building a ‘dog pond’ – day #1

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All of my garden and home projects start off with a little idea, mostly on a whim, and when I have time on my hands. Time can be an extra five or ten minutes, but give me hours and things really get changed up.

I never put a time limit on a project, I just want to see my ‘vision’ take shape, and happen. Our gardens change yearly, I have my garden bed that has my ‘mother plants’, I split and seed collect from those plants and have for eleven years. All of the other beds come and go depending on what looks interesting to me. Take this weekend for example.

“Do you want more coffee Nance?

Yes thanks, so I am digging a hole in the front yard, the dogs need a pond.

So how much coffee did you already drink?

Not enough thanks, and I looked on line for a bio falls so we can have a small water fall too. Nothing big this year.

So are you doing this by yourself?

Well the plants are moved, and Ocean has already started to dig, lets just go with that shape, do you know anything about pond pumps because I sure as hell don’t, and that is kind of a big part of it.

Um, we have other house projects that need to be finished first?

No, get your gloves and the wheel barrel, let’s dig. Actually the kids, Ocean and I will dig, you take the dirt to the compost pile. I think the dogs and kids really need a pond, don’t you?”

We have no master plan, nothing drawn on paper, and are new to the pond element thing. But we had SO MUCH FUN yesterday digging and learning. We decided to start small this year, get a feel for it, and leave room to expand next year if we like it.

This will be a more ‘naturalized’ splash pool, with a water fall. Actually, the term we learned yesterday is, “pondless waterfall’, no depth really and just gently moving water. Cool beans, this is what I want! Not too deep, no fish, no water plants, just dog/kid cooling off fun, and hopefully beautiful!

We watched about 15 videos, and investigated just as many pond materials sites. We are getting a better feel for the rocks we want to use, water flow, and depth.

Pond supplies ordered this morning. Rocks will be ordered tomorrow.

So our start! Day #1

the Scent Project – why scent can be a great assist to our dogs

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When I tell people I developed Aroma Mists for dogs & their people, the Scent Project, the polite people restrain themselves from rolling their eyes, the truly ‘I have no boundaries for body language folks’ roll their eyes with gusto! And to be fair, I kind of get it. Not all people, but for sure many, have a weird association when they hear the word aromatherapy. It isn’t hard to conjure a new age image.

But I believe times have truly changed. I would like to believe we are more accepting of the plants around us and the uses they can provide for well being. But why use aroma therapy with dogs? Is it even effective?

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Aroma/Scent therapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, 100% aromatic essential oils to promote psychological well-being. It is used as part of an integrative approach, adding that extra layer of assist. Beneficial to both humans and dogs, aromatherapy elicits a more positive emotional response, whether it’s to lift the mood, add energy, or to relax and take a well needed deep breath.

For dogs, olfaction, or the process of smelling, is the dog’s primary sense. They’re considered macrosmatic animals, which means their nose knows. They can detect cluster scents, scents at a distance (up to seven miles), and detect a single scent over a variable contaminated surface, during all weather conditions I might add.
For example, a human has 5 million receptors to detect scent, a dog has 220 million or more. Using scent to create emotional balance makes good sense.

For humans, we are considered microsmatic in the smelling world. This means that we need to work harder to gather information with our nose. There is a reason we use dogs for scent detection work! Scent needs to be pure and obvious, and most of the time pleasing to the nose in order for it to create a positive emotional response. Plant based oils tend to be pleasing and therapeutic for humans.

History –
Let’s take a quick step back in time so this information I present has a bit more depth.
Aroma Therapy is a Greek compound meaning – Fragrance (aroma) Treatment (therapy).
I will be using Aroma, Scent, and/or Essential Oil Therapy interchangeably. Aroma therapy is an art and a science that uses the scent and essence of varied plants in liquid or vapor form as an inhalant, or an application to treat a variety of physical and mental conditions.
Aroma Therapy in history was used both medicinally and simply to make things smell good (natural perfumery).

The term ‘Aroma Therapy’ was not used until the 1920’s, but recorded history notes the use of Frankincense and Myrrh for healing, cosmetics and embalming in 4500 BC.
In 400 BC Hypocrites (known as the father of medicine) studied the benefits and effects of hundreds of scented plants and herbs. His belief was “good health can be promoted with aromatic baths and oils.” It was most likely the Romans that developed the technique for steam distillation and extraction of aromatic floral waters, but the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Persians also used these essential oils and aromatic plants during daily living.

Notable -Egypt most likely developed the first culture with a fragrance industry.

Notable – Cleopatra use to have her sails soaked in rose oil, so when cruising down the river she could attract suitors.

Notable – French Chemist Rene Maurice gate Fosse accidentally discovered that lavender oil relieved pain after a lab burn to his hands.

Francoise Rapp, internationally renowned aroma therapist and alchemist, leader in natural perfumery, and in her literature and books regarding the use of plant derived essential oils for health and beauty, almost always mentions the beneficial use with animals. Dogs, horses and cats in particular (my guess with that is because we live in such close proximity to them). “Their sensitivity to their environment, their ability to gather information with their nose, their honest approach to accepting new information that is almost all of the time, nonverbal.”

Kristen Leigh Bell wrote a lovely book ‘Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals’ and has been promoting the use of plant derived essential oils for dogs and cats for over 10 years. The AHVMA has also published a few articles in their journal on the beneficial use of lavendula while working through behavior modification programs.

Jeanne Rose – The History & Use of Essential Oils – This amazing duo includes a PowerPoint presentation combined with a 37-page lecture book with both history and background of common herbs.

Why use Aroma/Scent Therapy? Aroma Therapy is used to influence and/or modify the mind, body and spirit. The use of nature’s most concentrated substance is excellent to calm dogs who may be aging, fearful, agitated, stressed, uncertain, too joyful, a puppy, or hyperactive. Unlike herbal calming tablets, which take time to digest, aromatherapy essential oils are inhaled and quickly begin their work. Scent therapy, or essential oil therapy is taking plant derived essential oils that promote emotional wellbeing, and pairing them with a pleasant event. Intention is important, as is an integrative approach.
Odors affect our emotional states and moods by what is known as associative learning, the process by which one event is linked to another because of a past experience. Burning rubber smell while driving, how does that make you feel? Why? The smell of the ocean, the scent of blooming roses? How do these scents make you feel?

At a conference in 2006, Dr. Randy Kidd was one of the speakers. He was the first Naturopathic veterinarian in the US. He had some interesting things to say about plants, oils, and dogs. “If you watch your dogs at home, or when you’re hiking and taking a break, (and assuming you don’t use herbicides/pesticides in the area) watch to see where they lay down and then take note of the plants around them. You will almost always find they are laying next to, or by a plant that has properties for calming. I have yet to see a dog choose to lay next to a hot pepper plant”!

What are essential oils? It is very difficult to describe an essential oil because they are not visible when in the plant. Only nature can produce whole essential oils. They are tiny droplets contained in glands, glandular hairs, sac or veins of different plant parts – root, flower, fruit, leaf. They are the ‘essence’ of that particular plant form and responsible for giving the botanical its unique scent and ‘fingerprint’.
There are no synthetic or partial synthetic components in plant derived oils. PLEASE NOTE – if a ‘spa’ product has ingredients beyond a plant name, it is not a true essential oil, it is a perfume with no therapeutic qualities.

Oils are extracted in a variety of ways; cold expeller pressed, CO2 extraction, and steam distillation. Distillation is the most common for the oils I use, and it works very similar to a ‘whiskey still’. When the plant matter or particular part of the plant is in the vat/still with water, the oil of the plant comes out one side, the ‘hydro sol’ comes out the other. The oil is extremely concentrated. The hydro sol or floral water, is water with micro droplets of oil. Both are effective in their own right, applications and benefits vary.
Essential oils that are safe for dogs
•    Lavender
•    Rosemary
•    Lemon grass
•    Marjoram
•    Green mandarin
•    Neroli
•    Chamomile
•    Rose
•    Valerian
•    Sweet orange

Why did I start to use scent/aroma therapy with dogs? The start of The Scent Project ™ .
I am a professional trainer and work with dogs with a variety of ages and temperaments. I am integrative in my approach and work with the whole dog; socially, emotionally, physically and nutritionally. I have also been into gardening and all that comes with it since before I can remember, and for certain, long before I started to work with dogs professionally. Essential oils come from plants, plants start growing in the dirt, dirt happens to be the essential starting point in a garden, and that is where I come in! I love playing in the dirt and growing things! My house is almost chemical free in regards to cleansers, cleaners, soaps, and the like. It has been this way for over 25 years. A personal choice, nothing more nothing less. When my son was a baby, I found out he was allergic to what I was eating, via breast milk. I cleaned up our families diet, whole foods only (fruit, vegetable, meat, rice, beans) and went to task and learned a great deal more about anti inflammatory and calming herbs and plants. His body and skin needed this assist, and with my gardening knowledge it was only a matter of hooking up with specialists in the herbal world.

In 2008 when I was coaching one of our Relaxing your Reactive Rover classes, I had the idea to start adding essential oils to the class environment. It was a tricky group, all of the dogs had seen or experienced evil, and the owners had lost their confidence in handling their dogs in public. The reason I thought about adding something natural is that at that time, psychotropic drugs were being prescribed like Chiclets for dogs. I was flattened with the amount of drugged out dogs I was seeing, and it was not helping, it was masking what was really going on. And the worst part was that handlers were under the impression that the drugs would ‘cure’ their dog, and they didn’t have to do any work. I had the knowledge, experience, and great intentions with essential oils for my family. With this group of dogs, at first, the scents I used were a bit too strong, they were the blends I had made for my children. The also had emulsifiers, and preservatives which are common in human grade products (they don’t bother us in general). So I cut back and started to use micro droplets, and eliminated the emulsifiers and preservatives. Over the course of six weeks I started to see a change in the dogs and people. In addition to the great work they were doing, everyone was breathing, and breathing deeply and with comfort. Eyes relaxed, body posture soft but still aware, and deep breathing. YAY! Great work started to happen!
I started to sell custom blends to my clients. I was super honest that I wasn’t selling a cure or a substitute for doing good work. My aroma blends were made for an assist, to add another layer so to speak.

What I found was, clients who used my aroma blends became more intentional, more observant, and chose to do more work. They became self-motivated, and all moving in the right direction.

Our mists are designed as an integrative tool, a layered effect, not to be relied on solely or seen as a cure all. Having the intention to do better, or to create a more balanced environment is the start. Creating a plan for your dog and assisting with scents that promote a more positive emotional state is a bonus for the dog and a bonus for the handler! As one of our clients has said… “from Mother Nature, through your hands, to our dogs nose… it’s all good!”

With our products, we went through a year of blending trial and error to come up with just the right scents that were light enough for a dog and still pleasing to the human nose. We found that humans wouldn’t use it if they couldn’t smell it. I think we might be funny that way. We did trials with 50 family pet homes, 2 veterinary offices and two shelters. We did our research!

Benefits -
If you create an association with a pleasant calming scent and a good experience, you are creating a memory, a CER, a positive Conditioned Emotional Response. Then you have a tool to use, bring with you, have at home, that can assist you and your dog.
The Benefits are limitless for… Dogs … and People
•    Breathing deep
•    Freshening the environment
•    Relaxing in new environment (on sight…)
•    Lifting the mood
•    Soothing car travel
•    Easing a noisy environment
•    Creating focus
•    Grounding some out of control energy
•    Relax eyes, mind, spirit
•    etc…

Just some of the possible Applications & Use …
•    mist room
•    mist bedding, linens
•    mist mat and crate area
•    mist inside of car mist inside of pant legs before a walk (scent travels up for you, but it is also nose level with your dog!)
•    mist leash before clipping it on
•    mist collar before putting it on
•    mist brief case before a meeting
•    mist area around your home computer
•    mist work area between appointments, privates, phone conferences to refresh yourself and environment
•        etc…

Conclusion –
If we know our dogs are gathering information with their nose all of the time, it makes good sense to create a scent that can assist with calming, focusing, relaxing. A balanced emotional response, that is a good thing!

Cheers & Good Scents, Nancy

references -

http://www.jeannerose.net

http://www.abundanthealth4u.com/Book_Holistic_Aromatherapy_for_Animals_p/9074.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Aromatherapy-Book-Inhalations-Applications-Library/dp/1556430736

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-09-20/health/fl-alternative-medicine-pets-20110919_1_holistic-veterinary-medical-association-alternative-medicine-laser-therapy

http://www.ahvma.org/

http://www.thescentproject.com

what exactly is a training collar?

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what exactly is a training collar?
Lately I have been researching and studying  advertising and marketing strategies, and I have found that there is a fine line, sometimes even an enormous gap between creative and totally misleading.

When I go into stores these days, I go about my business and do my shopping, but I now look at labels with different eyes, eyes that actually need glasses but that’s a different story for a later time. I look at the label lay out, what catches my eye first, colors, and what the label is trying to sell me, verses what the product actually is.

Let’s take a pet store aisle, just for giggles, and look at the sign that says ‘Training Collars’. I’ve never really understood this strategy to be honest with you, but let’s just go with it. Every time I see that sign and look at the collars I secretly wonder if they are sprinkled with pixie dust, or have a bit of magic behind them. A collar that can train your dog? All by itself? It’s better than a crystal ball for god’s sake!

The next time you go into a pet store with your dog, walk over to the sign that says ‘Training Collars’, take off your dog’s gear and put on one of the Training Collars; pinch, choke, webbing, shock, they’re all lumped together so apparently they’re all capable of ‘Training’. Now, put your hands in your pockets, stand back and watch the magic unfold before your eyes! Ta Da…

No pixie dust magic I am going to guess, but I don’t want to spoil your fun, just go and try it anyway.

That’s because a collar does not train your dog, you train your dog. You are in control of what you put around your dogs muzzle, neck and/or chest. You are in control of it, it does not work without you on the other end of the leash or control box. This sign would allow you to believe that the collar is in control of your dog, which takes all responsibility and accountability away from the handler. This is where we humans get into a bit of trouble.

Most of the collars, not all, in this aisle are not designed to spray rainbows by any measure, and they are not designed to actually train anything, or even assist with training. They are designed to cause pain, fear and/or discomfort so you can teach your dog avoidance. That goes against building life skills and a relationship.

Guess what happens when the ‘Training Collar’ comes off? Generally you have a dog that has learned nothing other than what to avoid. Many times these dogs have no reliable behaviors when all of the gear comes off. When gear is the focus, relationship gets lost, and without a strong relationship there can be no good teaching.

The problem I have with this type of marketing is that it takes responsibility away from the handler, it is misleading by a long shot and it desensitizes consumers as to what they are actually purchasing, and for what reasons.

If a sign were to say ‘Pain, Fear and Discomfort Collars’, would you buy one? Would you feel that you were doing something that would be beneficial for your relationship with your dog. Would you put in your next Christmas letter that baby Fido got his first ‘Pain, Fear and Discomfort Collar’ and we are so excited about it? Why not, there are boat loads of people who say they just bought a new ‘Training Collar’ for their dog. The terminology and marketing have desensitized and allowed us to feel good about using them.

What about a sign that says ‘Training Takes a Life Time Collars’, would you feel discouraged and overwhelmed? Collars and harnesses that are made for comfort and to assist with training goals are also made for handlers that understand training doesn’t happen overnight, in a weekend, a year or even five years. It is a life time commitment. This can seem overwhelming and daunting to some.

When you buy something for yourself based on advertising that is appealing to you, you are making a choice that will affect only you. You can live with those choices, good , bad or indifferent. When you buy something for your dog, you need to choose wisely and look past advertising and marketing. Really look at the product and do research. After you have done that, you need to have personal accountability for how you use it, and know why. You are doing the training with your dog, not the gear.

If someone ever comes out with a Pixie Dust Collar … let me know!

Nancy
this was a post from my original blog, that I accidentally crashed with one click on my keyboard,  in 1/2012. Happy to have found it …

Story is cruising into retirement!

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It’s time to change things up for Story, here is wishing him a brilliant retirement!

I wasn’t in the market for a puppy. Not really, but if you are a dog person you kind of always are to be honest. Franny was around five years old or so, Ocean almost three, we were hitting our stride. Franny was trail running with Spore every day, Ocean and I competing in herding, agility and freestyle almost every weekend and more.

And then I saw an article in the paper, “Quality Border Collie Pups”. I had never seen them listed that way, and was curious so I called. The call led to a four hour visit, the visit led to an additional phone call, and a few days later we met half way and brought Story home. We were the first non-ranch home to be approved for one of her puppies. I promised to give him a rock star life and to use his working abilities, he would be more than a pet.

Baby story

He came from the Ross line of border collies, a Scottish line, and a fine one I might add. Not a single dam thing wrong with these dogs. Solid in every which way.  A gift.

His litter name was ‘Jig’, because his markings looked like a jigsaw puzzle. The kids named him Story B. Jones. It was a combination of a story book series that my children were reading at the time, and their love of books. To me it was perfectly pimpish, I loved it.

He was my first dog that was strong, out going, athletic, super social, and 100% comfortable in his own skin. Nothing to modify, life was good, so we had unlimited time to train, train to my hearts content, and it turns out Story’s. I had never had a solid dog of my own, solid on every level. Rock On!

So we went to town doing everything, literally. My immediate goal was owner trained Service Dog. I was working through some limiting health issues at the time, so this was an awesome fit. The cool thing about this journey was that I did everything with him, exposed him to more than my other dogs had ever seen, and involved myself in several sports to keep him flexible, both mentally and physically. After 18 months he pretty much let me know Service Dog worked sucked for him, he was way to social, and wanted work that was more explosive and dynamic. I am so glad I was working in other areas at the same time as it let us continue right along with training without missing a step.

Agility was super fun with Story. He went from polite and accurate to running like a steam train. Power, force, 100% each and every time! You could feel his energy on course, I loved it, every minute.

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Herding, well he did it all without me doing anything. He was amazing and breath taking to watch on stock. Balanced, settled, great distance, and powerful. He never had problems with green sheep or rams. He worked them all the same, and they all listened. This is something I wish we had put more time into.

Freestyle, this was our thing. Story and I came together and really blossomed with freestyle training. The creativity, the complex sequences, and the focus. He was honored, at 17 months of age, with a guest appearance on the Martha Stewart Show. It still makes me smile that at his youthful age he handled that whole experience in stride, like he was born for it. He made me smile through that whole journey!

Martha Stewart

And then along came treibball. This has been the only sport Story was not initially excited about. He was disgusted that I would actually ask him to put his face on the ball. I had to slow down with this sport and wait for him, make it worth his while. And now, two years later, he is an awesome player, a World Pusher with the World Treibball League!

small ball

Story’s image has graced newspaper and magazine articles, and has been part of our advertising campaign for the Scent Project. This image is one of my favorites from early in our freestyle training, and appeared in the Bozeman Chronicle.

me & story

Story has worked with hundreds of our clients dogs, from puppies and adolescents, to dogs that didn’t trust other dogs, or had reactivity issues. He has such a lovely way of greeting dogs and knowing when he can move forward, and when he should give more space. Since he has not an ounce of malice intent, he seemed to be able to put most dogs at ease, some actually learned to play again. But about two weeks ago he let me know he was done with this type of work. He looked out the car door at the dog we were going to be working with, and I swear I heard him say to the other dog, “sorry, you’re on your own dude”. He crawled into the back seat and that is all the information I needed to have. Retirement, lounging, hiking, treibball, a demo here and there, it made me smile, it was time.

Story has worked in -

196 puppy classes

97 adolescent classes

116 freestyle classes

28 agility classes

402 private trainings as a stimulus or trigger dog

He has had an amazing career, possibly more to come but in a much less stressful way. We are changing gears! So here is to my big, brilliant, and beautiful boy, Story. You are a gift each and every day. Love to you, all the way around!

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click on a photo and then follow the arrows!

she has never apologized for her choices, ever

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She has never apologized for her choices. She has never lied. She has lived her life with raw honesty, take it or leave it.

I chose to take it, and have not one single regret.

My Franny is reaching the end of her life. She has gone from a senior dog who was very active, to an old age dog who is slowly fading. She is actively dying before my eyes, and I have to stop and wonder how this all came to be. I know, I understand the circle of life, I understand that death is part of our life experience, but when it starts to happen, in front of my eyes, it seems so not real. I don’t know how else to say it. From vibrant, active, and opinionated, to slowly letting go. She is doing this gracefully, me not so much.

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I have written about Franny extensively. The blog series I wrote last year, ‘Living with a Dog Outside of Neutral’, was a very cathartic experience for me. I had never intended to write about my experiences with Franny, because at that point we were still living them, actively, every day. I think there is a fine line between sharing valuable information and exploiting a relationship, I had to wait until I found my voice to tell her story. But we are both very much a part of each others personal biographies, large chapters in each I would think, and I reached a point where it was time.

I met some wonderful people through this series, shared similar experiences, and have been invited to talk for small groups and clubs that work with dogs that are outside of neutral. But I also was contacted by a few who had nothing but negative comments, were extremely condemning, and had the need to point out all of my mistakes along the way. These few must have missed my the line in the opening paragraph, “I will do my best to tell this story with the unapologetic and raw manner in which she lives”.

On the final post in that series I wasn’t ready to comment on the success or failures of all of the work Franny and I did together. Now I am. I believe that all of the time spent reading, researching, training, and building a strong relationship were worth it, totally and completely. She has been an amazing teacher. Things didn’t go smoothly, hardly ever. Franny and I didn’t just color outside of the lines, we scribbled freely. We had to learn, so we did it together. When I hear of training programs where animals have been rehabilitated, I am still not certain that is what Franny and I ever did, or if it truly is possible for any animal, us included. Franny became very successful in environments where she felt safe, but there were plenty were she didn’t feel safe. Those environments never worked, ever, for us. Triggers were triggers, some lessened but they were still there. But we came to a mutual point, ‘the DMZ’, and we moved forward together. This was only possible through mutual trust, safety, and a strong relationship. Neither of us perfect. What worked in spades for Franny and I, and all of our dogs have benefited from this, is management and structure of the environment.

One person wrote to me and asked why Franny never reached the point of perfect, where she could handle all situations under all distractions, ‘your a trainer for God’s sake!’. To me that isn’t perfect, that’s a stuffed animal. Not many dogs, or humans for that matter can handle everything, all of the time, with grace. Trying to turn Franny into a sweet, loving, gentle neutral dog would be like moving Mt. Everest to a new continent. Not possible. Apples and oranges.

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I started out as Franny’s guide. You see, I have been on the planet many decades before she was born, I have life experience that I could share with her, hopefully teach her. Holidays, birthdays, camping, weather, kayaking, movie time, etc. I had the privilege to introduce her to things, share what I knew, pass along some knowledge. But now it has flipped, she is my guide. She has become old, past senior years, she has entered a life stage totally unfamiliar to me, and she is doing this on her own. She must sense death is not far off, I can see it in her eyes and by her actions of wanting to be near me, next to me. She will experience letting go, taking her last breath, and saying good bye, all before it is my time. I cannot help explain this to her for I haven’t been there yet, I don’t know what it’s like. She is so brave to me.

Our time left together will be our time. Days, weeks or months. I don’t believe in a rainbow bridge, and would bet money she wouldn’t be sitting there waiting for me, I can only imagine her saying, fuck that.  I wish her freedom and a chance to fly without human judgement. So to my Franny, even though you don’t read, this is for you, I hope you can feel it in your heart.

You have taught me so much

Taught me the purpose for my skills

Taught me who I am

Taught me to live with raw honesty

But most of all you taught me to do what is right

I love you

 

 

time poor

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When Spore and I started our lives together, we decided that we wanted to live simply. We found out pretty quickly that our vision of simple was quite different. Spore was thinking cave man homesteader, pull away from society, live off the land, tree bark for toilet paper kind of simple. I was thinking no TV and walk to work simple.

Compromise. We had to learn it in spades. Small house we both agreed on. I said no to tree bark essentials, he said no to a washer and dryer. I said no to a wash board and ringer. He said OK, no dryer. We were making progress. He said composting toilet, I said no way no how. He said no extras just the minimum, I said OK.

Simple is not simple to plan, but it’s also not terribly complicated. Chop wood, carry water.

We were learning that living simply could be a monstrous time suck, and some days physically and mentally exhausting, and frustrating. Loosing your entire market garden to one random hail storm is not an easy pill to swallow. Busy from sun up to sunset on most days. There is a reason that some homesteaders killed each other, ate their young, and went crazy. I was choosing to not go down that path, just yet.

Ocean, Garden

But, surprisingly enough, I was loving our simple life. I’ve never been opposed to hard work, but I learned that I function much better without material clutter. I started to love going to bed each night, (yes a bed, after I talked Spore out of the tent in the yard), exhausted mentally and physically in a deep satisfying way. Things felt real, rich, tangible, and known.

We were young, we didn’t have children or dogs yet, simple was totally doable.

And then one day we looked at each other, maybe it was a blank stare. We now had a dog and two babies, and jobs in town. Laundry sat on the clothes line for days, I considered rain an extra rinse cycle. Wood needed to be chopped, the garden harvested, and goodies to be canned. Our dog and two babies took up all of the time I use to have to take care of our basic needs. I felt completely time poor, and exhausted in a not so good way.

spore & pip garden

So we hit the compromise table again. My new focus was our babies and my dog. Somethings around the house had to give, be made a bit easier. My declaration to not being super human stuck. I held up my simple white flag, to our simple little life, in our simple little home. And I was gifted a lovely dryer. Woop… I think it might still be the best gift I ever received.

Over the years we have added more dogs, birds, fish, and bunnies. Our children are growing up and are getting pretty involved and busy in their activities. My dogs are all hitting their senior years at one level or another and it is ripping at my heart. And I have some modern conveniences in our home that I am so grateful for.

Most days I have ample time for my kids and dogs. I mean hours worth, and I planned it this way. I also work full time, and still grow a market garden. But the ‘keep it simple’ is always at the forefront of everything I do.

I would consider myself to be time poor. There are very few days, if any, where I am at a loss for something to do. Even though my scientist friends remind me that time is a constant and does not change, if you are a mother you know for a fact that it does. Time goes by way to quickly with my dogs and they go from puppy to senior in no time at all. I have learned to stop and cherish each day with them, not that they are all good or productive, but that we are here and doing this journey together. My kids are growing way to quickly and I would like the clock to slow a bit, enjoy the time I have with them for just a little longer.

On days were I am feeling really time poor, I stop and take a deep breath. There is always 20 minutes someplace in the day to sit down with my kids and listen to them. There is always 20 minutes to go into the yard and play with my dogs and work with them.

Cutting out the extras and knowing what is most important is the simplest way to live, and love, and be grateful. Time poor doesn’t have to mean ‘no time’, it simply means there is no time for extras, only what matters most.

Nancy

 

 

 

when is a rescue no longer a rescue?

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18

Marketing is a powerful tool.

A good marketing plan can shape how we feel, how we act, how we move, how we eat, what we eat, where we live, what we think, and so on. Sit back and think for a moment, what are you currently doing in your life that has not been shaped by marketing on some level? hmmm

During the past decade, one of the most powerful marketing trends in the United States has been focused on adopting pets from Rescues and Shelters. Ethically, morally, socially, and neighborly, it has been marketed as not only the cool thing to do, but the responsible thing to do. This in and of itself is great, animals in need of forever homes garnering attention in every corner of America. A spot light on those animals that for whatever reason need a better, and more suitable home than the one they started with. And because this marketing trend surpasses the animal world, is backed by movie stars, politicians, and the uber wealthy, it is very successful! Yay for the animals!

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Some dogs that have come from shelters and rescues have made the headlines over the years; Agility Champions, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs, Canines for Conservation, and cherished family pets that turn out to have a lot of talent. These stories bring another layer to this marketing trend. Sometimes you can find that diamond in the rough, and how cool is that.

But not all are remarkable, or pretty, or talented. Some are simple, some with lack luster looks, some have seen evil, some have experienced dangerous situations, many have lived in dysfunction, some are timid, some are just simply not the right fit for the humans that chose them. And there are plenty more reasons why these dogs end up in transition with rescues and shelters. And believe it or not, this is great for marketing too. There are a plethora of people with very deep and kind hearts who are looking for a dog to cherish. They want to help the under dog. Provide a safe place, give them hope, experience happiness, and let them fly.

Just as every dog in transition has their own story, every person that wants a dog has their own reasons.

But here is my question, or statement, or opinion, or observation. I’m not sure what it is because depending on the day it seems to take on a new life form.

This powerful marketing trend to adopt is good and right on all levels, I support that. But this same marketing trend has kept these dogs carrying around their baggage from their past life for way too long. Marketing has shaped us to continue to use the terms ‘my rescue’, ‘he/she’s a rescue’, ‘it’s a rescue’, ‘pound puppy’, or ‘second hand mutt’. But why? Once you adopt your dog aren’t they now yours? Shouldn’t we be using the term ‘MY DOG’. Let them leave their past life behind and move on, a fresh start, re framing how the world works in a better way, hopefully.

There seems to be some moral or ethical Brownie Badge when you refer to your dog as ‘my rescue’. In that one word phrase you have let, whoever you are talking too, know that you have done a good thing out of the kindness of your heart. I have never seen the same emotional response in a conversation by just saying ‘this is my dog’. Ta Da, MY DOG!

Sometimes marketing plans that work so well on us humans, and shape our behavior, can back fire on our dogs. Many times, dogs that are adopted and called ‘a rescue’ are thought to be less intelligent by some, less trainable, less social, less of everything. ‘Rescue’ can be a powerful word picture for some people. Odd, anti social, over the top behaviors are sometimes tolerated, because, well you know, it’s a ‘Rescue’. What?

When a person commits to the words, ‘my dog’, they cannot blame or excuse their human behavior or their dogs behavior on the past. It is pretty defining, and requires accountability in my opinion, or rather my world. My dog, my responsibility, my companion, my joy, my life, my world. It is full commitment, committing to another living being, fully and totally without any verbal barrier or excuses, or dismissals because of their previous experiences.

Whether you refer to yourself as a guardian or an owner, do it fully, not half way. Rescue a dog, adopt a dog, but then call them yours. My Dog.

After all, I don’t believe they can be re rescued every single day for the rest of their lives in the same home with the same person. How freaking exhausting would that be!

Nancy, who is currently surrounded by four sleeping dogs, who are all My Dogs.