Quiet action; reaction; reward.

On a recent outing with Sundance, thriving in the chill of our morning walk, I glanced over to Sundance and noticed he was smiling at me. He gave me the "OK" look, that all was going to be gold, no matter what the weather projected onto us. The sky was gray and cloudy, raindrops fell by the gallon, birds were flying desperately to find some shelter, and the neighborhood cat was sprinting home in the hopes of curling up next to his warm owner. Sundance and I did not mind. In fact, we were both reduced to pure satisfaction, knowing that our day had just begun, our lives were heading forward, and all was in balance.

It does not take Sundance long to share his emotions with people.  His mission in life is to serve and do good, evidenced in the sociable and well-mannered dog he was groomed to be. So much of what I see in him is the product of good nurturing by Alexia and me. Alexia and I both wanted a dog that would be calm, and still be engaged in all our activities. Sundance had no idea what he was in for.

The optimistic point I am recognizing from Sundance comes from the smallest things that make him react, triggering an emotion of pleasure and the gratifying response from me. It just so happened to be a droplet of water near his ear that stirred up a shake and the gratifying visual praise I shared back at him.

It is amazing how much we both have learned from each other, and I feel our connection strengthening.

I am also happy we started our training from the very first day we met.

LIVE HAPPY!

Active Solutions

Sundance's Weekly Blog: 

Sundance will explain when and not to go for a walk, how to apply leadership, active solutions for high energy dogs, and why obedience training is important in a dog's world.

Paw Boot Camp with Brave and Sundance in a sit-stay position

James: Hey Sundance, you ready to answer some questions?


Sundance: You bet! 

Sundance demonstrating a pulling dog

James: Let's start with the issue of pulling. Would you like it if I were to pull you down the street in all different directions? How would you diffuse the situation and create a more symbiotic relationship? 


Sundance: I personally would not appreciate being yanked anywhere. It's not fair and would really make me feel like a tool. I just saw some dog owners being pulled down the road by their dogs. They and their small dogs were all walking on their hind legs!


James: How would you remedy such an atrocity?

Pack walk with Opie and Sundance

Sundance: I like to think there are many solutions for one problem. When asserting yourself as a pack leader, you should initiate the walk in a calm manner. Then your pack of dogs, your followers, will reflect your energy. Wait a few seconds before starting off on your journey till everyone one is calm. Sometimes this may take five minutes or even ten. Remember, this is an exercise in self control. As a pack-leader, you may have to conduct this more than once, so that the message is sent clearly. 


James: So when the pack is calm, can I place a leash on their collars?


Sundance: Yes. This is the right moment to do that. Sometimes dogs will begin to get excited with just this small gesture. If this happens, unleash and start over again till the message is sent to your dog that calmness is the behavior you want.


James: You mentioned another approach or solution. Which way is that?


Sundance: Sometimes you will find that some dogs are very excited. It's not their faults. It's a lack of exercise and lack of consistent obedience training. Owners are often impatient and just want to rush through life and this transfers over onto their dogs. I suggest if frantically is how they prefer to approach  situations, they find a dog walker who can offer your dog what it truly needs daily. 

Lulu after a bike ride

The only other option is to vigilantly exercise and take their dog for a run, bike-ride or rollerblading. This allows the dog to burn off all his frustrations from being indoors all day or all week, taking Dog down to Owner's energy level. 


James: You mentioned obedience training. Many dogs are deficient of such instruction. Do you firmly believe this is the solution for all dog owners to follow?


Sundance: Woof! Excuse me, but I needed to assert my nature in the form of performing tasks. I feel bad for my brother and sister dogs who go through life with zero guidance. It's a lot to ask for from us. We do not want to be in charge of every situation, especially if it is not within our job description. I heard many humans complain to friends about how bosses asked them to make coffee, separate recycling,  and "go-for" this and that at work, when their job description was much more sophisticated. You see James, over time when the system fails and ownership does not practice what it is expected to, their will be cracks and implosion will take place. People will become smug, in a sense, and take it upon themselves to direct their own lives. Dogs who have a lack of management will follow suit. This is why it is important to train your dog and grant her a sense of purpose. 


James: In general, pulling on leash can be be solved first with consistent obedience training. Why can't a dog just stay in the back yard and be content with that?

Sundance learning to retrieve

Sundance: The mind of every living thing is meant to be constantly active with the business of life, of staying alive. A badger is constantly working at staying alive: the next things to eat, drink, improve the hovel, to find a mate, to raise the kids. The wild boar is always seeking the same: rooting for food, wallowing to maintain proper body temperature, finding pig-love, raising piglets, staying away from predators, fighting off badguys, and sleeping. Dogs even more so are meant to stay constantly active with not just the business of keeping themselves alive and well, but keeping the pack, the family, you, alive and well. If you want an animal to just "dwell", get a cat, a snake, or a sea anemone. Dogs are active performers, task-oriented, job-doers. If you don't have a job for us (even a façade job like hunting for toys or carrying a backpack full of rice) we'll lose it, maybe slowly over time, maybe quickly. 


James: That's serious. Have I fulfilled your need for structure?


Sundance: Of course! You have me run three miles every day to find my kibble, and you have me search for the tennis ball when you lose it again and again, and you train me to do new jobs all the time. I feel so fulfilled!

Three Happy Reasons

Sundance's Weekly Blog: Sundance and James discuss what makes a dog happy. 

James: So Sundance, I've been doing the answering for some time now. How about changing things up and you begin answering some  questions? You're a big boy now. 


Sundance: Thanks James! I've been waiting for my opportunity. Besides, you and Mama have really done a super job with me these last four years. Answering questions for you would only polish off the great job you've both done with me.


James: Boy, you are good! 


Sundance: Thanks James. Every night before I go to bed, I am so grateful for living out a balanced life. To be honest, I can only think in the now. That's all there ever is. Now. And in the now, I feel happy and tired. 


James: I've come across many dogs in my life and was interested to find out what you think about the sort of stuff that makes a dog happy. I can list a few like exercise, work, and companionship. Do you feel that these ideas help a dog become balanced?

Sundance: You mentioned exercise. I love exercise. Without it what would we be? Just a pile of fat-jello! I like to begin each day with a run or walk. Ideally with you and Mama, and especially with any of the dog guests we have visiting us on any given day. I feel as though without exercise, my life would become too stressful. You and I both know by now being sedentary is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. So you see, exercise is a fundamental part to life and without it a dog would go crazy and become perpetually unhappy, leading to a life of barking, biting, endlessly fixating on moving objects, behavioral obsessions, or even licking and scratching body parts. 


James: So a dog that does not exercise is unhappy, stressed, and prone to behavioral problems? 


Sundance: That sums it up. 


James: What else makes a dog fulfilled?

Sundance: Being able to work and perform duties. You've seen it happen to your human brothers and sisters. When they do not have the window to be part of a working society, they grow frustrated and depressed. Just like humans, work plays a major part in our involvement and the function of a healthy mind. 


James: What kind of work are you talking about?


Sundance: Before we can work, training is critical. This is where you and Mama have fulfilled me and trained my mind to understand rules, boundaries and limitations. You've given me the necessary dog-bones to conceptualize what you mean and how you would like me to behave under all circumstances. This is critical for a new puppy or for a rescue-dog to understand. Imagine had you not taken the time and been consistent with my training, I may have been locked up behind some dog bars hoping to be liberated only on the merits of my golden curls.


James: There are some major advantages to working. Dogs and people are less likely to grow bored. But if you worked all day, wouldn't that make you dull and complacent? 


Sundance: Yes! All work and no play would make Sundance unhappy. This leads me to companionship. Companionship is social time. It is when I get to run on a beach, sleep with my brother, laugh with Mama and even get groomed. The best part about companionship is being rewarded for a job well done. This is what makes me happy! When I am given the chance to exercise, work and given companionship; in that order, I feel fulfilled and am able to rest at night.