After several years of helping at the dog club as a volunteer trainer, I am getting a "promotion" instead of being part of the team that works with the absolute beginners, I am going to be in sole charge of the improvers class.
In this class people work with their dogs to achieve the first of three standards that the club awards. Although the idea is to try to reach these levels, in my opinion, it is much more important that the people and dogs enjoy coming, so I am hoping to think of a few new methods of achieving the goals so that interest is maintained.
I will still help with the beginners occasionally - when the class is busy. I think I would miss the puppies if I didn't and also the kids, because quite a lot of people bring their dogs (and children)to the first class, but they don't stay long enough to be moved up.
I have said that I will take on the new class on a provisional basis for 6 months, if for any reason I'm not enjoying it, I will go back to what I was doing before.
I suppose the test of my success will be when the first dogs to be trained in my class take their bronze award in about 3 months time. So I shall have to get them jumping to attention by then.
Wish me luck!