty needs to be with Merlin (and Sparrow) and what is best for them. It's great the current club wants to teach you to be a trainer but, if you are interested in that, there is no reason you can't become a trainer at the new club.

Make sure the current group knows it's not THEM but you are following the trainer you believe is best for your dog at THIS STAGE of your training.
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I agree with Silaria. Just be honest with them--tell them that you'd love to help instruct but right now you can't because your current classes are on Tuesdays. If anything changes--tell them to keep you posted!
 
Thanks guys. I think I need to follow my trainer. I have double-checked and though she won't always be training me at the new club, she will be a lot of the time, and the other trainers for Merlin's grade there he really likes. So I need to go to the environment that suits him.

Well, that was an unexpected change:eek2:
 
How is it going now that a year has passed? I have such a long history with my "home" club and there were times I drifted off, and drifted back, chased the new and been chased back. I keep trying to make a break for it, but only to ultimately get sucked back in. I guess the loyalty of my dogs rubbed off on me a bit... and I sometimes wonder what else could we have done if only a) we would have followed so and so b) had the money to get the dream team of coaching c) if I dropped all my other pursuits and trained like my income depended on it ... (so glad it remains a hobby and not a profession!)
 
I understand the competition part but you do this for fun correct?

I seem to recall the last time you swapped was better competition and people (though I might be wrong) So what about people? Will you get on with the new club? Is either a risk of not staying viable?

Also consider if you growing as a trainer would also help your dogs?

As to the other I would be very up front as to your reasons with the people and if they cannot respect that they don't matter much.

Just some thoughts though the real answer is join the barkside <insert scuba breathing> flyball.....
 
Ha, you are soo funny! :) Leslie did invite me, again, to come watch! Someday I will!

I'm stuck to my good old club. I honestly cannot afford to hang out with the best in town. I have a retirement to get ready for!
 
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