Walking...Being...

05.27.11

Today is my first day pet sitting for Chad and Lori - a wonderful couple who run THIS amazing business, helping dogs with disabilities of all types: http://www.doggon.com/

They have four dogs, all pound puppies, completely unique;  truly great dogs, every one of them. I have enjoyed my first day getting to know each of their personalities. The two girls in the video below are Irie (the approximately 6 month old puppy), and Kua. Since there are four dogs, I walked these two first, and then took one of their male dogs, Poki, for his exercise. Benny is the fourth, and oldest, dog. Benny is paralyzed from the waste down, since being hit by a car at 10 months old. He is now 13 years old and uses a wheelchair; and also gets around by scooting like a sea lion. He is awesome! 

On my walk with the girls - who both wear Halti chest harnesses - we worked on getting to know each other through the practice, movement and energy of walking together. At first, they were both all over the place, and Irie was quite skittish, jerking at every noise in the environment around her, and cris-crossing in front of and behind me as we walked. Once we found our collective rhythm, however, they both did great! I kept one on each side of me, and held their leashes very close, so that we all walked side by side. When a dog would bark from a yard we were passing, or a loud truck rolled by, and Irie even "thought about" freaking out, I simply redirected her focus forward, not giving any attention to that behavior. Instead, we just kept moving forward - a great metaphor for all of us when thinking about MOVING forward through our fears in life. If we simply keep pushing on, in spite of things that scare us or make us feel uncomfortable, we will become stronger and happier! Give attention only to productive, positive things, and positivity is what will become of all aspects of who you are, and the life story you are writing.

This particular job is challenging for me on many levels ways, which makes for a great opportunity to learn and grow, and continue developing my "Whispering" skills. The best part is, the "classroom" in the case, is embodied inside the instantly-and-purely-loving bond between me and these four new buddies. 

What I thought about today as I walked the dogs, is that, when we walk dogs, (and do most other things in daily life), we act from a reactionary place; our instincts kick in, and our primal tendencies take control of the walk. When the dogs pull, we pull back. Or yell at them and say words they don't understand or respond to as we want them to. But our job, as Pack Leaders, is to be conscious of what we are doing and how we are reacting to the dogs' behavior as we walk; and turn our reactions into meaningful actions. This makes the activity not only physically healthy and productive (for both the dogs and us!), but allows for greater mental and emotional fitness as well. 

In other words, walking dogs - should you choose to accept the activity as such - can be a chance for us to become our very best selves. In the process, we provide the dogs we are walking with the opportunity to realize their best selves as well. I am always reminded of Cesar Millan's advice to consider the ways of nature - and go in the same direction. Go with the flow, be conscious of the energy you are emitting as you move forward in a meaningful way. And evolve into a fitter, healthier animal as you continue walking forward - right past those pesky fears and disruptive noises that have held you back in the past.