What Does Your Dog Tell You?
Whether you are one of the regular readers of what I write or if you are a visitor from one of the forums I frequent, after some time spent here, it has probably become obvious that I love dogs. I have no children - dogs are my children. Several years ago, someone asked me as part of a survey to list the most important "things" in my life. My response did not go over well, but I've never been concerned with the perceptions of others. My answer? Dogs, guns, Harleys. Nothing about peace on Earth or making the world better or helping others, since I have no interest in such lofty ideals. I'll leave those to the sheep.
Meanwhile, since guns and Harley-Davidsons are not living and breathing, my commentary this time is about dogs. The furry people who have the ability to teach you something about yourself. Dog - people interaction is just that, it runs both directions if the person is smart enough to realize that it does happen. Humans communicate and so do dogs. If you do not have a dog, then you'll probably quit reading this, of course. If you are a dog owner, hopefully you have at least recognized that you dog or dogs do talk to you. That's if you are listening, as mentioned earlier. It would be in your best interest to listen, since you dog can teach you things about yourself. Dogs, being pack animals, are predisposed to interact with other members of the pack. You are one of the members. Do you know what your dog tells you?
Consider how you dog treats you. If your dog acts like you are in command, if your gestures and movements elicit a response that you intended, then your dog accepts you as the leader. That is as it should be, since you are responsible for your dog's well being and the dog should innately understand that. Holding this position of quiet dominance should also be an indicator that you can hold that position in many other aspects of your life (and probably do, though you may not yet realize that you are doing it).
A dog who pays little attention to you, or worse, a situation where you must yell or strike your dog to get attention is a rather overt sign that you have not become a person of dominance. Being a dominant individual does not mean using physical or emotional force to get a desired outcome, it means using your superior power of will to make sure that the outcome you expect is the on you get - based on the respect you get from others. Your dog wants to please a leader. Finding yourself in the position of a subordinate pack member within your own pack should give you some reasons for self-reflection. A dog that does not respect you will usually change rapidly once you have worked out (within yourself) how to be the one who should be respected.
This dominant ability isn't something just pulled out of the air, it is a quality that is developed through critical thinking and concentration, and presumably most people should have the faculties needed to do this. Some people just do not, though, and will continue to let their dogs, their theoretical friends and other aspects and interactions in their lives just run right over them. These are the people who should probably just stay in the herd with the other sheep. If your own dog is not going to take you seriously, why expect that anyone else would either? Learn what your dog is telling you about yourself, then work on that relationship if it is not what you think it should be. You'll have a happier dog and a better outlook about yourself.
A final reminder: relationships with dogs means getting the desired outcome through your will, which is communicated through gestures and voice commands. If you have to strike your dog to get a response, you are not in control of the situation. Striking dogs is an action necessary when you are attacked by one, just as striking another person should occur when you are being threatened. Doing otherwise, like striking or kicking when you are mad and there is no other valid reason, is just abuse and shows your dog your own lack of character. If you act like that now, then just stop. If you can't, then for one thing, don't show up around me as I'll not tolerate animal abuse. If you are in control and care about your dog, you probably won't tolerate it either. With the force of will you have developed, you won't have to be concerned with issues of abuse unless you see someone else doing it. When you do see it, you'll know it is that person's own personal weakness showing. And, as you have developed your own force of will and with that, confidence and perhaps skills in other things, you can always go abuse the piece of trash that's hitting a dog. When you get tired of doing that, be sure to have your dog pee on them, too.
Dogs are great teachers if you let them teach you.
Meanwhile, since guns and Harley-Davidsons are not living and breathing, my commentary this time is about dogs. The furry people who have the ability to teach you something about yourself. Dog - people interaction is just that, it runs both directions if the person is smart enough to realize that it does happen. Humans communicate and so do dogs. If you do not have a dog, then you'll probably quit reading this, of course. If you are a dog owner, hopefully you have at least recognized that you dog or dogs do talk to you. That's if you are listening, as mentioned earlier. It would be in your best interest to listen, since you dog can teach you things about yourself. Dogs, being pack animals, are predisposed to interact with other members of the pack. You are one of the members. Do you know what your dog tells you?
Consider how you dog treats you. If your dog acts like you are in command, if your gestures and movements elicit a response that you intended, then your dog accepts you as the leader. That is as it should be, since you are responsible for your dog's well being and the dog should innately understand that. Holding this position of quiet dominance should also be an indicator that you can hold that position in many other aspects of your life (and probably do, though you may not yet realize that you are doing it).
A dog who pays little attention to you, or worse, a situation where you must yell or strike your dog to get attention is a rather overt sign that you have not become a person of dominance. Being a dominant individual does not mean using physical or emotional force to get a desired outcome, it means using your superior power of will to make sure that the outcome you expect is the on you get - based on the respect you get from others. Your dog wants to please a leader. Finding yourself in the position of a subordinate pack member within your own pack should give you some reasons for self-reflection. A dog that does not respect you will usually change rapidly once you have worked out (within yourself) how to be the one who should be respected.
This dominant ability isn't something just pulled out of the air, it is a quality that is developed through critical thinking and concentration, and presumably most people should have the faculties needed to do this. Some people just do not, though, and will continue to let their dogs, their theoretical friends and other aspects and interactions in their lives just run right over them. These are the people who should probably just stay in the herd with the other sheep. If your own dog is not going to take you seriously, why expect that anyone else would either? Learn what your dog is telling you about yourself, then work on that relationship if it is not what you think it should be. You'll have a happier dog and a better outlook about yourself.
A final reminder: relationships with dogs means getting the desired outcome through your will, which is communicated through gestures and voice commands. If you have to strike your dog to get a response, you are not in control of the situation. Striking dogs is an action necessary when you are attacked by one, just as striking another person should occur when you are being threatened. Doing otherwise, like striking or kicking when you are mad and there is no other valid reason, is just abuse and shows your dog your own lack of character. If you act like that now, then just stop. If you can't, then for one thing, don't show up around me as I'll not tolerate animal abuse. If you are in control and care about your dog, you probably won't tolerate it either. With the force of will you have developed, you won't have to be concerned with issues of abuse unless you see someone else doing it. When you do see it, you'll know it is that person's own personal weakness showing. And, as you have developed your own force of will and with that, confidence and perhaps skills in other things, you can always go abuse the piece of trash that's hitting a dog. When you get tired of doing that, be sure to have your dog pee on them, too.
Dogs are great teachers if you let them teach you.
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