Goose the Autumn Beagle

When I was young, I spent the majority of my free time in the deciduous hardwoods of Western New York State. My Great Grandfather on my father’s side raised a small kennel of rabbit hunting dogs and my mother was from a rural town in Amish country. Although my formal canine education was received from the U.S. Government, I’ve never lost touch with my connection to the natural world. I believe the two vastly different educations complement each other.

Technique is important in canine training. But technique without understanding the underpinnings of the animal itself is superficial. The origins and the purpose of the breed are focal points in understanding the basic needs. Implementing one without the other results in a partial profile and an incomplete training program. The same is true for people. Without considering our full history, where we come from, what our influences are, our habits, shortcomings, neuroses, and proclivities, we shortchange ourselves when we develop a plan for improvement or change. The first steps to true change are self-awareness, introspection, and admitting our ignorance. It’s ok to not know everything. It’s ok to not be an expert, it’s ok to accept that we’re not very good at some things. This is a healthy practice.

The philosopher Karl Popper puts it this way,

“Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.”

We should make less direct statements and ask more questions. This applies to the big and the small of life.

How does this tie back to a beagle puppy? A well-bred beagle is a true hunting hound. Nearly single minded in its pursuit of scent. The informal term is aptly labeled “scent locking.” As I watch this beagle pup work his nose in the autumn wind, fallen leaves blowing past him, there is a deeply seated joy and appreciation that washes over me. It transports me to another time and place, like catching the scent of a nostalgic food that you haven’t smelled in years. I’m so honored to have the privilege to work with Goose and to bear witness to something that is truly rare in this day and age. To see a canine or a person for that matter fully absorbed in its potential or purpose. Knowing the woods myself and where those instincts come from, how intricately and deeply they are woven into his being, I can apply technique in a more refined manner rather than paint broad strokes.

I believe it reminds us that we can consider the holistic picture of our own pursuits. Whether that be a medical diagnosis, a new career path, raising children, political positions, or some other season of life. We can be more honest about who we are and what our needs are. We can ask better questions of those around us rather than resort to reactive statements. We can begin to think critically about what is best for others and not default on emotional responses. Our experiences can help guide us, if we’re willing to examine them honestly—and remain curious about what we have yet to learn.