Flex Your Thoughts and Beliefs

There are times when we have to shift our patterns and challenge our limiting beliefs because they no longer serve us.

For many of the pet parents I serve, they are actively questioning their understanding and belief systems around their dogs because they are making the choice to see their dogs differently and desire to change their thinking.

Letting go of beliefs that dogs need a powerful hand, dogs need to be under our control and dominated or else they will take over.

When you are presented with new information and it contradicts what you were taught to believe can be challenging to do, but it’s not impossible.

It requires keeping your thinking flexible.

You may be questioning what you know about how you grew up with dogs and how they were treated when you were younger.

You recognize now, pieces of what you were taught don’t fit in with what you’re learning now, but you are open for accommodating the new information.

Go slow. By taking one small step in changing how you show up for your dog can shape how you interact with your dog and seeing your relationship with your dog with new eyes.

Stay empathetic. We have real needs like food, air to breath and a safe place to sleep. Our dogs do too.

It doesn’t end there. We share needs with our dog like the desire for connection, trust, safety and freedom.

When we can accept we have shared similarities it opens us up to see the world through our companion’s eyes.

When they hurt, we hurt. When they feel love, we feel love.

Challenge the pattern of thought when it arises.

When you experience your dog growling and the belief comes up that this is wrong and a dog shouldn’t growl at me.

Ask yourself, “is that true?” What else can be going on?

When you can take a step back and consider the point of view from your dog, you will start opening your heart rather than repeating patterns and beliefs which keeps you small and limits what’s possible for you and your dog.

Choose curiosity and stay open minded.

Do you want to live a life with ease with your dog? Set up a Discovery Call and find out you can achieve this!

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The Wild Willow

Willow was making choices that weren’t safe for her.

Willow’s foster wanted her to see that returning inside wasn’t the party ending, but rather coming back inside and following her foster mom led to the fun continuing.

This is especially important as Willow is tiny and quick, her foster mom didn’t want Willow staying outside without supervision.

She didn’t want Willow getting herself into a pickle of problems.

Since Willow learned that “come” was irrelevant or even a predictor that the fun is over, we introduced a game that will always mean the fun is happening.

Counting is one way you can do this.

After a few short coaching rounds, Willow is willing to follow her foster mom inside without hesitation and with a whole lot of exhuberance.

This game makes the interaction fun and engaging, both of which is what Willow wants and needs.

Willow has a head start on learning and you can adopt her through Hearts4Doxies Rescue https://hearts4doxiesrescue.org/about/

If you’re struggling with encouraging your newly adopted companion to form a strong and loving bond with you, set up a Discovery Call with me to find out how you can get started

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“Everything is Figureoutable”

This quote from Marie Forleo is transcendent.

It speaks to the heart of anyone who is feeling stuck.

For the pet parents I serve, feeling stuck often coincides with being frustrated by what their dogs are doing or not doing.

What’s shifted things is sharing with the pet parents I work with about the growth cycle.

The Body Mind Coaching Program taught me how confusion and frustration is apart of doing something new.

Those sensations not only tell you you’re approaching your comfort zone and expanding your awareness, but it is also informing you about something deeper when you ask, “what is this trying to say to me?”

One of my pet parents was sharing with me the other day about her Great Pyrenees, Hank who had a hard time being out in loads of distracting environments.

So much so, he growled at a couple of family members that he met previously.

During those tense moments, her frustration was focused on what Hank was doing rather than how he was feeling.

When she had some space to reflect on these moments, she shared that he didn’t feel safe.

When I asked her what the frustration was trying to tell her, she shared, she need to go slow and take more time for Hank!

Yes!

“Everything is Figureoutable!”

The dog training culture is so hyper focused on the dog meeting our expectations, but this isn’t fair to us or the dogs.

This will lead both the pet parent and dog into frustration every time.

Giving space for our dogs to be dogs that is safe and they can trust they are safe will open doors for us and them.

Rather than reeling in control and thinking we have to be the boss.

I’m encouraging all my pet parents to offer more freedom and choice to their dogs.

This is a growth edge for many of us.

It’s also ok when you feel frustration and confusion bubble up.

I’m here to guide you in identifying what support gets to look like for you while coaching you in strengthening the relationship with your dog in dog friendly ways.

Are you curious about wanting a different life for you and your dog? Do you desire more freedom and joy? Set up a Discovery Call with me.

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