5 easy steps to share the joy and
DESCRIPTION
aaTRANSCRIPT
-
1
5 Easy Steps to Share the Joy and
and Double the Fun!
-
2
5 Easy Steps to Share the Joy and
by brigid, www.denktier.com
So, you got that lovely pup, all cuddles and play and bliss in mind.
And it was!
For a time.
Till you got used to it.
Till you needed to start teaching your dog some basic skills. Like not
peeing inside. Walking nicely on the leash. Being polite with other
humans and all sorts of fourleggeds. All those things you need to teach a
dog. Not so much bliss any more
Does it get a bit of a drain sometimes? Maybe even a bit of a challenge?
Well, it always does! With most dogs at least. There are a few dogs
around who are all well behaved and relaxed and totally attentive to you
right from the very start and at all times. Very few dogs!
Chances are: yours is not one of those. Mine definitely arent!
Lets face it. Some days they do get on your nerves. It is pouring with rain
but your dog wants out. You are all stressed out from work and just want
some peace and quiet and your dog is all over you with their toys. Just
normal stuff like this.
Double the Fun
with your Dog
-
3
Everyday life needs so many things done. You have your routines, your
chores, your job and your dog often is just one more of the things that
need being taken care of. Not so much fun.
Do you want the joy back?
Do you want to increase the fun in your and your dogs life? Now?
The great thing is: Joy is contagious!!!
You know that already, dont you?
Isnt this one of the reasons we love our pets so much?
We enjoy watching them play and have fun and it makes us happy just
to see them happy.
So lets go and find new ways to deliberately share the joy!
Make your dog happy
allow yourself to be infected by the fun they are having
..let your dog indulge your great spirits
...and just notice how you are filled with even more joy just because your
dog is so happy.
and so on
and so on
Merry roundabout that is!
-
4
Ready for revving up the laughter and the bond and the bliss of being
with your dog, of just being, of sharing, of loving live?
Whooeee!!! Then here we go. leap!!!
right into a couple of really easy steps to
share the joy and double the fun
Have you ever noticed how differently your dog behaves when you are
in a great mood, all relaxed and at ease and playful?
Believe me: your dog wants you to be happy!
Not just because they are good souls (they probably are). But because
life is so much more pleasant and fun when you are happy.
So lets do it: Be happy, have tons of fun!
and let me know how it goes please come and share your fun &
adventures on www.facebook.com/denktier with me.
Id so love to hear from you!
joyfully yours truly,
brigid
www.denktier.com
-
5
STEP 1. SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS
What is it that makes your dog happy?
Or should I rather say: what ALL is it that makes your dog happy! For
some dogs I might even need to ask: Is there anything at all that does
NOT make them happy?
They just have the most awesome, marvellous, astonishing gift to find
happiness in the simple things of life. Even the very simple things.
I mean: most dogs are happy just because a new day begins hooray! A
new day! And mummy gets up hooray! (She may not be as happy
about the new day as her dog is but never mind!)
And there is food hooray! And the grass outside hooray! And the
leaves hooray! And a bird hooray!
Full of enthusiasm to meet the new days magnificent adventures.
(You probably can tell I have the odd retriever in my group . But the
other ones are just as happy!)
My big rescue boy was overwhelmed with joy every day we came back
home and got out of the car and hooray, home again! Didnt matter if
we had only been away for an hour or two for our walk! Just overjoyed
and rolling in the grass with bliss because of home!
(Almost three years later he still does it when weve been away for a day
or so jumping around like a pup, rolling in the grass and smiling all over
his cute face!)
How often a day do YOU think: hooray! ???
..or think: Awesome thing, love it!
Honestly, how often? Could be a bit more often, dont you agree?
-
6
After all it is a pretty awesome thing to be alive on this beautiful planet!
Sure, some things in life suck. Or have the potential to suck if you let
them. Just dont let them! Do as your dog does and look at the bright
side of life.
So many bright things to look at! Maybe just tiny.
You step out your door and hear a bird sing.
And see the sparkling tiny water drops hang on the tip of a grass blade.
Maybe somebody walks by with a smile on their face or with a brilliantly
turquoise cap on their head.
Soooo many things you could enjoy.
If you notice them.
Make it your habit to notice the beauty around you!
Your dog does! Sure you can do what your dog does!
Practice!
Practice together with your dog.
Start out by finding happy stuff FOR your dog. Things or places or
something you do together that they will enjoy even more than just
loving their normal life.
Go and search happiness!
What is it that your dog doesnt normally get to do but loves? Or
absolutely adores?
I am sure you know already. Youll probably have a whole list of things
once you start thinking about it and jotting it down. Go ahead! Write it
all down!
-
7
There will be things on your list that are really special. Like my curly girlie
loves the sea and digging huge holes in the sand. Unfortunately, we do
not live near the sea. Not even close. The next sandy strip of beach is
about an 8 hours drive away. So doggy beach bliss is a vacation only
thing. Which is a pity.
(Come to think of it, maybe we should move! Beach is bliss not just for
her, I am ever so happily sharing that one!)
No sea. No beach. Unhappy dog?
No way!
There is so many other passions to enjoy. So much water to swim in in all
sorts of places. And to compensate for the lack of hole-digging-
appropriate-sand there is creeks with loads of sticks and branches in
them. Curly girlie just loves to jump in, pick a big one, struggle to get it
out, skin it, jump back in, pick the next one.and so on. I swear there is
some beaver in her genetics!
So, as often as possible, our walk will lead us down to the creek to an
especially beautiful hidden away spot where I like to sit and enjoy being
in nature and having all the greenery around me. And I have so much
fun watching her do her beaver thingy. On rare occasions a kingfisher
will flit by in all his dazzling blue glory. Almost as good as the sea!
Make a list of all the
special joys you can
organise for your dog!
Go on a walk with your
dog and turn it into a
treasure hunt for beauty
and things to enjoy.
What reasons will your
dog find to have fun?
And you?
-
8
Make it a daily practice.
Search happiness for the two of you!
Provide a nice litte surprise for your dog
Are they used to getting a chew every day at lunch or when you
leave or at another specific time? Go ahead, surprise them with yet
another one two hours later! Yeahh, hooray! Isnt live full of
abundance . Treat yourself to something nice, too .
Set up a Doggie-Date
Does your dog have a special friend? Another dog they know from
play-time or grew up with and doesnt see so often any more?
Arrange a walk or a playdate with that other dog. Dogs love to
have friends but unlike us they dont get to choose for themselves
when or how often to meet them. So be a nice human and let
your dog meet their friends. And then just enjoy watching them
be happy to meet and play.
Go on a Magic Walk
Imagine living in the land of milk and honey and finding some
magic offering around every corner you turn! Wouldnt that be just
so cool? You can wave a bit of fairy magic over your dogs walk.
There could be a tree with sausages growing on it
or a boulder partially covered in cream cheese
or a favourite toy appearing out of thin air from behind the
bushes
Let your imagination run wild! What is it your dog might find the
miracle of miracles? And then go prepare or go distract your dog
with some off leash activity while quickly quickly sticking the
sausage pieces on the branches.
Just make sure that it is always YOU who first finds the goodies and
then calls the dog over to share . Will work miracles on your
recall by the way! Which in turn is going to make you very happy
-
9
STEP 2. DISCOVER NEW PLACES
Do you like to travel? See other places, great nature, beautiful plazas?
Much of it is the joy of discovery, of seeing things fresh and new and
untainted by already been there, done it all, seen it all.
Why not have a bit of it everyday?
Your dog is probably a master in taking a fresh perspective at things!
Pick your daily route and observe them. Is there something new to be
found on the walk?
Oh a great paperback blown in by the wind, lets examine and sniff it.
Or whatever!
Whenever your dog finds something to examine, why not have a close
look around and try to find something you havent noticed before?
Or look at something you have seen a million times before and try to see
it as if you were seeing it for the first time!
Dont get stuck in routines!
We humans are not that much different from dogs. We share a
behavioural trait that we need to exercise every now and then to stay
happy: exploratory behaviour!
Dogs (and we just the same) need a chance to explore new things once
in a while. It is their nature. Nothing to be debated.
Sure, there is dogs who had a traumatic past and are very fearful and
quickly overwhelmed by about everything. And still, they want to
explore. Explore within their comfort zone, maybe just a new object? Or
a strip of grass next to the path. Tiny tiny steps of exloration. But
exploration it is!
-
10
Your average dog will want to explore a lot more! Otherwise it gets
boring. It would for you, too, wouldnt it? Just imagine all you ever
experience day in day out is your place, the walk to the park, the park,
the walk back. Finito, end, thats it. Not good!
So make sure your dog gets to explore. It can become a joint adventure
and real fun!
Do you tend to stick to the well-trodden roads?
Step out! Let your dog lead you accross the imaginary boundary you put
up through your habits and routines.
Take me for example. One of our regular walks takes us to a path along a
creek. There is other people walking their dogs and joggers and cyclists
and all sorts of life going on during the weekends. But it is a lovely walk
on the less frequented occasions.
It caused me quite some annoyance when they closed it down last year
for the whole summer for whatever construction work was going on
there.
Guess what
I discovered other paths on other creeks (my curly girlie really is into
water so I had to find a creek!) Beautiful spot! Lovely sand banks on the
little river.
I confess: Once they reopended our regular path along the creek I fell
back into the old routine. Went there. Took my dogs along the walk.
Went back home.
A bit strange because for quite a stretch of that path there wasnt any
creek any more! Can you only half imagine the look on curly girlies face
when we reach one of her favourite splashing places and there just
isnt any creek any more? Just the dry river bed?
Totally puzzled. Totally I-cant-believe-this-is-even-possible puzzled!
-
11
They had done some renaturation project that changed the path of the
creek. Go and try explaining that creeks can change course to a puzzled
wanna-swim retriever!
So what did we do?
Ill be honest with you
Nothing! Just went our way along the dry river bed stretch all the same.
Sorry and a bit fed up they had destroyed our beloved water spots.
This went on for weeks! (shame on me).
Did I notice that the dogs were sniffing and very interested in an area just
left of the newly built bridge across the newly moved creek?
Sure I did. They got a lot of praise for being good dogs and staying with
me on the path in spite of it. And along the dried out river bed.
It must have taken me all winter and half of spring till that little thought
crept up for the very first time:.wonder where that leads to. wonder
where the creek has moved
Just goes to tell you a thing or two about humans! Or at least about this
human here!
The dogs had wanted all along what was the most obvious thing: Leave
the dried out river bed and follow the creek instead! Never mind there
was no nicely paved path any more. Who needs something paved when
the water and adventures are calling you!
So finally, finally, finally I followed my dogs.
To discover a gem! A creek gone (mildly) wild, trees lying across it, pebble
banks, natural growth everywhere. A piece of wilderness in the middle of
our tame and neat countryside! Just a couple of steps away from that
well trodden path I had been following for so long.
You have to know I absolutely adore the wilderness!
-
12
It there was a way to make a living from living in the wilderness thats
what I would be doing. If my career wouldnt require proximity to urban
areas, I would be living somewhere in the forests, close to a creek
probably.
So here I was, literally stumbled on a dream place of mine! Since then I
have spent so many wonderful lovely hours there, relishing every minute
in my private close by wilderness!
After having walked past it for months! Literally months. And I might still
be doing so if it hadnt been for the dogs. And their curiosity. And their
need to explore new grounds.
Off you go. Dont wait as long as I did!
Explore new ways. Discover the everyday magic around you.
Who knows, you might just stumble onto your piece of paradise!
!
What haunts would your
dog enjoy to explore? Find
some new ones to have fun
with.
If your dog where to take
the lead, where would they
lead you to? Trust them and
follow. You never now what
you may discover!
Which places in nature do
you both enjoy most? Find
more of them! Go on a hike
or - move to the sea .
-
13
Make it a habit to break your habits!
Yes, your dog needs some structure and routine to their days.
They also need to explore to stay healthy and sane.
Introduce some discovery channel and new programs into your walks!
Time for Exploration
Dont just rush through your day and through your walks.
Make time for exploration! Time to observe, follow, take a sniff, get
a new impression, roam .
It is not wasting time - it is sane time you are building!
So let your dog sniff and let your mind wander and let yourself off
the hook of time pressure.
Go follow that creek!
Go New Places
There is a need to walk your dog every day. But there is no need to
take them on the same walk every single frigging day!
Change!
Go new places!
Find a great new hike or maybe just a little detour.
Let them check out the new building ground along the road, climb
the fallen trees along your walk in the forest. Take them to a lake, a
new park, the mountains, whatever. Diversity is it!
It makes life so much more exciting and enjoyable.
For your dog and for you!
Let Your Dog Take the Lead
Not sure where to go? No time for a big excursion? No problem!
Let your dog take the lead!
Every now and then I will take that curly one on a 15m leash and
just follow her along, cross country, following a track or just her
whims. You should see her happy face (and my all-tangled hair)
after such a walk!
-
14
STEP 3. TAKE A SNIFF
and smell the roses. Or whatever
To a dog the nose is what vision is to the average seeing human.
Everything!
They perceive their world as a realm of olfaction. What must it be like to
live in world filled with finest nuances of scent imaginable? If imaginable
to a human at all!
Oliver Sacks (well-known neurologist and best-selling author, among
other books he wrote The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat) wrote
in one of his books and apologies as I dont remember which one it
was about a man. A man who due to some strange mishap acquired
an acuity of smell unknown of to him or most likely any other human.
That man waded throug a world filled with scent, fragrances, smell of all
sorts.. For about three weeks or so he perceived as he himself claimed
the world the same way his dog did. And then this weird phenomenon
disappeared as suddenly as it had set on.
And the man? He became depressive for a time. He had experienced the
world in a richness of sensual impressions and an exciting combination
of scents and emotions. And then he lost it all again. No wonder he
became depressive!
Did you know that no other of our senses is as closely linked to our
emotions as smell? And to our memories, too! All you need is a whiff of
a certain smell and you are back in childhood, in a special memory, in a
traumatic experience, in your favourite vacation spot. Just take the smell
and it triggers the emotion. Nothing you can do about it.
-
15
When I smell conifers maybe with a mossy moist undertone to it
bhamm I am back to the happy forests of my childhood. And hot pine
fragrance takes me to Tuscany in a whiff. I am sure you have your smells
and triggers, too!
Now imagine: When smells can do this to us although olfaction is not
particularily well developed in us humans, what must life be like for a
dog! Dogs have like a godzillion more scent cells to their brains then we
do. It must be like living in an incredibly vast universe of flowing,
intertwining and constantly changing vibrant colours and muted shades.
Only in smells. Awesome!
More awesome even what dogs are able to do with that sense of smell!
Dogs can
- detect the tiniest bit of mold inside of bricks and woods and
buildings.
- find landmines gone lost years ago and stuck 8 or 10 metres deep
in the ground.
- detect cancer cells in a human body long before the most
sophisticated medical equipment can diagnose it.
- warn diabetics of onsetting hypoglaecemia
- and lots more of stuff!
It just blows your mind, doesnt it?
Now please, go and look at your dog. Yes, your average mongrel has all
the same capacities, too!
(Note: If you look at your dog and see a beagle you better know that
beagles have THREE times the scenting capacities of any other dog!)
Do you see an animal with a remarkable gift? A natural aptitude for
smell?
An inborn desire to exercise that capacity?
A need to employ that amazing sense?
-
16
What chances does your dogs every day life offer them to do so?
Not many!
Imagine being an artist and knowing there are incredibly vivid colours
and all you want is to capture them and paint paint paint.
But unfortunately you live in a world of black-and-white-beings. They
dont allow you to paint because simply they have no notion that colours
exist, that painting is an option.
OK, I am exaggerating a bit. But can you feel the frustration?
I often think our dogs must be feeling that same frustration quite often.
So, lets find ways to allow your dog to paint
Stop and smell the roses
and let your dog smell
whatever smells like roses
to them.
Engage in scent games.
Offer your dog different
smells and discover the
world of scent for yourself.
-
17
Make your dogs nose happy and your dog is happy!
Big plus for you: they will be happy AND very tired. In a good way!
The best way to tire your dog out is a good go at some scent games or
nosework or tracking or man-trailing. Whatever they enjoy and you find
feasable.
You want a tired happy dog? Then forget about throwing balls, running
around or playing tug of war. Just makes them hyper all too quick.
Start hiding things for them to seek. Give their nose something to work.
Search for treats
The easy not-much-training-needed variety: hide a treat! Obviously,
your dog will need to learn the rules and understand that you are
hiding the treat (usually treats are in you pocket or your hand) and
then they go and find. They will not need to learn to scent. They
can anyway. However, some will need a little practice for that rusty
sense of smell. Once they got it: make it more difficult! Check out a
good book on nosework or go over to my website for the
upcoming e-course on scent games(bookmark www.denktier.com
now and revisit in mid-october for the english language version.)
Offer a sniff
You are surrounded by scent all the time. So is your dog. Give them
an opportunity to take it all in! When you come home with your
grocery why not let your dog have a sniff first? Spend a walk with
letting your dog sniff whatever there ist o find. Get creative!
Put out a line
Doggy ways that is . Pick random 15 or 20 objects with different
smells, lay them out in a line on the ground and just let your dog
examine each one. What do they prefer/abhor? Does it change the
seconde time around? This one fits even into your hall or living
room! So make your dog happy and actually do it once a week!
-
18
STEP 4. GET IN TOUCH
Oh, touch! Dont we love to touch!
Touch establishes a bond, connects you to another being, allows you to
feel them and them to feel you.
Not everyone is too keen on being touched or going all touchy-feely. But
I have still to meet a person who doesnt enjoy to touch and stroke and
cuddle their pup.
True?
There is plenty of research by now that shows how stroking a dog
- decreases blood pressure
- relaxes and diminishes stress
- boosts your immune system
- etc. etc. etc.
It makes you happy to cuddle your pet, doesnt it?
It is soothing, calming, comforting, reassuring, .
It touches much more than just the skin.
You will notice how you (or other doggy people for that matter) use a lot
of touch when you are happy, excited, enthusiastic. Unless you have
trained yourself to do otherwise.
There is good reason to train yourself to do otherwise!
Dogs dont enjoy touch half as much as we humans do.
-
19
You see, we humans are primates, privileged to have gripping devices
our hands. And a lot of our life is determined by that gripping instinct we
have. A lot of pleasure, too. Nothing like a good hug when you need
one, aint it true!
Dogs on the other hand are canids.
No hands, no gripping devices, no embracing and holding tight.
Different culture, different language!
They do establish physical contact as a sign of closeness, yes!
But differently from us.
Ever wondered why your dog will be running around, come closer while
still playing or doing their thing and just ever so slightly graze your thigh
in passing?
Well, is is their way of saying Hello, I am still here, appreciate you being
here with me, still love you, will go and play some more.
And you thought they were being clumsy or impolite or even
disrespectful? NO! Just applying a bit doggy body language!
Bet you have observed the other thing they love doing on the touchy
feely plane! When dogs cuddle, actually what they do is lying side by
side, sides touching. That ist he equivalent of a doggy embrace.
Everything that is more of a holding nature or a squeeze or getting really
tight is not dog repertoire. It is uncomfortable! Might even be perceived
as threatening.
If you want your dog to be happy with your expressions of love for them:
Go tender! Soft touch! Be gentle!
We humans are seldom aware how intense our hands can be! We are
just so used to them
-
20
Here is a little experiment for you:
Take the backside of your hand and put it on your cheek.
Feel into it.
What sensation is it? How intense is it? Does it feel OK, too close, too
distant?
Take away your hand. Allow for a little pause.
Now take the palm of your hand and put it on your cheek. Make full
contact.
Feel into it.
Is it a different sensation from the one before? How intense is it? Does it
feel OK, too close, too distant?
I bet you found the palm of your hand much more intense than the
backside of your hand!
And here we are talking your own hand. Now imagine somebody else
would put their hand on your face maybe even somebody you dont
know that well!
And then go and imagine what this type of intensive contact must feel
like to a creature who doesnt have hands a all and doesnt do any of
that intense skin to skin stuff.
Very weird!!!
Very intense!!!!
If you observe dogs closely when they are being patted you will see
sooooo many calming signals, also called appeasement behaviours, like
turning the head away, looking sideways, a flick of the tongue, eyes half
closed and head lowered. go and observe!
-
21
Does it look like there is one happy dog enjoying their cuddles?
Mostly NO.
Not if you are seeing any of these behaviours.
There is an easy way out: Dont do it!
If you want to caress your dog, do it in a way that is caressing to THEM!
Sure you can use your hands.
But please be mindful how!
Most dogs will love a gentle rub or stroking on their chest. While most
hate being patted on the head.
They absolutely prefer you not to lean over them. Instead sit or cower
next to them and stroke them using the hand next to them and on that
same side. No reaching over and embracing and stroking the off-side
please!
Be mindful with your touching. Do it consciously, with intention. With
nice intentions, of course. Not just to give your hands something to do
and instead of kneading your hat you are kneading the furry one.
You want to go all doggy-style with touching?
Then make yourself available for a contac lie-in. Sit somewhere your dog
can join you. Let them establish side by side contact with their back and
your thigh or back or whatever they choose. Even a little spooning can
be OK. But
Please keep your hands to yourself.
They are just too much. And they seldom keep still .
Can you feel your dog relax? Snuggling up a bit more, deep sigh of relief
and oh so happy you are now a compatible partner for the cuddling
game.
-
22
Can you feel yourself relax? Relishing having your dog all cuddled up
next to you. Calming down. Resting. Ease settling in.
Your hands do a reliefed sigh. No more holding, doing, handling, pulling,
struggling, working, twisting, busying.
Lying in your lap they are (or at your side), at rest finally. Release. Can you
feel the tension leave your hands, leave your body? And your mind? Yes?
Good!
Can you be in touch with your dog without physically touching them?
Be in touch without
hands touching!
Be in touch with your
heart and your mind
and your soul and your
breathing.
Be with your dog. Be
here. Now. Can you
feel the joy of being
together? Their joy and
your joy!
-
23
The bond between your dog and you is strong. The minute you really
pay attention to it you know you do not need to hold on or hold back.
You can feel the connection!
We are just not very accustomed to doing things without our gripping
devices. So play and experiment. Which ways are your preferred ones to
keep in touch with your dog?
The Invisible Cord
Take your dog for a walk or to an area where they can be off-leash.
Now imagine there is this invisible cord between you. Its elastic
so your dog can move away quite a bit, no worries! Just notice
how every now and then they will look back and check in with
you. Are you there? Is your dog getting an answer on their check-
in just a little nod or brief eye-contact or a minute, invisible sign
telling them you are keeping in touch?
(This practice can be tough in the beginning if your dog has gotten
used to you NOT ever being there with them and therefore they
might have given up on you. Start slowly. Or get in in touch with
me for some support)
Through Your Dogs Eyes
Be aligned to your dogs perception and it will be so much easier to
keep in touch with them. What is it they perceive and what is of
relevance to them? Get used to seeing, hearing (well, we are stuck
on the smelling) the world like your dog does.
Tellington Touch
There is one great way for your hands to get in touch. Tellington
Touch is a method of gentle lifts and touches to release tension,
moderate behaviour and support your dog emotionally. Find out
more about it, check out a practioner nearby or learn it for yourself!
It will make you just as happy as your dog to do it. Promise!!!
-
24
STEP 5. THE LOVE & JOY GAME
Here comes the last step in this little guide!
A big one!
A huge impact one!
A little input one!
A fun one (I hope)!
The ultimate find-your-dogs-favourite-fun-stuff-and-let-it-make-you-
happy-to one!
This is what youll do: You will implement some simple truths. Thats all.
Your probably heard them all before:
The follow your heart and do what you love one.
The follow your joy one.
The share your happiness and make everyone else happy one.
Believe me: They are all true!
They are all relevant.
And arent they all quite difficult to implement in everyday life?
Because we just forget. We are not in the habit of nourishing our joys.
There is one thing, however, you are in the habit of nourishing:
YOUR DOG!
-
25
So lets start with your dog and see where sharing their joy will lead you
.
You will enjoy making a list of all the things your dog loves, wont you ?
I mean it is YOUR dog we are talking about! And the things (and people)
that make them happy!
And now lets have fun and play!
Here is a little game for you.
On the next page is a nice and colourful game plan.
Print it out and scribble in it!
Here is what youll do:
1. In each red field your write one thing your dog really loves! The big
loves of his life.
2. Then go on to the yellow fields and in each one put one thing your
dog enjoys (the smaller loves of life or occasional joys).
Start! Do it now! Go!
Mine love
- jumping boulders
- beach life and sand-
digging
- the fresh cool
temperatures of fall
after a hot summer
- being together
- walks, walks, walks
- search games
- a myriad others
-
26
-
27
Well done!
That was easy, wasnt it?
And it gave you a lot more ideas what to offer your dog more often in
their lives, correct? Yeahh more fun for the two of you!
Ok, lets proceed:
3. Now look at the lilac fields next to the red ones with the things your
dog loves. For every one thing your dog loves (i.e. you wrote in a red
field), ask yourself: do I love this, too?
If yes, jot it down in the lilac field.
For example:
There is a red field saying walks in the woods.
If you also love walks in the woods, you put the same thing into your
lilac field.
Or there is a red field saying your dog loves you.
Now (ah. here we go): Do you love yourself? If yes, then you put it
in your lilac field.
And so on
The lilac fields will tell you, what loves you share with your dog! How
much you have in common and can indulge in jointly
Good! On to the next level!
-
28
4. Next to the lilac fields you will find pink fields.
In here you write all the things YOU the things you enjoy (without
your dog)
Probably you will fill one pink field with my dog .
What else do you love?
Watching movies? Cooking? Going to the opera ? .. List it all!
When you are finished and all the pink fields are filled in,
take one after the another and ask yourself:
Is this something I could share with my dog or not?
Dont get me wrong! Your are absolutely entitled to love many many
things you cannot share with your dog or which your dog definitely
would not want to have to share (going to the opera for one thing!).
But maybe there are others you CAN share with your dog and you
would both enjoy?
I am quite positive they might enjoy you cooking for them (just
dont make it a hot thai curry!)
Maybe you need to get a bit creative to see the options?
Never mind, it is just a game.
It is all just about finding fun ways to spend time together, share
each others lifes.
The pink fields are your potentials!
Here youll find new ideas for sharing joy and pass-times
with your dog! More fun for the two of you!
-
29
Time for the next move
5. Revisit the yellow fields in the charts where you put down the things
your dog enjoys. Notice the orange fields next to them?
Again, you will look at each thing your dog enjoys and ask yourself:
Do I enjoy that thing, too?
If yes, jot it down in your orange field.
Here is an example:
In one of the yellow fields I wrote down that curly girlie enjoys getting
the pick of two different chews I offer her.
And I enjoy letting her choose between two different things. So that
goes in my orange field.
My little one enjoys rolling in stinky things. (OK I find them stinky, she
disagrees!) Believe me, the orange field next to this one will remain
empty!
How many things are there that bring both of you joy?
The orange fields will give you an overview of all the things in life
you both enjoy (already) and have in common.
Of yourse you can build this up if you want to. Or be happy the way it is.
Your choice
-
30
Ok, so on to the next step (almost finished!)
6. Time to fill in the green fields
Here you put down all the things or activities YOU enjoy.
A beer in the pub? Lazing around on Sunday morning? Having friends
over for dinner?
Whatever comes to mind first, dont think about it for too long.
If you filled in all of your green fields, you will do the same exercise you
did with the pink ones:
Ask yourself: Which of these would my dog enjoy to share? (Without
spoiling the fun for you, of course). What ideas do you get for fun
activities for the two of you?
The list of things in the green fields show potential for shared fun. Let
it inspire you, follow your inspiration. What will bring you more and
your dog more joy?
OK. Game over.
Run out of fields to write stuff in? Get your own huge chart up or scribble
around the edges or print out several sheets.
Play with it and have fun.
And maybe redo it in a couple of weeks or months! Things change. You
will have new ideas. So will your dog . Focus on the ones that bring
both of you more joy!
-
31
happy endings.
Writing this booklet has been so much fun for me!
Most of the time I was sitting on my computer with that silly grin on my
face. It just made me happy to think and write about joy and fun. You
feel what you deal with!
My doggies had fun, too, because obviously we needed to test and try
every single tip I shared. Did they like it? They loved it! Completely crazy
over the Magic Walk!
And do you know what?
Today I followed that creek a bit more. Further down the path.
And we found another precious little place
-
32
I love it! And writing this booklet inspired me to do so.
So, now its your turn.
I hope you find some piece of inspiration in here. Or within you. Doesnt
matter where.
Be the happy person you are (at least deep down!). Or become it if you
arent right now. Your dog will love it.
Dogs enjoy being around happy humans!
I am not talking happy as in all the time uber-enthusiastic, thrilled and
totally hyper. What I mean ist he pleasant, joyful, at ease, relaxed type of
happiness. The type dogs enjoy most.
Go and play and share and have fun! Loads and loads and loads of fun.
And dont forget to share it . With your dog, obviously.
With other humans, other pets, just go and share!
Feel free to share this booklet, too! You can send this link
5 Easy Steps to Share the Joy and Double the Fun with Your Dog
to your friends, so they can order their free copy.
Please also share your adventures on my www.facebook.com/denktier
page and let us know what jewels you discovered and what fun ideas
you came up with.
I would love to hear from you!
Meanwhile:
ENJOY LIFE WITH YOUR DOG!!!