Dealing With Reality

B

Brian Glock

Member
Reality is no fun. I have told some of you that I was getting my first bird dog, a Pudelpointer, very shortly. Well, the pup arrived on Sunday. He is the cutest little guy, with a ton of curiousity and energy. The moment he arrived was the moment that I started wondering if I made the right decision to bring a bird dog into my life. There is alot of uncertainty in my life right now, not knowing how the addition of children in a few years is going to affect my time for dogs and hunting. I'm guessing its not going to help. I am also somewhat unsettled in my career and don't know what that is going to do to my freetime. So with that being said, I don't think that I should be brining a bird dog into my life. I was selfish trying to fulfill a dream. This has been a tough decision, one of the toughest in a long time. Having to put to rest a dream that I have had since I first hunted behind a dog when I was twelve really sucks. So the reality is that I will be sending my new bird dog back to the breeder this weekend.

I guess I'll just have to stick to decoys and shotguns. They don't care how much time you have for them.

Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

The wounded bird hunter
 
Brian:

I don't have a clue how old you are, but if you want absolute security in this life, I got some bad news for you KID...

3rd Rule: There ain't any! Your Daddy could be named Hilton, Ford, Rockefeller, Gates whatever! If you draw the black ball all thoes Millions ain't gonna help you one bit.

2nd Rule: Whan to make God Laugh? Tell him Your plans for Your life.

1st Rule: There Is a GOD and You and I are NOT Him.

Building Boats, Training Dogs, Raising Kids, Shooting Ducks, are only for a while, there ain't no Garantees!

and thats about all I got to say about that.
 
Thanks,

I'm 28 and trying to find the right course through life. I have found my late 20s the hardest part of life so far. So much rides on the decisions I make now.

Your right, nothing in life is guaranteed. Gates, Buffett, Nugent, Big Bird and all of us have the same destiny.
 
Brian:

Their is something I forgot to say.

Enjoy the blessings you have, look for the good things, thats how you find them.

Make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time, and GO FOR IT. Rember what the guy in the miror looks like and is all about.

Everyone gets scared, its how you react that matters.
 
Dogs only want affection, attention, and full bowls of water and food. Tomorrow never gets here, youre never ready for a house payment, wife, child, or a pet, but they happen anyway. Sleep on it and make sure you don't regret not fullfilling a dream.

Kyle
 
You'll be ok whatever you decide.

I waited until I was about 20 or so and in University to get my first dog. I had wanted one since I was six. When we went to friends' places to play, I was always out with their dogs instead. When I got him I still had years to go in school, no real home, no money for food, and we had a great time. I was homeless one winter for two months and he had to go live in an animal shelter while I crashed with friends, but I still got to see him everyday (I volunteered to work there) and we got through it. Man we had some good times hunting together on weekends. I know what you mean about big changes though - that period of my life from about 24 - 34 was insane. I finished school, moved up here with the girl of my dreams, eventually got a job teaching, got married, had a kid, got fired, moved, had another kid, moved, bought a house, .... and on and on. That first dog drowned hunting several years ago and I'm on my third dog now. Many changes ahead too. Making those first few decisions can be very stressful.

Mike
 
Three good things I heard along the journey that have helped.
1 You can never have enough money for kids. But if you try to wait to have it you will not enjoy the rewards as much.
2 A good marriage is a 70% 70% compromise.
3 When you are dead, you are dead a long time.
If this is realy a dream that you have been thinking about since you started get to it. Dogs don't live long enough, but neither do we. Get in as many as you can.
Good luck. Keep looking up, not at the hot water below.
 
Brian there are no gaurantees on life, if you want something and you can do it go for it. Life is just too short as I have recently found. My wife had congestive heart failure 2.5 weeks ago. Along with diabetees and various other ailments its been rough. This has changed things for us like she wont be hunting with me anymore or camping since she just wont be able to get around. But I can tell you that we have had wonderful times hunting fishing and camping together. Dont hesitate to go for what you want. If you cant devote enough time to a dog now maybe in a few years you will be able to. just dont give up on that dream and hang in there.
 
Brian, your young, there is a world of decisions to make and some take a lifetime. Bringing the dog into the house won't be a mistake, start slow, you don't have to be a full time trainer. I trained a HRC champ by doing it a half to and hour a day, a little longer on weekends by choice. Kids came, I retired from the military and was out of work for a while. Through that I had and still have a supportive wife, great kids and we all love those dogs. We're a hunting family. Things take time, but if you don't leap you never will.
 
I have found lifes decisions are better made with the gut than a chart. Life isn't a business, keep it seperate and enjoy it or you will live a life of agony and bitterness wondering why you have few precious memories. Dogs and kids provide motivation to get up and do it again everyday. It's OK to be selfish with your dreams..if that's what you want to call it..a happy man is a good father, husband and a joy to work with in the business world. In a couple years when you have kids..your dog will love them more than you do..just like it loves you more than you could ever love it. Cut the anchor rope and live man!
 
Thanks,

I'm 28 and trying to find the right course through life. I have found my late 20s the hardest part of life so far. So much rides on the decisions I make now.

Brian,
Just make the best decisions you can, based upon the information you have at the time. Not all your decisions are going to be right but........that doesn't matter. I'm 59 and still don't know what I want to do when I grow up. Fortunately, I love what I do and do what I love (Lock Stock & Barrell, Inc.......E. Allen Decoy Company)(Also, Radio Control Model Airplanes, Fly Fishing & Fly Tying, a Great Wife, Great Kids & Great GrandKids). All of that is ............. decision. I decide to love and I decide to enjoy. It makes everything else fall into place.

Take each day and give it to God and let him handle the tough stuff. He wants to do it and wants you to be happy. Think about your Father....doesn't HE want you to be happy? Your Heavenly Father wants no less for you.

Saw a great painting with the caption..."...God didn't save me from drowning to beat me up on the beach".

Make the best decisions you can at the moment and keep moving forward.
God Bless Partner,
Lou
www.lockstockbarrell.com
www.eallendecoys.com
duckguylsb@juno.com
 
Heres my take im 28 years old. My take is a lil differant then yours as a few things are going ok but its life
When i got my first hunting dog 6 months ago i decided worst case scenario ill end up with a pet thats a good way too look at it.
also my advice for what its worth being the same age and being in a serious relationship
1 when you buy a house be prepared too be broke at least for a lil while
2 jobs are like dating keep trying new ones till one fits and feels right
3 dogs are the only reason i hunt ducks its... i dont know its just incredable too watch them work
Just my 2 cents worst case scenario you end up with a good house pet
 
Don't rush into anything. A good breeder should take the dog back if things are not working out. Hopefully there is not more to your story than what you shared.

When I was 25 I got married, bought a house that needed a ton of repairs and got 2 dogs. I had no idea what I wanted to do career wise. Money was extremely tight and we had no one to help us but we had each other and the dogs. Things got better over time. We were able to move into a much better house since we didn't have kids. 12 years after getting married my wife gives birth to twin boys and 10 months later we have to put down both of our dogs. I was able to find a 10 month old lab that was somewhat started. The kids love him. They were actually born 4 days apart. They just all turned 2.5 yesterday. His first season he retrieved 45 birds. This past season he was only able to retrieve 5 but one left me speechless due to his minimal training from the prior year. Training consists of a couple bumpers in the backyard. Over the past 6 years I have been through more jobs than I care to discuss. I finally found a great one but the commute is 1+ hours each way.

If I had it do all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. The hard things in life are what make you strong and make memories.

Best of luck!
 
You got some great advice here (I especially liked Lee's and Lou's). But only you can decide what's right.

I've been in your shoes.

Like others have said:
1) if you wait until you can afford either kids or dogs, you'll never have either.
2) if you don't have time to train a dog (10 minutes a day...), you can at least have a good pet.
3) RELAX AND GO WITH THE FLOW!!!

I was in your shoes not THAT long ago, and I know it's a scary time. But it doesn't get much better as you get older. You just learn to quit sweating the small Sh#%.

Take care,
Kirk
 
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Brian G, if I read that correctly, you don't yet have kids, right? Although dog training never really ends, certainly the first couple of years are the toughest and may be over before the kidlets start arriving.

I know from experience that there's a lot of God-I-hope-I-don't-screw-this-up when bringing the first hunting dog into your life. The truth is you're pretty much guaranteed to eff up a few things the first time around. The good news is that it's rarely irreversible. The better news is that there is so much instinct built into a well-bred hunting dog that ending a up with an effective hunter and family member does not require the same amount of training and energy necessary to hang ribbons on the wall. Thinking about your expectations for the pup and working your way backwards might help you better gauge the amount of time you'll want and have to invest in the pup.

Don't underestimate the therapeutic value of a dog. The physical exercise they require can create an incentive for you to regularly get out and take care of your physical and mental self at the same time, and ultimately leave you in better shape for your family, friends and career.

Good luck with the life decisions. I'll let ya know when I figure out what I wanna do when I grow up!
 
I have a PP. You are correct in that they do demand a lot of your time and attention. However, any dog does. If your concern is that you will not be able to devote the time that you need to the dog, then I support your decision wholeheartedly, as it is the right call. Better to return the dog than let it become a constant reminder of "opportuinty lost". However, if your concern is that the PP will not mix with kids, you could not be any more wrong. My PP is a dream around children, so that should not be a concern.

May I enquire what kennel you got your PP from? If you get any grief on returning the pup, let me know as I would consider purchasing it from you.

Whatever you do, take your time and weigh all your options. Any dog is a ten year commitment. However, I am quickly finding out that my PP is worth twice the time and effort.

Keep Safe-

BVL
 
brian Im sorry about your present situation. Wont pretend I know what is best for you now or at any other time. But I will tell you one thing your dead wrong about. Reality is fun. Life is fun. Even the crappy parts of it. i know you only from this post, but it really doesn't sound like you've had any fun in a while, and thats the only tragic thing here. If you honestly can't deal with the dog, or risk the dogs future, then your doing the right thing. But if you simply kinda funky about your present situation, and the dog would have given you some fun you desperetly need, then I gotta think you need to think about it.

Turn it over to God man. Let him show you the gifts he has given all of us. Reality is fun. Every day is a blessing. Right now Ive got some medical issues, and ready to walk out of whats been the best job Ive ever had... real stress stuff. And I woke up this morning and still think Im the luckiest man alive. I'm not special, I just let Him show me. And he did.

Dog or no dog, I hope things get better for you. travis
 
nothing right now. going back in july for some more xrays and another discussion about it. From talking to a uroligst friend in texas (nice to have a uroligst and a nephroligist (dr steve mccoulloch) you can just talk too) I think the concearn is its infused or grown into the kidney itself, and removing it is gonna be one big bloody mess. Nothing like someone telling you filling the toliet with blood occasionally is ok, and lets see what happens. i was down last week wif one of the lil bastards on the left side... found 4 more on da scan floating around in there. crossing fingers and hoping for da best. travis
 
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