The other day I got to thinking about what I actually spent my time on before I got a dog? Maybe some of you can recognize that feeling, but in any case it made me think about all the things that my life has been enriched with through Oswald. That is, all the things that have come along with Oswald, or that have come along the way, as Oswald and I develop.
Experiences, friendships, sparring partners, education, development and everything in between.
Having a dog is of course not just a lot of joy. It also comes with worries, stomachaches, headaches, sadness and sometimes a little frustration. But today I'm focusing on all the positive things that Oswald has brought with him.
Let's start with the experiences:
I have never had a great need to go out and experience the world. In fact, I have always really enjoyed Danish summer house holidays, and I saw no need to travel around Asia after I became a student. When Oswald moved in, it was as if things changed a bit and the desire and motivation to experience nature - also something other than Danish nature - had begun to sprout. Our first trip to the Harz, which I wrote about in the last blog post, only made that desire even greater.
In the summer of 2023, we received our first invitation to the European Dog Dancing Championships, and neither my husband nor I had any doubts; of course we had to go!
It was the real kick-start to daring to travel, and despite a car breaking down 200km before the destination in Hungary, it was a FANTASTIC experience.
The following year, when we got the opportunity again, we combined the European Championship trip with a holiday in Austria, and I haven't regretted it once, and I'm already looking forward to the next trip - whether it's the European Championship or "just" a holiday.
But in addition to the great travel experiences, there are also many smaller, but equally fantastic experiences: Shared overnight stays before competitions with other dog friends, where the evening is spent eating pizza and sharing good stories.
Summer competitions that were so wet we still talk about them today. Beach trips with dinner and swim time, hiking holidays along the West Coast and so much more. Sometimes it may seem crazy to travel across the country and kingdom for competitions, but when I think about all the experiences I pack in my backpack, I am grateful for every single trip.
Another, but even greater gift that has come with Oswald is new friendships. I probably thought that dogs and training could give me some new acquaintances, but I probably didn't see that coming. We share a passion for dogs, we can laugh and cry together, we cheer and cross our fingers, we cheer together when things are going well and we pick each other up when things are going badly. We call and see each other and share when life and having a dog is easy and when it is difficult for various reasons. Making new friends as an adult is something I am eternally grateful for!
Finally, I will end with the personal things:
My husband always says that I always come home happy from dog training, and he is so right! Training with Oswald takes my focus away from laundry, cleaning and work, and training with him is a huge break in a busy everyday life. He makes me want to develop myself, and our certification as a reading team is proof of that, among other things.
He gives me the desire and motivation to make an effort and get better, and it is also Oswald's merit that I have become a qualified rally instructor.
So what did I actually do before I got a dog? ;-)
I can't remember it anymore, but it also feels inferior, because I've gained so much more, "just" because I got a dog.
So here's a little lesson for you who are reading along:
The next time you have a cup of coffee, take 5 minutes to think about all the wonderful things your dog has contributed - besides just being your dog.
Pottedash from Oswald and Trine
About the blogger
Trine lives in Djursland with her husband Oliver, two old cats and the Labrador Oswald who is from 2020. On a daily basis, Trine works as a pedagogue and teacher at a local elementary school, where Oswald is a school/reading dog twice a week. In addition, they train tricks, dog dancing and rally, they have also just started sniffing out FCI rally. When Trine is not at work, her free time is spent with Oswald and the weekends are often filled with dog training and competitions.
Oswald is a big soft boy who loves everything and everyone - and preferably with all his 37 kg at once. He may be big on the outside, but he is sure that he was born to be a lap dog. He loves to sleep at the foot of the bed under Trine's blanket, and preferably on his back with all his paws in the air.
Oswald loves to go wherever the trip takes him, whether it's visiting family, a picnic, training or when he goes abroad on vacation.
If you want to follow their everyday life a little more, you can find them on Instagram under @oswaldthelabrador.
About everything that comes with having a dog.
The other day I got to thinking about what I actually spent my time on before I got a dog? Maybe some of you can recognize that feeling, but in any case it made me think about all the things that my life has been enriched with through Oswald. That is, all the things that have come along with Oswald, or that have come along the way, as Oswald and I develop.
Experiences, friendships, sparring partners, education, development and everything in between.
Having a dog is of course not just a lot of joy. It also comes with worries, stomachaches, headaches, sadness and sometimes a little frustration. But today I'm focusing on all the positive things that Oswald has brought with him.
Let's start with the experiences:
I have never had a great need to go out and experience the world. In fact, I have always really enjoyed Danish summer house holidays, and I saw no need to travel around Asia after I became a student. When Oswald moved in, it was as if things changed a bit and the desire and motivation to experience nature - also something other than Danish nature - had begun to sprout. Our first trip to the Harz, which I wrote about in the last blog post, only made that desire even greater.
In the summer of 2023, we received our first invitation to the European Dog Dancing Championships, and neither my husband nor I had any doubts; of course we had to go!
It was the real kick-start to daring to travel, and despite a car breaking down 200km before the destination in Hungary, it was a FANTASTIC experience.
The following year, when we got the opportunity again, we combined the European Championship trip with a holiday in Austria, and I haven't regretted it once, and I'm already looking forward to the next trip - whether it's the European Championship or "just" a holiday.
But in addition to the great travel experiences, there are also many smaller, but equally fantastic experiences: Shared overnight stays before competitions with other dog friends, where the evening is spent eating pizza and sharing good stories.
Summer competitions that were so wet we still talk about them today. Beach trips with dinner and swim time, hiking holidays along the West Coast and so much more. Sometimes it may seem crazy to travel across the country and kingdom for competitions, but when I think about all the experiences I pack in my backpack, I am grateful for every single trip.
Another, but even greater gift that has come with Oswald is new friendships. I probably thought that dogs and training could give me some new acquaintances, but I probably didn't see that coming. We share a passion for dogs, we can laugh and cry together, we cheer and cross our fingers, we cheer together when things are going well and we pick each other up when things are going badly. We call and see each other and share when life and having a dog is easy and when it is difficult for various reasons. Making new friends as an adult is something I am eternally grateful for!
Finally, I will end with the personal things:
My husband always says that I always come home happy from dog training, and he is so right! Training with Oswald takes my focus away from laundry, cleaning and work, and training with him is a huge break in a busy everyday life. He makes me want to develop myself, and our certification as a reading team is proof of that, among other things.
He gives me the desire and motivation to make an effort and get better, and it is also Oswald's merit that I have become a qualified rally instructor.
So what did I actually do before I got a dog? ;-)
I can't remember it anymore, but it also feels inferior, because I've gained so much more, "just" because I got a dog.
So here's a little lesson for you who are reading along:
The next time you have a cup of coffee, take 5 minutes to think about all the wonderful things your dog has contributed - besides just being your dog.
Pottedash from Oswald and Trine
About the blogger
Trine lives in Djursland with her husband Oliver, two old cats and the Labrador Oswald who is from 2020. On a daily basis, Trine works as a pedagogue and teacher at a local elementary school, where Oswald is a school/reading dog twice a week. In addition, they train tricks, dog dancing and rally, they have also just started sniffing out FCI rally. When Trine is not at work, her free time is spent with Oswald and the weekends are often filled with dog training and competitions.
Oswald is a big soft boy who loves everything and everyone - and preferably with all his 37 kg at once. He may be big on the outside, but he is sure that he was born to be a lap dog. He loves to sleep at the foot of the bed under Trine's blanket, and preferably on his back with all his paws in the air.
Oswald loves to go wherever the trip takes him, whether it's visiting family, a picnic, training or when he goes abroad on vacation.
If you want to follow their everyday life a little more, you can find them on Instagram under @oswaldthelabrador.