Dog Training

I would not say that I am a pet person. I had pets growing up, but for most of my adult life it’s been just me. In December 2019, when I came off the road from being a healthcare consultant and a road warrior, I decided a dog might be good company and I began my search. COVID happened and finding a puppy was harder than expected, but in May of 2021, Oreo Burson came to live with me.

In the last 90 days we have spent together, he has trained me well. I am still working on him, but I have learned a few lessons that I wanted to share.

Patience

Oreo is not a particularly patient dog, but he does things that allow me to practice being patient. He had not had any training before we met, and he exploded into my life like a tornado. He feasted on my possessions, ignored me except for bites and licks, and generally created near constant mayhem.

None of it was done to aggravate me, although it did. Everything Oreo did was just him being a puppy who did not know better. I focused on knowing that his intentions were pure and worked on teaching him a few commands to calm the chaos. Over time, I have learned patience and he is slowly warming up to my rules.

Be mindful, Live in the moment, and Have fun!

Oreo lives in the moment better than any other creature I have observed. As humans we have busy lives full of deadlines and obligations. Oreo is always ready for a quick walk, a game of keep away, or a belly rub without hesitation. When we walk, he takes his time and takes in everything - smells, breeze, textures, other critters, and other humans. This interaction with him gives me an opportunity to purposely focus my attention on the present moment.

I can easily let hours go by on the computer with work. Every so often, Oreo will come up and remind me that it is a beautiful day, and we should definitely go outside. These unscheduled breaks to sit in the yard watching the birds and watching Oreo take on nature are the best sort of refresher and keep me energized when I get back to work.

Be Grateful

Being happy comes down to focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack. But for humans, that is easier said than done.

Every time I feed Oreo, he acts as though it is the first time he has ever seen food. Every time you grab the leash to take him out for a walk, he zooms back and forth in a flurry of excitement. And every time I walk in the door, even if it was just to take the trash out, he is bursting with joy. Dogs remind us that even though something may be routine, we should always take time to appreciate that it is a part of our lives.

Always Practice Forgiveness

While I am learning patience, I have made more mistakes than I can count and hollered at Oreo over my frustration. Oreo, however, has forgiven me everything. He trusts me with his life and happily does what I ask of him. Had I transgressed in the same way against a person, I doubt we would be on speaking terms today.

When I mess up with Oreo, he is the first to extend the olive branch. He admits to his fault, as best a dog can without the benefit of spoken language, and in doing so, seeks my forgiveness. In this sense, I have come to realize that we all have a lot to learn from dogs. Despite all our intelligence, science, critical thought, and advanced technology, it seems that we humans could take a cue from our dogs and be slow to anger, quick to forgive, and even quicker to seek forgiveness from others whom we have wronged. How wonderful would it be to become like a dog in this manner?

“All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. For after all, he was only human. He wasn’t a dog”. Charles M. Schultz

Dogs depend on us to take care of them and form strong bonds with their humans. We thrive on their devotion to us. But in their own way, they are taking care of us, as well. Oreo has been a good addition for me, and I hope we both keep on learning from each other.

Until next time…. - Leigh