Restless Minds

Topic: Similarities between dogs and children

In this weeks dialogue, James and Sundance will work out some typical behaviors seen in dogs and children. Sundance will ask a series of relevant questions and James will provide answers.

Sundance: Hi James. I am glad to be working with you again. I have some questions from some friends that maybe you can answer. The first question I have for you is from my newest friend Bumpkin, a female bloodhound. Don’t let the name fool you into thinking she has no class, because she has a lot to offer.

Bumpkin would like to know why children are so restless. Her owners have a couple of children who are up late most evenings. She cannot figure out why they would rather spend time on their computers, jumping on the bed, or talking loudly than sleeping when the sun goes down.

James: This is a moral and social conundrum faced by many parents. I believe most of this could be solved with guidance, prevention and balance. Owning a dog is a lot of work, just like having children. You must provide mental and physical challenges for both, as well as a balanced home. If not, you are setting yourself up for failure. Exposing your dog to new situations and sustaining leadership will uphold a dog's sense of balance and provide guidance.

I am not an expert on children, but I have spent many years learning from them. I do feel at liberty to say that children today are not challenged. They are given electronic devices at an early age and left to figure them out themselves. This alone is frustrating and detrimental to their growth. Children as well as dogs need guidance. Not toys! Indeed, most parents believe toys will equip children with the know-how and ability to survive in our current tech-world, but you and I both know Mother Nature will have her way in the end.

To address Bumpkin's question further: I like to begin the day in a calm manner. The inner dialogue I have with myself sets the tone for the rest of my day. I do not give off restless energy. Instead, I provide a stable mind. My first chore of the day is always to drink a little water after getting up. This is followed by a little stretch to warm and circulate positive blood flow. I than proceed to put on clothes appropriate for exercise and the climate. Next, I walk over to you. I do my best not to get you excited, otherwise I would be sending you the wrong message and your behavior would instantly change. Right?

Sundance: Yes. I see where you are headed. Had you begun walking over to my leash and collar and talking to me animatedly, I would become excited. And then if I had to wait, had their been no instant gratification, my excitement would transfer into a restless state, thus throwing my mental stability way out of whack. The energy and strategy you provide is key.

James: Your friend Bumpkin, she has a strong nose and super prey drive. Her ability to track and search for items is hands-down one of her greatest assets. When an owner invests in a breed like hers, they must do their homework and research a bloodhound’s temperament. To prevent Bumpkin from growing restless, her owner must put forth time and plenty of patience to truly tap into the essence of a bloodhound. Otherwise, they will never see Mother Nature at work and have a negative opinion of this breed. Lastly, they will lose out on having a true friend!

How James came to love dogs

Sundance: Did you know that someday you would become a dog man?

Early on in life, I was always exploring the natural world around me, touching and feeling everything I came in contact with. I was very curious.

Sundance: So would you say your love for dogs was a pure love for mother nature?

James: Being outdoors and enjoying the company of my grandpa gave me a strong appreciation for mother nature. First thing every morning we would go to The Griffith Park Observatory with Heidi, our German shepherd, and walk her. This was long before they had trails carved out and groomed for the masses that visit today. We always walked Heidi on leash, and I rarely remember observing in the general canine-public the kinds of behavior problems we hear of today.

Sundance, Heidi was a gift to us and for us from our neighbor Fred. When I was barely able to walk, Heidi was there to help me get back up. I would use her back to help lift me up and balance myself. Heidi never had a litter of pups, so I guess in some way I was her pup. Knowing how much I loved her, when Fred passed away, he left the dog to me. She would hang out in our backyard with me and my mom, and guard us. Back in those days, we did not have fences surrounding every house like they do now. We were less caged-in and free to come and go. There were no vicious dogs roaming the streets of our neighborhood then, either.

Sundance: So is it the looks of us? I am quite handsome.

James: I always had an attraction to dogs. I love the way they smell and all the silly things they do. My mom tells of how we were walking down a crowded street when I was a toddler, and before she had a second to process and react, I was fondling the huge jaws of an Old English Bulldog. Her heart nearly stopped, but she could tell then that I was innately attune to telling the character of dogs. And that bulldog loved me right back.

Sundance: So you always gravitate towards dogs?

James: They also gravitate toward me.

To this day, I love when a dogs rubs it's face against mine. The whiskers give me a tingly feeling. It's at that moment I get a strong sense of belonging with a dog, more than with a human. In grammar school, one of the Franciscan priests owned a dog whose name was Snoopy, a black German shepherd mix. I remember running with him around the playground and falling down. He came over to me and made sure I was okay and nudged me back up to continue running.

Sundance: What's the point that unites all those great points you shared?

James: Life has way of connecting beginnings and endings. We continuously adapt and evolve, while forever learning new things. My comprehension of dogs matured from symbolic interactions and visual cues with mother nature. Fusing together all the memories I stockpiled helped me be who I am today.

I strongly urge people to follow through on their dreams and ideas. Had I not, I would not be here today sharing the love I have for dogs with you and those who seek my advice and service. I believe I came full circle when I found you, Sundance. I had been swimming around in the placenta of society for a while, getting my education, jumping from job to job, interviewing for ideal jobs; finally reaching a point of enlightenment. I realized I had been constructing and building a foundation this entire time. That is why your Momma and I agreed to move to Oregon and begin a new life with Mother Nature.