Touching Animal Souls

What is your word for 2019. Someone asked me this question.  I slept on it (through the fire works which I judged with vehemence), while I considered my children's safety at their New Year parties (and worried), while I worked to ensure work animals were okay (with a stern sense of responsibility).  Very serious thoughts and way of being this is.  I heard that what you find yourself doing on day one of the year is a very clear indication of what you will spend your year doing.  I am at work... But my work is great.  I work with animals  I am surrounded by people who care as much as I do about the planet and animals.  The only but on this is - will I work with a light or heavy heart. So what is my word? Play . I listened to a pod cast recently by Dr Jordan Peterson.  He speaks of how we fight for rights, but few take responsibility.  This resonates with me because taking responsibility - means owning my story consciously.  Knowing when I am judging, worrying or working,

Some fellow animal trainers and I presented on this concept at an international animal behaviour conference a few years back.   The paper was met with appreciation.     The term “Choice and control” has gained a life of its own.   In 2018 October, Dr Susta and I presented once more on a similar topic, and the topic was met with some scepticism.   Initially I was perplexed.   I wondered why anyone would disagree about providing animals with choice.   I have read more on the topic, and now find that there is potentially good reason for the debate.   So, I need to clear up what I believe choice to be all about. The goal always is to provide us with an opportunity to be ethical in relationship – not only with animals, but with people too.     So, here goes… What does choice mean?   Dictionaries elaborate similarly Merriam Webster defines it as “…the power or right to choose” This is the definition that Dr Susta and I have been focussing upon in our presentations

PAY ATTENTION Click treat.  Click treat.  Click treat.  The theory tells us that this is secondary and then primary reinforcement.  Is this the whole story? There is always more going on, and if we pay attention - when we hit a snag - what we know will assist us to troubleshoot - because we will be aware of what we are up to and what our animal souls may be experiencing. In every interaction we have with the world, we are experiencing many things, both intrinsically and extrinsically.  Some days we are motivated to go for that run just for the joy of movement...  Intrinsic.  Other days it is so we can get away from the office or a troublesome argument... Extrinsic.  Then there are the days where we run so that we can get fit...  Extrinsic.  We always love the feeling after the run - when the endorphins sing through our system, or in my favourite case - when I jump into the ocean to cool down - Extrinsic(the feel of the ocean as a reward for the run) and Intrinsic(the sing

We spend our lives justifying our actions.  We create wars and crusades in the name of right.   Being ‘right’ serves to increase our sense of what we believe to be true – BUT this justified and defended truth is an illusion. Defending our positions or justifying our actions, as the philosophers of old will tell you - creates resistance to those very positions. What does this have to do with animals – when you force an issue, you teach nothing – you only create a reactive animal who will submit or fight.  There is no respect and trust in either of those states of mind. Justification and defence puts us in the clouds.  Moves us away from the fundamental is-ness which is what we should be focussing upon.  The is-ness is the information that we can look at which will provide us options on what needs doing.  When we look at and respond to the is-ness, we are choosing to take responsibility.  The cloudy look and feel of our lives is exactly that.  Blurred and confused.  The goal – conscious