One thing my job, training guide dogs for the blind, has taught me is to not be so self conscious. There are always people around: asking “annoying” questions, glaring, pointing… “Why is she having her dog walk to a bench and rewarding him for it?” or “Excuse me, can I give your dog a biscuit?” or “So… is the dog …
Your Dream Dog DVD Update
I’ve been putting together two DVDs! They will help people work with and understand their dogs in a more natural and effective way. The first one will focus on the basics – what you definitely need to know if you have, or want to have, a dog. The second is for those who want to take their relationship and training …
Feel & Operate
The best thing I try to do is listen to the horse. I listen to how he’s operating, what he’s understanding or what he doesn’t understand, what’s bothering him and what isn’t bothering him. I try to feel what the horse is feeling and to operate from where the horse is. ~Tom Dorrance
The Same Thought
Here is a great thought Kalley Krickeberg (Parelli Presenter) shared on playing with more than one horse at liberty. It actually relates to everything we do with horses, as well as other animals, and is important to remember! “… release [reward] on “everybody thinking the same thought” – this is HARMONY. Harmony is their #1 job, period. One thought, one …
Kitty Massage
A video by Karen Rohlf (from Dressage, Naturally) to brighten up your Monday…
Why Should I?
The horse responds to comfort, they respond to peace better than about anything else you could do. All he wants you to do is just leave him alone. So if the horse responds to you and you give him a little peace and comfort that means more to him than anything. – Buck Brannaman People forget that animals would be …
Authority
Telling your animal to stop an unwanted behavior, will not hurt their feelings. It’s odd how sensitive people are when it comes to dealing with confrontation or even a quick correction. For animals, correcting others is simply something you do if someone’s being rude. It’s never taken personally. Being a balanced leader for your companion/s through this kind of authority …
Making Mistakes
There are moments when it’s good to let an animal make a mistake. They learn from them just like us! If we’re always preventing their false moves, they lose the ability to think for themselves. That’s when we’re over-controlling and it doesn’t benefit anyone. Allowing them to make these slip-ups every now and then hits the perfect balance. It’s important …
Without Losing Balance
Lightness comes in many varieties… you can be light by not touching, and light by touching in perfect balance. The sensation of lightness does not necessarily mean ‘lack of a feel’. Lightness is not ‘nothing’… it is when you are together in a way that you are able to communicate without losing balance…. Where you can touch, release and breathe …
The Horse vs. Bike Race
Speaking of Olympics… here’s a bit of an older video of a horse who wanted to run wild with bicyclists. How crazy to watch! I go from being terrified for the bicyclists to wondering what’s going through the horse’s mind. While I hate seeing the horse gallop on concrete (horrible for joints), I also see a very herd bound equine. …