Exercise
Discipline
Affection...
You might be familiar with the terminology of the 'Dog Whisperer' who had his own TV show a few years back. I was fascinated at how well he read dog owners and their energy and how their pets would behave. Cesar Milan is a short man who translated a lot of dog psychology for me. He would emphasize the role of the dog owners/pack leader and I was able to personally relate to it plus apply it to my therapy clients.
Chin up,
Chest out
Repeat internally-'I'm the pack leader'
That was my adaptation which I would regularly forget when my old Jack Russell would 'own' me.
Today I found myself saying it while laughing at my breathlessness.
Why, you might ask?
Well....
Rusty decided to chase an Egyptian Goose at the proper park this morning (the non- dog-off-lead park). He's done it before for a 20 meter sprint and always returns to me. It's 5.30am so traffic and humans are minimal.
Today's Monday goose was still nursing his New Year hangover and was a bit slow in lift off. I watched, holding my breath. Rusty's long limbs reminding me of the cartoon Scooby-Doo. I realised that the goose wasn't lifting properly and that Scooby was rather close to It's tail feathers.
I heard a whisper of a swear word.
It was me.
Go, go, go goose.
But instead, it turned left and kept It's butt dangling in front of Rusty excited mouth. It flew into the residential street with Rusty chasing. The curse words spilled out louder now as I realised there was no stopping Rusty. I started running.
Now, even at my fastest sprint, there's no way I could catch up with my charge who was now on full charge. There was also no point to my shouting, not was there any air in my lungs, but I didn't want to wake the neighbours any more than the squawking goose. Rusty sprinted up the road out of sight and suddenly I was wondering what I going to tell the owners. I did my best sprint and suddenly there was his smiling face, fortunately feather free. He teased me by turning away again and I silently shouted
'I'm the pack leader!'
Both of us panting, I put on the lead and asked him what that was about, but he refused to answer.
So there I was trying to stick my chest out, hearing Cesar's voice in my head and I had an image of how funny it must have looked.
Fortunately all his friends returned from holiday and he had a fine time romping in the dog park, late afternoon. He literally collapsed in the door when we got back.
A tired, happy, albeit- scolded dog.
Scooby-Dooby-doo where are you?
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