Tag Archives: Dog

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

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 …

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

 

 

when is a rescue no longer a rescue?

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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.

up north in Alaska!

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It’s workshop season! And what a great start. A trip up north to Anchorage and Wasilla for a variety of topics, freestyle, cross training, team success and treibball. Ask anyone who wants to book me, it takes a lot to get me to leave home. But in this process of prying me away from my comfort, I seem to almost always love every minute, and meet some of the nicest people, from literally all over the world.

I love giving workshops, I love teaching, and sharing, and learning from those I am teaching. It is truly a full circle experience. The bonus to working with such a group of talented folks is that the level at which you can teach is that much higher, and the conversations that much better. Working with talent is always a gift in my opinion.

The groups I worked with in Alaska were so deeply involved in the dog world in one way or another, or another, or another! Mushing, dock diving, obedience, tracking, agility, SAR, hunting. Talented and committed.

The Alyeska Canine Trainers club in Anchorage have an amazing facility. Karen gave me the early morning tour, lucky me! And we tried to use it all, but it is huge. I would be lying if I didn’t say I had facility envy on some level. Folks came from all over Alaska, even Juno. When I asked Martha how she got to Anchorage, she looked at me quizzically and said, “you either fly or swim really hard” and then she had a great laugh!

I was fortunate to get some time watching the Alaska Dogs Gone Wild Fly Ball Team, and to visit the Alaska K9 Aquatics center.

Dinners, driving up the Cooke Inlet to the Alyeska ski resort, which by the way was the only 1 hour of sun I saw while I was there, and then off to Wasilla for a Monday Treibball workshop!

The photos can do the rest of the talking. Awesome all the way around! Just click on the photo to enlarge and follow the arrows.

Thank you Karen and Claudia for arranging everything and taking such good care of me! Nancy

raw food raw talk II

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I’m inviting you all into my home, specifically my kitchen, so you can see what it actually looks like to make a raw meal for your dog. It’s pretty much like a regular cooking demonstration, sans stove and wine!

Raw feeding is referred to as biologically appropriate or species specific. Giving your dog the food their body was made to digest.

All of my dogs meals are varied. We use a variety of meats, a variety of bones, a variety of body parts, variety of organs, and a variety of fruit and vegetables. Did I say variety? YES! That is singly, in my opinion, what is most important in a raw diet, any diet for that matter.

Rabbit, lamb, beef, fish (whole sardines, mackerel, not pacific raw salmon, that can be dangerous to dogs), quail, pheasant, chicken, turkey, elk, bison, etc.

Kale, chard, collard greens, yam, blue berries, raspberries, parsley, dandelion greens, milk thistle, etc. (If you don’t know the source of your plant products, please blanch in boiling water for 15-30 seconds, and then put in grinder)

This video just shows ONE lunch option.

  • turkey parts – breast, back, neck, organs, ground
  • beef – muscle, kidney, heart, liver
  • tripe
  • sweet potato, blue berries

My proportions are generally +/-

  • 50% meat
  • 30% meat and crushed bone
  • 10-15% organ/offal
  • 5-10% fruit/veggie

If you are just getting started on a species specific diet, raw feeding, my suggestion is to use a commercial raw product to start (a bit more expensive but consider it part of your education), and read, read, read. Educate yourself, become familiar, ask questions to those that are knowledgeable with raw feeding, and when you are ready to make your own, start small. Make small batches, become familiar with buying your own product, look for good resources locally, and BREATHE!

Our other videos on carcass feeding, multiple dog household and food, raw food

Raw Carcass Feeding

Raw Feeding Time – Multiple Dog Household

Multiple dog household and food – keeping the peace

Happy Feeding! Please make sure to check out our other articles on raw feeding and nutrition! ~ Nancy

this group will inspire!

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This winter I had a brilliant idea, I mean brilliant x 10!

I was going to schedule an event at our Gym, and call it ‘The Festival of Possibilities’. We have a talented and experienced group of positive based trainers across the state. My plan was to bring them all together over a weekend, and have mini workshops, sampler classes, private sessions, consultations, etc, and make it available to the general public. A Festival to; enlighten, teach, explore new ideas, try a new service, listen, participate, and maybe investigate alternative health options. Possibilities always leave the door open!

I still have this on the back burner, I still want this to happen, but here is the glitch I ran into. Because we are all trainers, and not only trainers, but also business owners, and dog sport competitors, it was impossible to find a single weekend where we could all get together!

But what did happen, is it gave me pause to really think about this group of individuals that are not only colleagues, but have become my trusted friends over the years. And truthfully to stand in awe at the collective awesomeness that is right here in Montana.

When I started my business  Paws & People, 10 years ago, there were training clubs, but not many individually owned training businesses, and even fewer that were dedicated to education and positive based training. Over the years I have been asked to give workshops and private consultations across the state, and have had the opportunity to work with these individuals and watch their businesses grow. I have been humbled by their trust in me. And honestly, it has made our friendships over the years that much more special!

You see, in the dog world, even in the positive based dog world, not all trainers or business owners are savory characters. Disrespect towards other trainers, malice intent, shotty cheap business practices, pirating other trainers material, and vindictive behavior,  run deep. These people never get a second chance to make a first impression with other trainers, and tend not to last very long. And for a good reason in my opinion. Over the years I have worked with two individuals like this, and it still knocks the wind out of me to see adults behave so poorly. But, it’s also a great reminder for me, why I do what I do, and why I value other trainers that hold themselves to a much higher standard.

What sets my colleagues, and their businesses apart from the rest is a combination of things.

  1. Functioning adults, that have good social skills, are honest, and are fairly mature!
  2. Most of these individuals have years, if not decades of experience in the dog sport competition world. Most hold titles in multiple dog sports.
  3. They are dog aficionados! Or Junky if you prefer. If there is a dog book, movie, conference, workshop, talk, well they will be there. Always on the curve to learn more and be current. Curious and always exploring. Many are qualified and/or certified in multiple disciplines!
  4. They reach out to other colleagues for feedback, help, or referrals, and have formed a pretty cool network of support.
  5. Honesty and respect run deep with this group. I have never seen a dishonest display with their businesses, clients, or training colleagues. Their businesses are respected in their communities and amongst other trainers.
  6. These individuals have integrity up one side and down the other, and it reflects in their business approach.
  7. These individuals stand firmly on their own two feet, know who they are, they are educated, and at the same time humble when working with animals and their people. They know and understand there is always something to be learned from the animals they are working with.
  8. Great sense of humor and a fairly readable bullshit meter.

Let me introduce the ‘collective awesomeness’ of Positive Based Trainers from Montana -

Melanie Lattin – Great Falls

Linda Lyons – Happy Hounds Dog Training – Dillon

Joni Kaiser – mBarking Training – Helena – She also employs Vicki Willert, Bree Caldwell, and Vicki Thacker. A great team!

Adele Delp - Canine Fitness – Helena

Tom Brownlee – Carroll College – Helena

Jewels Willis – The Joyful Animal – Hamilton

Natasha Osborn - Pathfinder Agility – Stevensville

Sarah Spencer Hall - Sit Happens! – Missoula

Helene Tiefenthaler – Paws-a-tively Canine! – Laurel

Camilla McCullough – Billings/Red Lodge

And here is an additional shout out to the Bozeman PetSmart. While not an individually owned business, their trainer and veterinary technician crew have all been clients of mine at one time or another. They have taken that extra step to do more, learn more, and enhance their skills! And in turn pass it along to their clients! Rock on…

And to our two shelters, Lewis and Clark Humane Society, and Heart of the Valley, that have an active behavior and training program, and have been championing positive based training! Thank you!

If feels great to be surrounded by these individuals, I feel grateful! ~ Nancy

… and it unfolds before my eyes!

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I love to watch dogs in motion, dogs interacting, dogs with their people. For me it’s like a dance. Sometimes beautifully choreographed, and sometimes like Dante’s Inferno. Nonetheless, a dance.

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I think the first part of the dance that is important is the use of space. Dogs have an amazing sense of space, when to give it and when to take it. Some are subtle, these are the real masters, and these are the dogs I really like to watch. There is always something to learn with these guys. Others are overt, explosive, and dynamic with space. These are the dogs that almost always tend to overwhelm everyone and everything in their environment. Fun to watch, but not a lot to learn. Well, I kind of take that back. When you see one of the overt space users, you learn that you can predict, with a fair amount of accuracy, who they are going to piss off first, and then second, and then third, before the owner gets involved. When I see these types of dogs coming I almost always find myself cringe just a bit, and maybe look sideways out of one eye. I just know what is going to happen in the not to distant future.

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The second part of the dance is timing. And that’s what dogs have in spades. It’s impressive beyond our comprehension.

I am someone who is super sensitive to space and timing. Perhaps that is why dogs and I get each other. Dogs don’t misinterpret my actions, and I don’t misinterpret theirs. If they are clear that they don’t want me in their space, cool, I don’t go any further forward, and visa versa. I guess space and timing are, in a way, equal to respect. Whether I have honed these skills through working with dogs (maybe some), or from playing sports most of my life (probably a bit), or working in the restaurant industry through most of my youth (for sure),  I can read a situation and react accordingly. One of the constant themes in e-mails that I receive from my YouTube channel is ‘… and your timing is kick ass!’.

By the way, because I am sensitive to space and timing, Costco on a Saturday afternoon is my living nightmare.

Which brings me to today! I was a few cars back waiting at a stop light off of Main street. On the corner was a man with a cattle dog. He was chatting away on his phone when I noticed his dog lay down, face away from the man, head lowered, body still, and eye stalk something. The man did not take notice.

Oh, this is fodder for my training soul! Just saying.

So I looked down the sidewalk a ways and here comes a young kid with ear buds in and looking deep in thought, and a jacked up young bully mix of some sort, that was straining on the leash, and staring at the cattle dog it was walking towards. Because this kid was walking in the direction of the corner, the young dog was being asked, unknowingly, to walk into the cattle dogs space, even with the cattle dog setting up on him, and giving him the “STOP DO NOT PASS GO!, STAY OUT OF MY SPACE” body language. Neither of the men were aware of what was about to happen, neither had looked in the direction of their dog that I could tell. I knew exactly what was going to happen. In. Two. More. Steps. This dance was about to hit the fan! The cattle dog got up and lunged, and at the same time the young dog lunged forward and was straining up on his back two legs. This all happened in about 5-7 seconds. Then the men started to pop and jerk and yank their dogs all around, apparently surprised in some way. Honestly, these might be the Costco shoppers that fry my nerves, I should have taken better notice of what they actually looked like! Cell phone guy never stopped talking, and literally dragged his cattle dog around the corner on its side. As the young kid crossed the street, and I was waiting to turn, I heard him say to someone in passing, “I can’t trust my damn dog” Oh. My. God.

As I drove off, I couldn’t help but think how beautiful that dance could have been with experienced handlers. Handlers that understand how to look at their environment and choose wisely. How to keep flow and motion, while also having an understanding of space and timing. How to work as a team with their dog, not set their dog up for failure. Dancing can be enlightening on so many levels.

It is moments like this that make me wonder why dogs even like us as a species.

May we all learn to dance, for our dogs sake! ~ Nancy

when dogs speak their truth, we should listen

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Dogs don’t lie.

I’m not sure if they have ‘the ability’ to lie or not, but I have never met a dishonest dog. If there is one species that lives in the moment, truly in the moment, is honest, and speaks his truth, it is the dog.

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I’ll be quite honest, I think I love dogs because they are the least confusing part of my life. There are no ulterior motives, no hidden agendas, no social game playing, no misunderstandings, no lies. Clear and direct with intentions. I can respect that, and perhaps strive to be more like that.

If Story is hungry and paws my knee to let me know, I believe him. He isn’t doing it to fake me out, or make me get up to inconvenience me, it is his truth. “I am hungry, you forgot about my lunch today.”

When Ocean goes out in the back yard with my husband, in the wee hours of morning, and barks at seemingly nothing, it would be super easy to yell at her. “Why are you barking at nothing?” But she isn’t barking at nothing, she is barking at things that scare her. Noises, shadows, and the place where the bear was on the back side of the fence last year. Her fears are real, and her voice is the only way to tell the world, “I am scared”. When she speaks her truth is is loud and noisy, but it is her truth, it is not for me to say “it’s OK, nothing is there”, because for her, those things are real and they are in fact there.

Franny has never lied about anything, in fact her truth can be brutally honest, like it or not. If she killed something, she intended to do it, no apologies. If she intended to scare something, she did. If you come into our home and she wags her tail and throws her head from side to side, she is filled with true joy to see you. Just you. Not what you may have brought for dinner, not what you smell like, not what you may talk about, or your adventures. She is filled with joy by you, your person, your essence, who you truly are. And this truth is palpable, you can feel it deep inside.

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$eeker finds great satisfaction in work and his people. He has a strong personality, and a deep belief in himself. He might just be the poster child for ‘speaking ones truth’.

$eeker is about being himself, he is not concerned with being right.

He doesn’t try to manage our household feelings/emotions. If he pushed something over while playing, well then he pushed something over while playing, he doesn’t feel responsible for our emotional response, that is solely ours to deal with.

He is clear and direct. You cannot misinterpret his desire to snuggle, play, eat, sleep, work, or harass a neighbor dog through the fence.

He is kind, not malicious. But it doesn’t mean he is not intense. He is gentle with the elderly and children.  He plays like a rock star with Story. The only person that exists in any moment in time is the one he is working with or sleeping with.

At times, I think we must be so confusing for our dogs. We say one thing and then do another. We tell our dogs with our body language that things are not going to go well for them, yet our voice is sweet. we get distracted with thoughts about our day, yet our body language says ‘stay with me’. We are walking contradiction to be sure!

Story is beside me right now, deep in some dream. His tail is wagging and he is lightly chirping. Even now I believe he is telling his truth and it makes me smile from deep within.

Perhaps we should all take a lesson from our dogs in ‘speaking our truth’. And practice this lesson. Life would be so less confusing!

Nancy

snowball treibball

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Well, it was a treibball afternoon in the yard. My husband and kids love this game with the dogs. While they were playing away, I decided to try some ‘moving action shots’. The light was kind of funky, it was snowing pretty good, and the wind was strong, but I love the motion…

my B & W’s … $eeker makes using a camera fun!

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Spore and Story – they are a great TEAM. And the crappier, windier, and snowier the weather, the happier they both are…?!!!!

 

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Spore and his TREIBBALL SAFETY GLASSES. On snowy days they are kind of handy!

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I love this dog! Story is so powerful. I want to work, on a better light day, capturing his power, how it feels when you are out with him.

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love this collection. $eeker loves this game!

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And now for Mr. Happy Pants!

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Loving our new snow, but now I am off to warm up … Nancy