This day 365 days ago.
This day 365 days ago was one of the most gut-wrenching days of my life.
A new initiative…
We’re in the midst of an emotional health crisis.
What’s being touted as “mental health” issues, are actually emotional health issues.
Signs…
The most magnificent things happened yesterday.
If you've been following me for a while, you know I'm a spiritual, praying gal. I also strongly believe in "signs" (the book, "Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe" is a must-read | https://a.co/d/21rxRBo ), and the power of affirmations to retrain our brains and re-pattern our thinking. Our hikes and pack walks are sacred, and I spend the great majority of that time in prayer and active meditation.
A few days ago….
Strong energy dogs.
Strong energy dogs can and will be a challenge for those who don't understand them.
7 major players in problematic canine behavior.
When we bring dogs into our hearts and homes, we are accepting a responsibility.
Dogs are 100% dependent upon us for everything in life. From what they eat... to how much exercise they get... to what they learn (and don't learn)... to what they get exposed to... and so on.
"Behavior" is multi-layered. It's also...
: information,
: a manner of expression,
: a form of feedback,
: a type of response, and
: a reflection of what's in excess, what's lacking (or completely missing), and what's just right.
While there are other ingredients that contribute to the development of problematic behaviors- like unclear messaging and communication leading to blurred lines, misunderstanding, and confusion- these are the big ones...
What “dog training” REALLY is.
"Obedience training" has long been synonymous with "dog training", but fully equipping a dog goes far beyond teaching a dog what certain words mean. It's...
How long should I walk my dog?
If a dog is experiencing behavioral issues, I can pretty much guarantee this is *one* of the contributing ingredients that's not being sufficiently and consistently met.
The Do’s and Do Nots of “Dog Dealing”
We've been charged a number of times while out on our pack walks by dogs who've slipped out of doors when someone was coming out or going in their home, dogs who were
Should your dog be off-leash?
“Someone can have the friendliest dog in the world, but this does not entitle them to bomb-rushing other people and dogs.
Even friendly dogs do not appreciate being approached like this. It's very off-putting (as it would be for any human being bomb-rushed by a complete stranger).
A playful, friendly dog does NOT translate into a ***socially skilled*** dog.
Off-leash freedom is great for every dog (for many reasons), BUT we must practice extreme care here as many of us are sharing the same spaces. This... and *anything can happen.*
I created this infographic for a quick "food for thought". Awareness is key, and practice is prevention. This is for the safety and security of our dogs, ourselves, and others' and their dogs.”
Why healing trauma benefits our dogs behaviorally.
Having a trauma-informed and *holistic* (meaning: we pay attention to ALL contributing ingredients) approach to behavior: behavioral training, conditioning, modification, and rehabilitation in working with dogs is important. Why? Because *both* ends of the leash are in constant conversation with each other. And both ends of the leash are usually responding, sharing, and exchanging from the residue trauma has left behind (aka skewed interpretations, perceptions, and filters).
Dogs and the importance of “space”
If we want a dog who has the *ability* to navigate and comfortably share the various levels of space alongside us, a dog who feels safe, secure, and comfortable doing so- it's up to us to guide the way.
to women everywhere… we celebrate you.
to the women who've dared to dream.
dared to fail.
dared to succeed.
dared to heal….
The importance of “the human end of the leash”
The work we do with people and their dogs has been described over and over again as "completely transformational" and "life changing." There are two ends of the leash. We're in relationship with our dogs. Both ends need to be addressed for the most effective behavioral change. If we believe it's "just the dog" that "needs training", any "results" we achieve will be very limited.
What his behavior is trying to say…
While there are a number of ingredients that have contributed to the development of these behaviors (there always is), the main ones are:
Beyond Obedience: Why Your Dog Needs Behavioral Training, Too
Obedience training and behavioral training are distinct types of teaching, and pet parents who want well-rounded, well-behaved dogs that are happy, calm, and relaxed must focus on both.
We have this cultural problem, and dogs are bearing the brunt of it.
As I ran across the umpteenth dog (... with "rehoming fee") in need of a home or else they "get euthanized" on social media, my blood started to boil. Beautiful, healthy dogs.
Leadership.
Leadership is a noun AND a verb. It's an approach, a state of being, and an energy. Embodying, representing, and stepping up through this space of leadership is a challenge for many, and is an ingredient often lacking in a lot of human-canine dynamics. Not because we're "doing life wrong", but because we're telling ourselves a different story (damn you, negative self talk...and thank you, negative self talk, for revealing what needs to be tended to). Most of us are showing up through our fear, worry, anxiety, wounding, and with extra baggage.
The importance of “leadership”
"Leadership" is both a concept and a term, and is often thrown around in professional spaces- especially in the dog training space.
Rocks of Hope.
As you all may or may not know, the dogs and I stumbled upon this incredible sight one day while off-trailing in the woods….