Cherish the Little Moments Too

Cherish every moment.

When Jack rolled into our home and our lives, he peed on the wall and set up his spot on the back of the couch (it’s still his spot).

He and I struggled on how to help him feel comfortable being alone (this took months for him to heal).

We moved 5-6 times in his life and this included overseas moves.

Jack learned how to adjust to our work, travel and life schedules.

He’s learned how to make different choices when he sees other dogs and trucks he doesn’t like.

There are times he still barks and looses his mind (sorry delivery people!)

He and I learned so much together and I’m grateful to this little guy for being my teacher just as I was one to him.

The mutuality of our relationship is what the made the difference.

It was never about what Jack did.

It was never about how much Jack obeyed or didn’t.

What matters is the love we have for one another.

Jack will be 13years old next month.

His body hurts a little more, I’ll continue honoring who he is and caring for him in whatever that looks because I love him first and foremost.

Jack was never a means to an end.

Jack is a whole being and always has been.

Make the choices that help your dogs be successful in feeling better in their own skin.

That’s the least we can do for them.

The Ease in Doing

Do you make it harder, more complicated and then you become confused about what to do to help your dog?

Make it easier on you and your dog.

When you observe your dog having a hard time in a given situation(s), take a few steps back and reevaluate.

If the hard time is hearing outside noises, play some music inside.

Identify what noises that are troubling to your dog and pair them with something your dog loves when you’re able to.

When you can’t, play the music.

When your dog has a hard time seeing another dog on a walk and this creates tension and frustration within you, then go somewhere more secluded even if its your backyard to practice, play or run around with your dog off leash.

If you don’t have a backyard, you can do the same at a sniffspot location!

Then take the steps to practice pairing the experience at a low rate of exposure (really far away, limited time ect) and pair this experience with something your dog loves.

This will start changing your dog’s mind about the experience and it will help lay the groundwork for a new habit.

All behavior change is is your dog doing something differently.

You’re not erasing, stopping, fixing, breaking ect.

You’re just offering up an opportunity to a different solution.

It truly is that simple.

When you start unraveling the patterns of what gets in the way of making things easier on you and your dog, then you will uncover more about yourself and you’ll experience more joy in spending time with your dog in return.

Discover for yourself what’s possible.

Keep It Simple

I was chatting with someone last week about their ambitious goals that they had for themselves and their dog.

They wanted their 8mos old puppy to feel comfortable meeting others, calm and quiet in the house, be engaging with their human when out and about in the world.

These are great goals to have and work towards.

You’re focusing on how your dog feels and wanting to prioritize their welfare and wellbeing.

Sometimes, taking the next step to move towards your goals, you get confused.

When your dog starts barking and lunging at strangers and other dogs, you become frustrated because this is the opposite of what you want.

What may be getting in the way is you’re not proactive in setting up your environment so your dog can be successful. Through your proactiveness, you’re also creating peace in your day. You remain present in each moment you and your dog are experiencing together.

How can you teach your dog what to do when they see a bicyclists or another dog out of the window and your attention is taken away when you’re busy on your computer, talking on the phone, doing other chores around the house?

Someone else shared with me that she struggled with her dog barking and going crazy at the front door when people walked by.

She was surprised when I asked her how does she feel when this happens and what does she do in response?

She shared she feels tightness in her chest and her response is yelling her dog’s name.

She also shared this didn’t work and asked what other strategies can she learn?

I asked her what does she want to feel?

She responded with calm and peace. She can feel this way when she takes space.

Take space is what I encouraged her to do.

Dogs will bark. When she can take a moment and reconnect with herself, she can then respond in a calmer and more peaceful manner.

She then can practice the strategies she already learned, but because of feeling overwhelmed and caught up in the swirling, the strategies she already learned aren’t accessible to her.

She’s emotionally flooded and unable to think clearly.

The mind is wonderful as it can plan and take action. When the mind is overwhelmed because the body and mind are disconnected, we feel lost.

When you reconnect with yourself, find presence in the moment, you can then make choices of how to respond with your end goal in mind.

Taking the next step towards your goal may be less about your dog, but more about how you are showing up and with what energy you’re bringing into that moment with your dog.

Curious how your presence and awareness of how you show up in your day to day can pave the way for a deeper connection with your dog?

Set up a time to chat!