(Photo: person sitting at the end of a dock, surrounded by water, mountains, and a blue sky)
How are you?
How are you, really?
This is SO IMPORTANT and often never discussed in the dog training world.
YOU MATTER.
How you are feeling matters.
I hope you’re feeling well. If you’re not, let’s acknowledge that together right now.
How are you feeling in THIS moment?
Nervous? Tense? Frustrated? Fed up? Sad? Worried?
What do you do to overcome your stress? (Photo: woman wearing a black tank top and a surgical mask holds her head, as though it aches)
It’s okay to feel these things. It’s important to acknowledge HOW we are feeling and then to try to take a small step toward feeling better.
Move a pebble, not a mountain. Bit by bit, you’ll get there.
I find this statement helps my clients move forward on their path to wellness
“Right now, I’m feeling _____. I would like to feel more calm.”
Now, what makes YOU feel calm? Is it sitting in a quiet room and taking ten deep breaths (the kind where your belly and your chest both move)? Is it petting your cat? Is it playing an instrument? Is it taking a walk? Looking at your garden?
Being in nature brings calmness to many people. What brings you calmness? (Photo: sunrise over the mountains)
Take some time to learn about yourself.
Your emotional well-being is crucial to your relationship with your dog.
Read.
That.
Twice.
Your dog is your mirror. They reflect the energy that you emit.
You’ve seen this in action. Your dog gets SUPER excited when your family comes over (because you’re super excited to see your family.) Sometimes, your well-behaved dog also forgets his manners at this moment and jumps up. That’s excitement. And before your family arrived, everyone was calmly hanging out in the living room.
Maybe you’ve noticed this: You’re hanging out in your kitchen re-telling a story about something that really pissed you off. Someone tailgated you on the way home, or your boss was super nasty today. Your dog, who was calmly laying down, is now pacing around you, unsure of why your energy is so off.
Dogs are amazing teachers. They remind us daily to be calm, confident, and joyful.
In Ontario, we made it out of lockdown for what felt like two minutes, before being locked down again. It was only a few days later that our provincial government changed their mind and issued a stay-at-home order instead. This is a time of unprecedented stress. Please be kind to yourselves right now. Take five minutes a day to think about the people and animals you are grateful for and to tell yourself that you CAN get through this. Then, take that positive energy and apply it to your dog walk.
Call your dog calmly and with confidence. Set a small goal. If your dog has never worn a leash before and is a bit shy, that goal may be to teach them there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Set small, achievable goals for each training session (Photo: Corgi puppy sitting on a hardwood floor)
If your dog is reactive: I’m going to walk him on-leash in the house for five minutes and teach him to follow me.
If you have a new puppy: I’m going to teach my puppy how to walk on a leash today. Start small. Start inside with less distractions around. And have fun doing it!
If your dog barks in the backyard: I’m going to go out into the yard for every bathroom break today and I’m going to use the leash to help me.
If your dog won’t come to you when you pick up the leash: I’m going to work on recall in my home today. My dog’s going to wear a long line, so he can’t ignore me. For more information on long lines: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/long-lines
Every moment of every day is a chance for you to develop an amazing relationship with YOURSELF. When you treat yourself with compassion, you’ll be able to treat others with compassion. This includes your dog.
Patience. Compassion. Positive self-speak.
You can do this. I believe in you.
Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders.
Alyssa
Photos by: Simon Migaj @simonmigaj (person sitting at the end of a dock, surrounded by water, mountains, and a sunset,) engin akyur @enginakyurt (woman wearing a black tank top and a surgical mask holds her head, as though it aches,) Vincentiu Solomon @vincentiu (sunrise over the mountains.) Brandon Cormier
@ghosttrooper (Corgi puppy sitting on a hardwood floor,)