The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[drumstick diva]

Good for you Michelle

 

[ShrekDawg]

Wow, great stories everyone and definitely inspiring. Sounds like I need to just get out there and start applying to places haha

My mom has suggested the vet tech thing or ultrasound thing for people but I'm not sure I want to do that and wasn't really sure what vet techs did. Now I know. Seems like hard work but also rewarding? I might possibly volunteer at an animal shelter or something too just to get some more experience working with animals.

What I really would love to do is become certified as a professional dog trainer but I'm not sure if that's feasible. But I'm going to be reading a ton of books on dog behavior, training, etc. And possibly sign up for a class. I already have a lot of books and I actually purchased several online classes with like hundreds of hours of video and material I plan on going through. They were on sale for like $10 instead of $100, $200, or more, etc.

I also love music and used to want to be a music journalist or photographer but the music industry is so saturated and it's hard to get a job in it. I still have my camera though.

And Blooie, the reason I wasn't 100% sure is because my degree is only an associate's at a community college and most of the classes I took were also psych requirements and I had the same professor for them all. I'm planning on transferring somewhere else to do more the behavioral science part, or possibly use that base to switch to a animal science program to help with my training goals. Originally I did think the behavioral science might be more useful to the animal training and/or more versatile. I also sometimes add the psych part in case other people don't know.

But yeah.

 

[Blooie]

That makes sense! In fact, your whole post was refreshingly upbeat and more “adult” than many of your posts have been. We all have bad times. We move past them. You will too, if you start looking up and out instead of down and behind. If not now, when?

NADOI National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors) certification is tough to get. I started working toward mine in the late 80s. I was only 10 class hours from getting my certificate when we moved yet again and I lost too much time and would have had to start over. Shoot, I don’t even know if the program still exists! Get your foot in a door...any door. You may have to try several gravel roads before you find the right avenue. But be aware of this, and I speak from too much experience....you will only be as good at and love what you do with a good attitude and no excuses.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thank you Blooie! I really appreciate that and all of your advice! Even if it sometimes seems like I might not.

And I definitely need to start looking forward more and being more positive. I actually usually am pretty positive and am a lot better than I was 6 years ago but for some reason the last couple weeks have been pretty rough and rather up and down. I don't know why. I'm planning on eating healthier though as I suspect that has something to do with it. I notice when I eat too much sugar or carbs I seem to be worse so I will need to watch that. I am thinking this dog walking thing will be good for me though. In fact, I am noticing that I already feel much more productive and happier being up earlier and out in the sunshine. Today I even stayed outside and bought some things I needed then worked in the garden. I think being off the phone even a little bit will be another big help. My next step will be actually getting to sleep at a reasonable hour and not sleeping in anymore.

I had to look that one up as I hadn't heard of it but apparently it does still exist. I believe a lot of people do the CPDT now? Certified Professional Dog Trainer, I think the group is the certification council for professional dog trainers or something like that. I think they have different letters after the main CPDT too for different levels or types of training I think. I need to look into it more. I wonder if it would be possible to do both? Probably not. Maybe there is some overlap.

Do you get the hours on your own, like reading books or watching videos, or do you have to sign up for a training school somewhere? Maybe it's both? I will need to do more research into that.

I might get a job at a dog care too as there is one around here that is hiring I think but I'm not sure if that would be a good thing to do or not.

And thank you again Blooie, great advice.

 

[drumstick diva]

Kdogg try to get a good night's sleep. I've had times where I worked on some problem in my dreams and when I woke up I thought of a solution.

 

[N F C]

Good morning everyone

It was interesting to hear how you all got your "start" in life. I saw many similarities to my own and was reminded of my first place. It was a converted garage (called a garlow), the ceiling dipped one way and the floor another. Utilities were not included in the rent so I had to decide which I needed the most, electricity or gas, couldn't afford both. I went with electricity so I could use a loaned electric hot plate to heat water for sponge baths and cooking. It was living at it's most basic but I was the first of my group to have a place of my own (I was 17) so all my friends used to gather there and we had so much fun.

Anyhoo, busy day yesterday at the restaurant so a bit tired & achy today but that's a good tired.

Hope you all have a good day!

 

[007Sean]

Kdogg, don't fret over it too much. 90% of peeps with degrees, rarely work in the field that they chose to get a degree in.
Main thing is it will get your "foot in the door", from there you had better have a positive impact, impression upon the employer and demostrate your knowledge of that chosen field. First jobs are always scary but if mentally prepared, you'll do fine.
I haven't worked in my chosen field since receiving my Masters....so just go with what feels right for you! I wish you the absolute best luck in whatever it is you choose.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Kdogg try to get a good night's sleep. I've had times where I worked on some problem in my dreams and when I woke up I thought of a solution.

Thank you, good idea.

I just need to get adjusted to the new schedule. I normally stay up till like 2 but then I sleep till like 11 or 12. But now I have to be at their house by 11:30 so I set my alarm for 10:30 (though usually hit snooze till 11, they're down the street). But for some reason I have also been waking up at like 8, plus or minus an hour, and going back to sleep so the sleep is broken up instead of 8 straight hours. So I'm exhausted. I guess normally I've always woken up early to pee (I drink too much water before bed ha) but this time I have alarms and deadlines so can't just pass back out till whenever I'm not tired anymore.

Last night I should have just gone to sleep as I was exhausted from all the yard and garden work yesterday.

But I will get there. Just need to turn off the TV and phone.

And obviously 10:30 is nowhere near early and I really should be getting up by 8 or 9 or earlier even but it's a start.

I'm actually thinking of trying to set my alarm EVERY day rather than only the days I have to walk her and getting in a schedule. Because I've been getting sooo much more done from being up earlier.

I might even walk without the dog some days.

Plus I feel like it's not healthy to sleeping or stay up some days and not others?

Kdogg, don't fret over it too much. 90% of peeps with degrees, rarely work in the field that they chose to get a degree in.
Main thing is it will get your "foot in the door", from there you had better have a positive impact, impression upon the employer and demostrate your knowledge of that chosen field. First jobs are always scary but if mentally prepared, you'll do fine.
I haven't worked in my chosen field since receiving my Masters....so just go with what feels right for you! I wish you the absolute best luck in whatever it is you choose.

Thank you, I appreciate the advice

 

[ShrekDawg]

I am feeling a bit achy myself from all the work I did. Those bags are heavy and raked them all around, lots of bending and lifting and stuff. I tried to till the ground a bit but it's very hard packed and rooty and I only had a rake. Need to get a rototiller maybe.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Thank you Blooie! I really appreciate that and all of your advice! Even if it sometimes seems like I might not.

And I definitely need to start looking forward more and being more positive. I actually usually am pretty positive and am a lot better than I was 6 years ago but for some reason the last couple weeks have been pretty rough and rather up and down. I don't know why. I'm planning on eating healthier though as I suspect that has something to do with it. I notice when I eat too much sugar or carbs I seem to be worse so I will need to watch that. I am thinking this dog walking thing will be good for me though. In fact, I am noticing that I already feel much more productive and happier being up earlier and out in the sunshine. Today I even stayed outside and bought some things I needed then worked in the garden. I think being off the phone even a little bit will be another big help. My next step will be actually getting to sleep at a reasonable hour and not sleeping in anymore.

I had to look that one up as I hadn't heard of it but apparently it does still exist. I believe a lot of people do the CPDT now? Certified Professional Dog Trainer, I think the group is the certification council for professional dog trainers or something like that. I think they have different letters after the main CPDT too for different levels or types of training I think. I need to look into it more. I wonder if it would be possible to do both? Probably not. Maybe there is some overlap.

Do you get the hours on your own, like reading books or watching videos, or do you have to sign up for a training school somewhere? Maybe it's both? I will need to do more research into that.

I might get a job at a dog care too as there is one around here that is hiring I think but I'm not sure if that would be a good thing to do or not.

And thank you again Blooie, great advice.

Why wouldn't it be a good thing? It sounds right up your alley.