Friday, February 27, 2015

Old Dogs Rule

The old dogs are wise. They have stopped barking and are happy exactly where they are in life. My 49th birthday is coming up and I have found my own bark is beginning to quiet. I am learning to choose my battles and to enjoy the process, of everything.  I look forward to this second half of my life. Yes, I plan on living to at least 100. Why not? There is so much to do in this life, in this world.

The dogs keep me young. Even the old ones beckon me to get out and walk with them. We smell the flowers (well, they pee on them...) but we breathe and move and explore.

Reports say that having a dog is good for your health and can even lower your blood pressure. That is better than any medication or trip to the gym!

If your dog is causing frustration or stress in your life, maybe it is time to take a closer look at balancing out the dog, and yourself, to help both of you move forward to better health and a better life together.

 A dog ages 7 years to our 1 year. If I knew I was to age 7 years in the next 365 days...I think I might be more serious about playing fetch too!


Sunday, February 15, 2015

Coffee Rocks!

   I have a daily coffee that is my rock....literally! It is a rock with the inscription, "One Day At A Time" that sits on top of my coffee pot that I pick up in my hands every morning to fill my coffee machine. My rock reminds me every day of why I am here, that I am STILL here, and that TODAY is the most important day of my life!

   Everyone's life has ups and downs, that's just "life". But  when we focus on today as our life's goal, we catch a lot of things before they go sour, and soak up the good stuff more intensely. Living one day at a time is how we make it through the bad days, and how we look forward to the next day. Worrying about tomorrow will not let you enjoy today.

   I always say dogs live in a 4 second world. If you have a bad 4 seconds with your dog, start over with a new attitude and the next 4 seconds could be better. Then repeat, over and over. Nothing seems too bad this way, and you can feel very successful quickly.

   My husband and I are married for today. By being married one day at a time, we have learned our good behavior should not be taken for granted, and to control our bad behavior before it causes an explosion.  Because for today....this is all the time we have together, and I want to cherish every moment with this man.

 Trust me...there are days where we call "quiet time" in order to make it through the day! We firmly respect this boundary and our result is we watch a good TV show together with no interruptions. or take some personal time for ourselves that makes us miss each other, creating a whole new feeling.

   Evaluating your dog's behavior one day at a time will also prevent major problems from occurring, and improve behavior each day. I love when someone calls me to explain their dog's behavior that changed today! I can solve that over the phone! One day at a time is a perfect way to keep on track whether it be our relationships, our budget, our diet, or our dogs.

   Do I plan for the future? Absolutely.  I budget, make goals, and dream of my future adventures. But my main focus is enjoying this moment; every breath, every loved one, every flower, and every dog.....One Day At A Time!

Today, God has blessed me again.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Your Dog is Your #1 Fan!


  A dog never judges, always forgives, and is attentive to our emotions; always willing to pop both ears up for exactly the conversation we are needing.  Your dog is a safe place to lean on that you know won't let you down. This cheerleader that follows you around all day chanting, "Yeah Cindy! Go Cindy! Your'e the best Cindy!" is what makes a dog your number one fan!

   Many people tell me their dog is their best friend, and explain how much they love their dog, sometimes so much that their unconditional love accepts naughty dog behavior that can jolt the entire household. They justify the naughtiness as "puppy behavior" or  being a "rescue".

   In Joel Olsteins book, "I Declare" he speaks how everyone of us should be someone else's number one fan. "We should be encouraging them, lifting them when they've fallen, celebrating when they succeed, praying when they're struggling, urging them forward." Joel calls this being a people builder, and I immediately related this to dogs (like I do with everything).

   In all my years of training I have been witness to the strength of a dog and their people building skills. There are many decorative signs that read, "be the person your dog thinks you are", and we should look deeper into meaning...

Perhaps we have different rules, boundaries, and expectations of who WE BECOME when we are with our dogs as opposed to who we become around humans. Fear of judgement can create a different attitude in you, and lack of boundaries can create an intrusive behavior in who you spend time with.

   Don't be too quick to cross off your human friends, but rather look closer at the relationship you are creating with your dog. Your number one fan wants to be a well disciplined cheerleader. In a human relationship, we easily apply boundaries in order to not be taken advantage of, avoid being hurt, or simply to establish our own self respect.

 If a person knocked at your door you would open it. But if they (without permission to enter) pushed the door open, wiped their dirty feet on your pants, and thrashed your home on it's journey to grab your breakfast off your table to settle down on your couch..........well, I am pretty certain you would throw them out of your house and not accept that behavior!  Creating boundaries with your dog is simple and will change your cheerleader into a people builder within your home.

To create a balanced dog in your home, just remember..... the best cheerleaders never cross the sidelines, never tackle, and never intercept the ball.