Skip to main content

Happy New Gear

Yes.  Find a new gear

That is the latest lesson I learned from dear Sage.  She is the one on the left.  Rocky is her friend. 

So, for the last year we have been playing the 'game' of  'don't jump up on me when I get home'.  Bear in mind I live on a little farm and jumping up I don't really mind,  but mud I do mind.  Oh yes, and apparently it is not respectful for dogs to jump on you.

 Sage is a puppy, and exciteable at the least.  We have a driveway from hell, so the dogs need to be locked away from it so that we can get in without doing them any harm.  So, by the time I get to Sage, she has been expecting to say hello for a good 5 minutes (more if you listen to the people who say dogs anticipate our arrival for much longer - which I get)  At this point she is displacing on the other dogs, and some times even urinating with excitement.  She wants to say hello.   

So this hot shot trainer - that I am meant to be - failed for a long time to have the dog of our dreams behaving.  I had many other experts including many friends and family who guided me with loads of judgement - my perspective of course - they were probably trying to help.  I tried doing an automatic sit, and even had people tell me to knee her in the chest - which I was not partial to doing.  When my son tried it, it seemed to get her even more excited.  When Sage fails - as I imagine most animals, she becomes reactive.  I needed to keep her thinking,

 Eventually I stopped and really looked.  I looked at what I could do to help Sage and I succeed together.  The solution was so easy I am embarrassed.  So, here goes - I will share it with you...

 There is a bench just outside the gate.  If I ask her to hop onto the bench, she is eye level with me - which is what she wants.  She does not have to jump, and I don't get jumped on.  I can say hello on my terms and she calms down because she has my immediate attention and an action that she can choose where she gets it right.  This solution  worked so fast - in fact, took a couple of times of me coming home and asking for this calm response before she started to jump up onto the bench without even being asked - she has something she can succeed at, and our greeting is now courteous and loving

 Sorry Sage - that it took me so long to look at the solution from your point of view -

Sorry that I was more interested in getting it 'right' than working with you.

And thank you again - for helping me with your 'sage' wisdom.

Love you poppet.

 

TO ALL OF YOU WHO TAKE THE TIME TO GLOSS OVER MY RAMBLINGS 

I WISH YOU ALL A WONDERFUL AND INSPIRED 2018

May the lessons you learn from your guru animals be filled with humour, love, humility, joy, magic and fun. 

Here is to miracles blessing your life.

 

Thank you for your support in the last year.  I look forward to sharing more thoughts with you in the year to come.

 

Now Play!!!!  Let that be your resolution -

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for connectingđź’•

Popular posts from this blog

What is success?

Success is not giving a hoot.  If you can be a 45 year old cat woman playing in front of 3000 people, totally uninhibited, then you are succeeding.  Because if you are able to do that, you are in the present moment, not caring about what anybody else thinks.  Not worried about their judgements or how you think you should be coming across.  (ok, so I was a little worried, so not 100% successful, but I continue to strive to be free of this nonsence) When you have that presence of mind in front of animals, that is when you are succeeding. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Overwhelmed

Sometimes I spend time with people who see others in a different way to me. I am left feeling insecure in my intuition. Some believe that human beings are inherently bad. I prefer to see them as inherently good. With regard to people in relationship with animals, any poor relations, I see as misunderstandings or confused belief systems. I need to be able to trust my take on people. Because if I don't, there is no hope. If we don't inherently care, if we don't have that foundation to which we can return once we put our ego and greed aside, then there is no hope. People governed by their egos do three things when faced by challenges - 1. Keep doing the sam and expect a different result. 2. Dig in their heels and force the issue. 3. Give up and walk away with an excuse. All points refuse to acknowledge a problem which can be solved because it is a problem of our own making. So, when I look around and see litter, pollution, unethical care of humans and animals, corrupti...
2 comments
Read more

A Lesson in Surrender

  I always found the concept of surrender a cop out.  Something one would do if one was too weak to take on a situation.   So, when I found myself in a situation where I am unable to follow my passion in the most effective manner, I experienced great discomfort.  Speaking up was immediately taken as judgement.  Even though it was never intended as that.  The presumed judgement resulted in defence.  And the drama began, and unfolded.   Chasms and vindication ruled.  Frustration and finger pointing. What has this to do with animals?   For those of us that work with animals, they are like kids.  They sense how we feel.  Our moods affect them.  So, when this type of angst environment is created, the disturbance affects the creatures that we love. The lesson – stop the angst.  It is not worth upsetting the animals.  Nothing is.  So, surrender.  Not sure where this will go.  But I am here righ...
Post a Comment
Read more