PATIENCE: Count to TEN

"Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character."   ~Heraclitus~

Some folk call poodles "stubborn." Stubborn meaning "unyielding," "inflexible," "contrary". These labels imply a thought process of which I do not believe dogs capable. That is not to say dogs are incapable of thought processes! Rather, it is to say that a dog does not stop in the moment, consider what his human wants, and then decide, "no - I'd rather not." However, a dog's natural behavior in response to a situation may appear to be stubbornness.  

For example, my Labradoodle, as a pup and young dog, when confronted with a request, cue or situation he absolutely did not know how to handle, would "freeze up." At first, I was confounded by the behavior and did not know how to react to it. As we worked together and grew in understanding - as his tasks became more complicated - the freezing continued to reoccur.

I love dogs as teachers and via this "freezing behavior" Yanqui taught me the truth about patience. 

Yanqui, the Doodle Dandy

When a dog repeats a behavior that is unwanted, when the hows and whys of responding to, extinguishing, redirecting or rewarding the behavior remain outside the handler's grasp, PATIENCE is always the right approach, the right technique and the right tool.

If the handler is put off balance by the dog, it is important to slow down, remaining positive and objective in order to facilitate communication with the dog. In time, it became apparent that Yanqui is hyper-sensitive, soft and extremely intuitive about the handler's mental state.  So when he froze, I decided to do what my mother always said to do: Count to ten. 

Having taken time to observe the dog and release my expectations, I now became interested in what was actually taking place in front of me rather than indulging feelings of frustration. Knowing that by mentally counting I could release tension, and that the dog would realize I was in a relaxed state, the next time Yanqui froze, I began: one-and-one-thousand, two-and-one-thousand. By the time I reached "30" (seconds), Yanqui had altered his demeanor, unfrozen himself and was once again responsive and in the game.

Since that moment - those first amazing 30 seconds - Yanqui has taught me much. I realized that the rigidity of the "freeze" was a natural phenomenon, having nothing to do with "stubbornness". Yanqui's freezing is most likely an expression related to his genetics where hunting dogs "honor a point"(1) or are seen "backing the flush"(2) of another dog. 

I am the Big Dog in Yanqui's life, so when he doesn't know what to do, or feels pressured, he simply "honors the point."

Next, in repeating the "count to 10" approach throughout Yanqui's training (which, of course, continues as a process to this day), I learned that he seldom takes longer than 30 seconds to give  what is asked for. If he does take longer, this is simple information: either he feels very uncomfortable about what he is being asked to do (e.g., put on a new piece of equipment); or he is truly clueless. This knowledge gave me access to understanding my own accountability: I was capable of rushing him because he is so intelligent; I could give him a happy Release cue, which allows him the option of starting over. 

In my youth, my mother tried to explain the virtue of patience many times, but - with the wisdom of youth - I presumed she did not understand the power of one's passions. Now I understand that patience is not a lack of passion but a sign of the developed mind, which understands that time is relative, and that the journey is more important than the goal, if only because the goal itself is always changing in response to the journey!

We all know that coming home to poop or vomit, getting bowled over by a running dog, being jumped on by dirty paws, and having a dog ignore a recall requires our patience and a good thought because, hey, it just ain't fun!  However, the dog is, and always must be, the DOG. He cannot be held responsible for cars in the street, or children pulling his ears or thrusting candy in his face, for weird people that want to grab him. All the handler can do is understand what a dog-animal is, and what the life of this domesticated animal will include, then teach him to be comfortable and cooperative inside that life. 

SO, when in doubt, Count to ten, baby, just like Mama taught you. 

(1) ON POINTING, by Linda Fiorella (www.vetstreet.com)

"[in} the act of pointing, a dog becomes motionless with his snout toward an object...[this] is normally associated with dogs who are bred and trained for hunting. Hundreds of years ago, the first of these dogs were bred in Europe to sniff out birds and then “freeze.” Holding the pointing position told hunters where to throw their nets and capture the prey. Because most dogs chase birds, a dog with the ability to stop in the presence of a partridge still proves invaluable to hunters today. But hunting breeds aren’t the only ones who will point, so don’t be surprised if you see this behavior in your pup.

(2) HONORING A POINT by Dave Walker (www.gundogsonline.com)

"When one dog sees another dog or dogs on point, he must stop and look like he's on point, but actually he is recognizing the [other] dog on point. This situation is called backing or honoring. The term "backing" suggests the second dog is confirming the first dog's point...[although] "honoring" is less confusing and more descriptive of the act. A dog can honor another dog from any position, not just in back of the pointing dog. Honoring is important in both hunting and field trailing because dogs should not interfere with others on point."

THE WORKSHOPS

The Compassionate Handler

THE WORKSHOP

Our dog is always “there”; it has no ability to be anywhere else. But are WE “there” or are we home getting ready to run the kid to soccer practice? Are we happy with what the dog achieves “at that moment” or are we wishing Pup was a year older and we didn’t have to come to class anymore? 

We handlers need to be honest, focused, patient, and compassionate to our charges. Next, we need to gain his happy attention. After that, we can begin to train.

Who is “the dog in front of us?” For example: Does the dog get enough exercise (enough exercise for THAT particular dog); are his nutritional requirements met properly? (not fat, not too thin, good hair coat, etc.); do we, the handler/owner/trainer/etc, have a really good vet and a good relationship with same? Do we have our dog's attention when we want it, and does he offer attention and eye contact freely and joyfully? Does our dog respect the boundaries we have set for him? Have we elicited his cooperation?

When we are able to see what (a dog) and who (our companion animal) is in front of us, we can begin to focus on building the bond with the dog; we learn how to understand and appreciate the dog we have, in its current state (age,breed,condition,etc.); we learn how to relax and be calm around dogs. Via this approach, we build cooperation in the dog, and teamwork between dog and handler.

In class, we will start with our own body-mind, beginning with relaxation (extremely simple yoga poses and breathing). Next, we approach the dog. We start with very basic leash work, and move from there to eye contact. We discuss food and rewards, use of and extinguishing. As a group, we learn to observe The Dog by assisting one another and playing dog games.

The meat of the workshop will develop organically, according to the needs of the group. However, the basics above as well as proper dog walking with proper equipment, touch-and-the-dog, reliable recall, and the basis of Sit-Down-Wait, along with eye contact and the Invisible Door will all be addressed and performed hands-on.

After working out with the dog, whatever exercise we perform, we will return to calmness and touch, developing trust, and more.

Then back to breathing and a quick relaxation with a visual exercise (see you and your dog succeeding, now and in future).

STUDENTS WILL BRING

Application filled-out or mailed in including Proof of innoculation and name of vet

Small notebook & writing implement

6-foot lead, preferably 1/4-1/2” leather; web is okay. show type lead OK

wide flat collar, adjustable type is excellent for pups

soft hair brush (10)

yoga mat and dog mat (towels are okay)

(crate or restraint) 

DATES: 6 Saturdays -  May 7-14-21 (28)   June 4-11-18

9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

WHERE: Hwy. 46, Paso Robles CA

Contact me: packdawgy101@yahoo.com

PRIVATE TUTORIALS

Private Visits/Classes (contact me: packdawgy101@yahoo.com)

Energy Readings - you and your dog (contact me: packdawgy101@yahoo.com)

Background & Education

See:  http://doggedlydogged.blogspot.com/2014/02/getting-to-know-you.html

LISTENING TO THE MYSTERY

There’s facts about a dog, and then there’re opinions about them. The dogs have the facts, and the humans have the opinions. If you want the facts about the dog, always get them straight from the dog. If you want opinions, get them from humans.

~ J. Allen Boone, Kinship with All Life ~

Dogs talk to us all the time. Of course, they speak in all the classic ways: body language, sound, and reaction to stimuli; however, they also tell us things we didn't know we knew. For example, I had a dog called "Kazbek," who told me that when dogs (canids) run in packs, they "know" where the shoulder of each pack member is. They align themselves with this part of the body as they run, each according to its rank and purpose. Later, I realized that one can feel the beat of a dog's heart, when pressing one's hand right below the shoulder and behind the elbow. Could this have been what Kaz was telling me? I cannot say from whence this idea came other than from the dog. I was unaware, at least consciously, of the loudness and vibration of the heart from that area. However, I am aware of it now - as are the dogs.

When we listen to dogs, via pragmatic application of observation together with intuitive merging, thoughts and visions seem to come out of nowhere, while provocative theories appear along with new information.

I used to discard the majority of these thought-pictures as they appeared, although I wondered where they came from. I am now convinced that dogs are able to share an internal perception - one which primitive man has long observed in all animals, but which civilized man has disregarded for so long that even the concept that a dog thinks, feels, and shares information is considered outrageous by many, and disturbing by some.

If you have truly loved dogs - be it one or many - you have, in one way or another, already experienced their secret world. Perhaps you accepted your experiences and honored them; perhaps you internalized your perception as a secret not to be spoken of.  Perhaps you dismissed your own insight as self-delusion, a dream, a pink elephant.

In my world, the dogs are relentless in their desire to be heard.

Raksha Akmenu Gele - the passing of a great dog

Raksha, our second Caucasian Ovcharka, our Sweet Girl, passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2015.
Akmenu Gele means "Stone Heart," but Raksha was sweet, kind to those she loved, funny, full of life, brave and strong. Our sweet girl. My girl. I cannot say it often enoough, and I said it to her every day, "My Girl."

Born in Lithuania, on June 3rd 2002, Rocky lived a long and healthy life, just barely missing her 13th birthday.

This is what I posted on my facebook page, along with 50 or more photos of our beautiful girl.

~ 
Her name is Raksha Akmenu Gele (Raksha Stone Heart). She was born in Lithuania in June 2002, and moved to the United States in late July 2002. She stopped in Texas, with Kat Thomasson and her son and dogs, as the airliines could not carry dogs in the heat. Next, she went to Oakland, California and stayed with Galina Chernikova until I could drive north and get her. Galina fell in love with her and so did everyone who met her. Next, I came along and picked her up. She rode home with Kazbek and me. She lived with me, my pack and my sister in the desert for two-+ years, then moved to Montana, where she had two beautiful litters of pups, boys and girls (where are they now?). But soon, we loved and missed her too much and wanted to care for her, so Kat retrieved her and took her home for awhile in Idaho. When Kat moved to the not-so-far-away Vegas area, I was able to drive to Las Vegas, pick Rocky up, and bring her back home. She then lived with us by the beach in California, until - at long last - we moved to our little place with acreage here on the Central Coast. 

RAKSHA LOVED IT HERE. She told me "this is my favorite" of all the beautiful places she and we have lived. Here, on the Central Coast, she helped foster our puppy, Yanqui, teaching him that the gates and fences need a watchful eye and it is important to bark at cats hidden in the bushes. She taught him that substantial dowagers like herself were to be deeply respected but it was okay to have a few laughs, even sometimes at her expense. She taught her Papi (whom she nicknamed "Biscuit" due to his propensity to give her treats) that you have to respect a CO and if you want something from them it's okay to be firm, but a heavy hand gets a heavy answer from a CO. She taught her Mamma too many things to be listed. Too many. Brilliant, beautiful, affectionate, silly, a banana thief, brave, powerful, strong, faithful. Faithful. 

We all hate to lose our friends; and we hate to lose all our friends. But Rocky is and was the last of an era. Together, we walked as two wolves, deep and safe in the forest or running free on the prairie. She taught me that.
~

Our beautiful girl had so much to offer, and was such a great friend, protector, companion, and source of inspiration. Source sometimes, too, of exasperation (oh, those bananas! She would steal them, peel them, and leave a greasy black mess in her bed that was all the forensics needed to catch a thief! How I often wondered, "where did the bananas go? Did we eat them all already?"). Raksha was an enormous part of my life for almost 13 years. How do you say goodbye to that?

Rocky changed all who knew her, simply by sharing the gift of her unique Dogness. She taught us to be patient, to focus on happiness, to be strong against pain or fear, to trust in love. My Raksha. My Sweet Girl. I shared her, happily, with my husband, and sometimes with friends, but she was always - and, to me, only - My Raksha.

Love forever,
your mom

Rocky age 12

Rocky with Jillian

Young Raksha with myself and Friday the cat

Raksha in front of the kennels (Zoe and Lily behind)

Raksha wishes everyone a Very Merry Christmas!

Raksha's roadwork

Raksha, @age 6, in Idaho

My Sweet Girl

on the deck in Santa Cruz

Waiting for the neighbor to make her day! (Let's Bark!)

the Pedigree with a photo of Mama - beautiful!

2009

2011

always a gal with a good figure!

Rocky about age 1, Kazbek about age 4 behind

a large puppy at age 1

still beautiful at age 9, april 2011

February 2010

Doing Sit-Stays with the cat

with the 4 mo. old puppy (sitting in the baby pool) age 10 1/2

Happy Birthday, Everybody! (Why does she do this to us?)

hiking in the river bed

July 4th, 2009

Beautiful!

Whassup Mrs.?

Serene

Yanqui and Raksha 2014

I See You and You See Me

Raksha - artist's model!

Raksha (f) and Kazbek (b), as artistic muses

Baby Raksha, and parents, Hanka VelikiHan (top-rt) and Aton (bottom-L)

TIME AND THE DOG

I believe in animal-to-human communication and have often experienced it. My fave book on the subject,"Letters to Strongheart" (J. Allen Boone) was written in the 1950s. 

If a big "dog thought" hits me -- typically something about canines that in my conscious mind I have never contemplated - I sometimes query the dog:   "did you just send me that idea? Then show me."  With the Caucasus Dogs especially, I find that, when challenged for proof, they respond by holding eye contact like your mother did when she explained the facts of life to you. Occasionally, dogs may underscore the answering stare with an approach or a nose bump. This mute, self-possessed reaction to the Big Share can seem so very apropos, so very on-target, that it gives me a shiver.

One of the things Rocky "explained" to me concerned the "7 years to one year ratio" - the general arithmetical construct by which we delineate their time on earth in relation to our own. Dogs live their lives and pass so quickly, while we go on, that it seems to us a tragedy that such wonderful lives should be cut so short. Rocky shared with me, however, that while we humans live on the fast track (picture this as an old silent movie, speeded up), dogs and other animals actually experience their lives in what we humans would perceive as slow-motion, if we use the film metaphor again.

So dogs live entire full long lives, just as we do, but WE are going so fast that we miss out on much of what is happening around us.

When we were Neanderthal, or even tribal, and living past 35 was unusual, we and animals were also more in tune. Life moved at a natural pace. We might say, "a slower pace" but that would not cover the immensity in the difference between today's harried lifestyle, the absurd multi-tasking model [go faster, accomplish less and do so with less accuracy], and the many vehicles and conveniences we utilize in order to "be there" mentally, while we are "still here" physically.

After all, which seems more content: a well-maintained dog living a natural life, or a coddled human teenager, living a life of asphalt and electricity - so disconnected from the earth that to simply see a horse in a pasture has become an intense experience.

The second proof that "dogs, in their way, live longer than we think" came while I was watching one of those "all about dogs" shows on television. The segment concerned the question of what physical advantage allows dogs to catch things so well - frisbees, or even birds out of the sky? To answer this, a dog catching a Frisbee thrown high appeared on-screen. In slow motion, the dog could be observed tracking every miniscule movement of the Frisbee as it fluttered and flew.  The dog stood still for a moment, watching as the frisbee began to fly, then the dog lined itself up at the place where the frisbee was going to fall, not where the frisbee was, in air, as he took off in pursuit.

Picture yourself on LSD, watching everything around you unfolding as a flower unfolds, slowly over a 24-hour period. That's the way dogs experience the world. Well, that's what Rocky told me, anyway. And I, for one, believe her.

Kazbek and the Moon - A Poem

Kazbek and the Moon

Once we walked

where night birds swam

in the arms of a great harvest moon.

A coyote trailed us

through blue-white shadows,

while the wings of bats carried a whistling cry

to the shining planets.

I see him standing there, still

beneath the silver smile:

My Kazbek,

Comrade. Shield.

his shoulders standing strong

against the dark mysteries,

folding the bright moon

that restored my soul.

Our little coyote friend
wandered away
that night
and one night too
Kazbek wandered away
Never to be seen again
On the earth

Where he had walked
Loyal, innocent
Powerful, kind
Fierce, gentle

Under another moon
I will see you again
and feel your heart
My Kazbek

Yanqui - the Doodle Dandy: January 10, 2015

Yanqui is the dog that travels with us now. Rocky has come to her seniority and prefers to stay home. She is almost 13, and while still active and enjoying life, is not always at her best and does not enjoy the car as she once did. Thus, it is Yanqui who travels with us. He loves to go on errands with my husband, Mike, and he loves to go on family-oriented trips. We go to the beaches often, as they are dog-friendly where we live; and nice dogs - dogs neither looking for a fight nor human aggressive - are welcome in more places and venues than I have seen before on the coast.

Yanqui jumps in the car on the word "auto." We make him wait until invited and he trembles eagerly at the doorway, watching us load the car, put in his rugs and water, and generally prepare. He knows that if his beard and tail are brushed and his collar and tags put around his neck, the end result will be a trip.
He has been taught that holding still or even making a pretense of doing so, will get him what he wants, whereas jumping, flying around, or any other display of skitter, will result in him returning to his bed and being put on a wait. So he pretends that he is a fine and steady boy, just waiting for an invite at the door.

Yanqui is also one of those dogs that understands our human grooming habits. My husband worked all his life, from childhood, and still gets up early, takes his shower and gets dressed for a working day - whether that involves yard work, errands or paid labor. I, on the other hand, poke around, throw on some hideous "doggy" outfit - or worse, wander about in my robe - until the moment strikes when I'm feeling it, and I take a shower and dress for the day. But if I put on my lipstick and good shoes, Yanqui knows that is the signal (for him) that I will be going somewhere interesting, and he sure wants to come along.

However, it has been weird this past year for me to travel alone with a Labradoodle. I have always kept guard dogs and working breeds: terriers, German Shepherds, Caucasian Ovcharka -- dogs that people see and immediately realize might be very difficult to cross. Yanqui, due to his size and the cut we use on his rough coat, fools people, who typically believe him to be a young Irish Wolfhound. But he is really an engaging, unassuming, friendly, sensitive and jolly fellow, who likes almost everyone and would be happy to play with almost any dog. In this, I always say that he is most like my good-natured husband, whereas our old Raksha, the gruff Caucasian Ovcharka, suspicious of everyone and with her "friend wallet" already full, is much more like me.

In the past, with my bearish guard dogs, I have been used to going into the woods, hiking, or tramping off-road tracks with impunity, accompanied by a powerful and watchful companion. With Yanqui, it is I who must look over the area we wish to play in, and assess safety for us both. Are there any large, loose dogs, or dogs that have an unhealthy energy about them? Are there any large, loose men? I feel very protective of our sweet Doodle and know that he depends on me - whether he realizes it or not - to keep us safe.

Raksha would keep us both safe, and next to her, if she could. But at her age, it satisfies me to know that she is home, near her bed and water, near her grassy yards, sleeping soundly by the food bin. Warm, dry and safe. If there is hostility or danger, she is too old to handle it, although her huge and generous, brave and wild heart will always try. She will always try.

Yanqui is very communicative. He has learned a lot of "English" on his own. I tend to be repetitive in the words I speak to the dogs - not only with cue words (for example, one says Sit, not SIT-SITSIT or Sit-Down), but also with everyday conversational phrasing. Phrases the dogs often hear might include: "Are you hungry?"; "Treat [with any verb]"; "Time for bed"; and so on. Yanqui has picked up on repetitive phrasing of with alacrity and holds such phrases in his head without any special training or emphasis from our side. This shows intelligence, of course, but is not extremely unusual for a beloved companion dog. However, Yank also senses things I want from him, without training, and I do not understand how this happens.

For instance, we pick up the yard (poop!) every morning, or whenever we are outside and notice that something needs to be picked up. One day, early in Yanqui's life here, when he was perhaps 7 or 8 months of age, I was walking in the yard and stepped in something nasty. He was nearby and observed me jumping around, as people do, and cussing at myself. I found the scooper, removed the offending waste, and washed off my shoes.

A few days later, I was walking in the yard at twilight and noticed that Yanqui was standing quite still near the trees - stock still and staring at something in the yard. I don't know why or how I knew, but I felt he was identifying a pile of dog waste. And this proved to be true. I praised him for showing it to me, although I was not certain this had been Yanqui's intent. He has a physical habit of going into a freeze (similar to the gundog habit of honoring a point), but it is not always clear why. There are a number of stimuli that seem to cause this reaction in him, but dog poop really shouldn't be one such stiumulus.

However, after that "pointing" event, Yanqui has continued -- where the grass is deep, or the light is failing -- to indicate by freezing and staring that there is an errant pile of dog dung in the yard which lies exactly in the path of my forward motion. I cannot account for his doing this.

Another initiative Yanqui has developed involves cats. We keep three indoor cats and also feed and care for two semi-ferals that moved onto the property after we came here to live. In the beginning, the indoors and outdoors felines did not always get along. In addition, the outdoor cats occasionally attract or quarrel with other outdoor cats living in the neighborhood which attempt to pass through the yard.

When cat quarrels begin, I go and step between the animals and escort the offender off the property. One accomplishes this by ignoring one cat (typically one's own) and gently but firmly herding the other cat off the premises. As with dogs, if one charges into the fray, yelling and waving, a quarrel will escalate quickly and intensely into a full-on fight. The herding approach seems to work better.

As it happened, during one such feline outburst, Yanqui joined me in cat herding. He was merely an interested presence the first time; however, as a dog, his appearance was more disconcerting to the strange cat than was my own. I praised the dog for joining in, and ever since, when that yodeling scream that means cats are getting ready to quarrel is heard in the land, Yanqui will run to the quarrel and vibe both cats until one runs off. If I get there first, he will join me and do his thing. Standing close to the cats, he stiffens slightly, lifts his tail with a stiff little wag and gives them the eye. And off they run.  His canine presence stops the fight.

I didn't teach him; he just does it.

Rocky, of course, would chase a strange cat out of the yard if she saw it. But she is fairly deaf now - not completely so, but much of her hearing is impaired. And she loves her naps. So keeping the yard free of kitty quarrels is pretty much up to Yanqui and me.

This habit and ability of the Labradoodle to understand what is vague and untaught, and to act on that understanding is fascinating to me. It also forces me to be quiet, pay attention, be patient, and to avoid all coercion with the dog. It would appear, at least with Yanqui, that acting in any other mode than happy playfulness or quiet patience - i.e., to act out of frustration or annoyance, or to rush the dog with insensitive demand or domination - apparently extinguishes our connection, causing the Doodle to separate from me, both mentally and physically.

For me, the great joy of dogs lies in making that connection to their world and to the individual spirit. Yanqui is proving to be a wonderful teacher in many ways, but particularly in regard to how to connect, how to observe and perceive from my end, and with respect to the social niceties and the language of dogs. Fortunately for us both, I have now advanced through many stages of life and am moving back toward the beginning. And, in the beginning, all healthy humans are open, interested, intuitive, and able to connect and learn in a way they lose during that busy, productive and socially circumscribed time of life we define as adulthood.