The Power of Energy!
23 years training over 6000 dogs…you would think I might have learned it all. But sometimes the simple things get lost in the commotion of the bigger picture…
I was fortunate enough to spend several days training with Cesar Millan last month. It was a unique situation for me due to the fact that I am almost ALWAYS the teacher and not the student. I wondered how it would even go, having not been taught in sooo long…was I even teachable? Can you teach this old dog new tricks? HA!
My father taught me at a young age that scholarship and arrogance do not exist together and anytime I get too cocky or confidant in my training, I try my best to remind myself of that. It’s an important lesson especially when communicating with humans…the dogs, maybe not so much. The dogs will sense your confidence and respond well (normally)…even if you're not sure of what you're doing. Why is that?
The answer is ENERGY! And what creates energy? Your emotions plus intentions equal your energy! What kind of energy do dogs follow? Calm and assertive energy.
Let’s discuss both…what makes you calm? Many people have trouble getting calm even if they appear calm…but what is happening behind the scenes? Family life, relationships, work, kids, health issues…all of the above? Can’t really get rid of those things for the most part, right? So, what CAN we do to help get calm when working with our dog?
Take a deep breathe…and that’s exactly what Cesar is telling me to do in this picture. Take it in and let it out…
Now for the assertive part…being a former Marine I have never had a problem showing assertiveness to the dog, but Cesar had advice for me even on this front…”put your shoulders back, and stick out your chest” is exactly what he told me.
This mimics the movement and body language of the pack leader dog.
Always be aware of your energy. It can be everything in your dog’s world.
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