Stunning article by the dog guru

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.

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...

Happy Birthday Sausage

This photograph. Taken on the 1 st of January 2000. At 6am in the morning. New Year’s eve time with dolphins is something that animal care staff do. No better way to see in the New Year. And how beautiful is this angel Kelpie. 33 years old today. Such a gentleman. When I started working at with him, Kelpie was 6 years old. And already a charmer of note. If you ask him to retrieve a toy, even today, he will be extra obliging – helping you get it out of the water. He is a confidence builder. In people and in animals. He has taught so many animal trainers that they are good enough. He is the stable soul that we will introduce new young animals to, and he takes them patiently under his flipper, and shows them the ropes. Special memories. Like when he was practising behaviours he was trained with Khwezi – the newest addition to the bachelor group – Khwezi did not kn...

Touching Animal Souls

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