Meet Skip!

I've been working with Skip, a seven year old Rat Terrier mix, since last Sunday. Not long, but he's shown real improvement in a few short sessions. When I first met him at Austin Pets Alive! he had the reputation of being very reactive around other dogs. There was no prior history for him. The sign on his kennel door reads "No Dogs/Cats/Kids" and once I got him out, a volunteer ran up to me with the warning, "He'll eat a Pit Bull!"

I was slightly amused. This tiny, Terrier sweetheart couldn't possible be that notorious!

He immediately pulled on the leash at other dogs, but we quickly moved away from the kennels and we walked to the front of the property where all was quiet. After a bit of potty business, we promptly went in for his first TTouch session. I massaged him for an hour and we worked on obstacles. He absolutely had no reaction to any of the other dogs attending, except when he was on the sofa and a Pitty came in suddenly. He pulled but there was no growling or strong attempt to lunge at her. She may have looked like dinner, but he didn't bite!

A couple days later, I worked with him again and took him on a long walk. Again, he pulled on the leash at passing dogs on the trail and growled at a few male joggers. When he was in my arms, he was a saint. When he was being massage, he was lost in a reverie...this little anxious pup really needs a lot of loving. When I put him back in his kennel, he propped his front legs up on my knees and just stared at me. We locked visual contact and I sent him a picture of me returning the next day.

This morning he was better with being reactive to joggers. It's my goal for him to just pass by dogs and guys without a second glance. I'm going to send him some communication of that nature over the next couple of days and see how he does either Friday night or Saturday. I'm not giving up on this cutie pie, who is just waiting for someone to love and have faith in him!

Love this story!

Sometimes I read essays about the human/animal companion connection that really warms my heart. This is one of them!

Great quote that crosses species

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. --Nelson Mandela

Communicating with animals is simply a heart-to-heart talk. It's enjoying the essence of another creature and paying attention and respect to the soul of a animal that most humans would look down upon.

Today was a warm, sunny afternoon and my friend Mo and I were walking a popular trail in Austin with our kids. As usual, the trail was packed with many people with their dogs on leashes. I like to watch how people relate to their pets as they take them on what should be a fun stroll by the lake, enjoying nature. I find that there are several different types:

1. Runners running with fit dogs who are loving the experience. Tongues are hangin' out and everything is cool.
2. Runners running with dogs that are not quite into it, but they are pulled into obedience when they see something interesting on the trail. Maybe they'll turn into dogs that like to run, but many breeds just ain't into it. These runners probably aren't that into running, either.
3. Walkers with dogs they clearly enjoy walking with. They give their dogs positive attention, and they are the people seen on the trail hydrating their pets by the water fountain.
4. Walkers with dogs that they just aren't connecting with on the walk...they are aggressively pulling their dogs away from interesting scents, (TUG!) they are on a mission (TUG!) to walk, damn it! (TUG! TUG!).
5. Dogs that are dressed up to give their people attention as the elderly ladies and little children coo over the cute outfits. These little lap dogs should be enjoying being outside but not necessarily as props for their people (who, if they're not carrying the dogs, are busy brushing off the grit from their white go-go boots). Take off the boots and let Fifi run in the grass for a while!

Which types of people enjoying the trail are communicating on a healthy level with their animal companions? If you guessed numbers 1 and 3, I would say you were correct.

Types 2, 4 and 5 are talking a language that doesn't reach the hearts of their animal friends. To me, they seem less happy with the experience of having a pet. They give me the impression of people who are not well suited with their breed of dog or are way too pampering or agressive and dominant over their companions.

I love walking the trails and enjoy the people with pets watching, too. If you go out with your animal companion please be aware of how he or she is enjoying the experience. Give your friend water, keep their comfort levels in mind, check in every now and then with them. Run after them as they track a squirrel...take a breather if your pet is lagging behind. It's simple...just keep your animal in your heart and you'll be rewarded with a deeper experience while enjoying the great outdoors.