Re: ITS O.K......ISNT IT ?_______________@yahoo.com|07/08/02 at 01:08:21
If for instance someone were to walk up to your dog and try to pet him, would he accept that. Or would would he move to avoid that person. For instance if you had not seen this person approaching.
Re: ITS O.K......ISNT IT ?Mike McConnery|mike.mcconnery@sympatico.ca|07/08/02 at 11:11:09
If someone appoaches me,my dog lets me know by lead communication or vocal.If it was a child I still O.K. the dog,but an adult is told to please not try to touch the dog.The Work in which we are involved teaches the handler a much greater sensitivity not only to the dog but to his surroundings.This heightened awareness eliminates what are often deemed accidents,but are actually acts of ignorance.You can not appoach me with out my knowing it when I am with my dog.I never take my dog for a walk.We together go for a walk.It may sound as the same thing,but it is not.I do not over power my dogs uncanny ability to see,smell,hear,and communicate in the world around me. I make use of it.This permits him to think freely and to know a threat from a non threat.Would he bite if ever you approached and I did not take his warning or say anything?He would warn you in a manner that even the most"BUT I WANT TO,ITS MY RIGHT,I ONLY WANT TO PET HIM,WHY DO YOU HAVE A DOG PEOPLE CAN NOT PET" idiot would be able to understand.We protect one another from the world around us.To be in it,and not of it.That is the secret
Re: ITS O.K......ISNT IT ?__________@aol.com|07/08/02 at 12:47:18
If I'm following you right, it is much the same as a discussion we had once about single contact when you have multiple dogs. There is a specialness that happens between the handler & the dogs when things are right that brings you to a place where it's no longer a man & a dog & the man is training the dog. It is a friendship that goes so deep that to see the pair walk down the street some might see a dog & a man whiile others see a pair of friends who go down the street together one keeping the other out of trouble/danger. But it mustn't be a one sided conversation, the dog indicates to the stranger's presence, the handler aknowledges that it's okay, & the pair continues. But it requires descipline on the part of the handler because if the handler is uncertain... the dog might read that as a sign of trouble from the handler?
Re: ITS O.K......ISNT IT ?Mike McConnery|mike.mcconnery@sympatico.ca07/08/02 at 14:54:42
That is pretty much it.The handler can pretend with everyone but the dog.It demands a change from within.Beautiful when you really think about it.
Re: ITS O.K......ISNT IT ?______________@yahoo.com|07/08/02 at 16:36:54
I find this so fascinating. The other day I went downtown past the casinos which are noisy and crowds of people. Its so different now. I don't always know what I'm doing wrong (or right for that matter) but to watch him walk down these streets easily with his weak nerved handler makes me very happy.
Re: ITS O.K......ISNT IT ?____________@aol.com|07/08/02 at 18:10:28
You're right, it's a very beautiful thing. There are times that I catch just a glimpse of something that is just very special. It's usually just briefly & it happens at the oddest of times. Most of the time I'm not even sure how it happened but it gives me much hope that I'll eventually move to a place that I react the way I should. I'm very good at telling my dog 'it's okay' while I'm silently thinking 'OH HOLY CRAP' mentally cringing. Then I want to kick myself. I am hoping that I gain more experience that I'll continue to grow -in the right direction. But I'm getting to the point that when stress hits me in a sticky situation, the thought comes to mind that all I gotta do is control myself & my dog, just like you said at bootcamp... that's it. I find so much comfort in that fact that I settle down. Maybe there's hope for me yet!
