Being diagnosed with a disease or suffering an injury can be devastating and frightening. But finding ways to keep working toward goals and being active with your dogs can help your attitude and your healing process, says Dr. Brenda Riemer, who holds a doctorate in sports psychology and works with many athletes. Riemer is a long-time dog sports enthusiast, competing in obedience and having earned an OTCH on her Shetland Sheepdog, Liza, plus competing in rally, agility and more. She also is a new AKC Obedience Judge and serves as a trial chair for obedience and rally trials.
Does goal setting and working towards those goals help someone through difficult times and recovery processes?
Goal setting is one of the greatest tools we have. Setting reasonable goals which are processed oriented helps individuals both succeed at training and showing, but also helps with recovering from illness, injury, and other life events which might have postponed training. The research indicates that when we write goals down, we are more likely to achieve them than if we keep them “in our mind.” Not only do we need to write the goals down, but we need to be able to measure them. By having measurable goals, a person can see improvement. To use an agility example, we would not have a MACH as our goal. What we would have are items that are the foundation of the sport and what people can measure. For example, we might set a goal about a dog learning weave poles and then learning different weave entrances (right/left). We could set a goal for ourselves to learn back crosses. All these items, once learned, lead to the titles one hopes to earn. Last, all of us are great at rewarding our dogs. When you are goal setting, write down how you will reward yourself when you reach each milestone.
What is the positive aspect of staying active and engaged with what you love to do, even through injury or illness?
When we are able to continue with an activity, it helps with how we identify who we are. All of us have multiple factors that contribute to our identity. For example, my identity includes such items as professor and dog trainer. As I approach retirement, my “professor” portion will get smaller and other aspects of myself will become a stronger part of my identity. When we have a passion for a sport or hobby, being able to participate in that hobby while we are recovering helps with the sense of self and psychologically helps to keep a positive attitude. What we want to be aware of is making sure we do not overdo an activity so that our bodies can heal. It is a balance to be able to continue to do what you love, but in a smaller amount until you have the strength to be fully active again.
What recommendations to you have for dog sports competitors who are diagnosed with illnesses and want to continue training & competing with their dogs as they are able?
First, listen to your doctor(s). Do you have an acute illness that will be out of your body in a week? If so, take it easy, skip the show, so that you can heal and you don’t get anyone sick (such as a bad cold or flu). If you have a diagnosis that is not contagious, train and learn what your body is able to handle as you move through the treatment process. Keep training and showing as much as you want to. If you find you get tired faster, if possible, have someone you can go to shows with so that you do not have to worry about having enough energy to drive home by yourself. In the past few years, I have been participating in virtual walks (1,000 mile walks), and I can’t tell you what it has been like to see people post photos of themselves receiving chemotherapy and then walking later that same day. Follow your passion. If you can’t run as fast, that’s okay. Enjoy every moment with your dog and your friends while training and at shows. In the long run, that’s what matters.