COLUMN: Reasons for dog ownership

• Nadine Whittal, dog trainer writes:

Attending agility classes with my dogs last night was a treat. I spent most of the time on the floor laughing until tears came out of my eyes.

Silver, the husky, was once again giving his mother the proverbial middle finger while my own dog, Styx, decided to prove his masculinity by growling at every other male dog there. It was definitely a night for the ludicrous and it made me wonder why we keep going back to class. Are we just gluttons for punishment?

There are a number of reasons why people seek out canine companionship. Each of these reasons has its merits and each has its downside. Some people get dogs for the sake of security.

They get a big, scary-looking dog and leave it in the yard permanently to scare off would-be intruders. Whilst security is definitely an upside, there are times when unsocialised dogs like these become a hazard for visitors or other family members.

Some people get dogs to keep their children entertained. Inevitably, the children get older or lose interest and the parents end up looking after the dog. The dog also tends to end up in the yard with very little to do for entertainment.

For myself, the pleasure of dog ownership comes with being able to do stuff with my dogs. Building a relationship with my dogs beyond just playing with them in the yard is one of the main reasons I enjoy having dogs. They become my friends. So going out to dog training classes is not just about passing the course or advancing to the next level, it’s about spending quality time with my friends.

That’s why we die-hards keep going back to class despite our dogs’ unending ability to keep us humble. We aren’t worried about looking silly in front of other people or whether we are truly the most proficient trainer on the field. We are spending time with our friends, and as any good friend would know, we rag on each other.