Your Dog and Your Mirror (April 22)

It is easy to walk through life in our subconscious minds and have no clue what is going on around us.  When we become conscious the universe communicates and we can create our own reality.  Our own reality definitely includes our dogs.

Let me give you some examples of some mirrors.  My last dog had severe anxiety issues and would pace and whine like crazy for hours.  She had to learn to relax and she just didn’t know how to.  Funny I was the same way.  I had severe anxiety myself.  As I shifted this within myself, my dog also shifted and became more calm.  Our dogs are our mirrors for us.

My current dog shows numerous fears around sudden noises and around cars.  Many of you know that I have done training around this and shifted myself to be more relaxed when my dog runs into these situations, but how about when we are not around these situations.  How do I handle fear then? Sometimes I want to run away from fear so bad!  I have huge fears as I expand my business and play bigger.  So is my dog mirroring these fears?  My assumption is yes.  He reminds me all the time to love and embrace my fears.  I keep moving forward.  I run, meditate, talk to others, read affirmations (and positive books), and do yoga to move through my fears.  Is my dog shifting as I move through my fears?  It is early to tell and my assumption is yes I am influencing him all the time.

Lesson: Listen to your dog.  What is he/she communicating to you?  How can he help shift you and how can you help shift him?  This can be a life long experience of learning.  It is not all about click and rewards.

Blessings!

Johanna Teresi with Four Legged Scholars LLC

Reading Dog Behavior Week 4 (Feb 17th)

This is the last week on the series of “Reading Dog Behavior.”  I hope it has been helpful for you.  This week I wanted to target other stress signs that your dog may show when he is out of alignment.  These stress signs can be a result of fear (defensive behavior), aggression (offensive behavior), excitement (over stimulation) or just over aroused in general.  If you see multiple stress signs make sure you do something to calm your dog.  It could be something holistic, checking in with your emotions or hiring Four Legged Scholars for training advice.

More Signs of Stress:

Moving quickly or pacing

Sweaty paws

Rapid or shallow breathing

Shedding excessively

Clicking teeth

Lethargic

Not wanting to eat or gulping food quickly

Dry Panting

Another tip that is helpful for you to know is that your dog will respond to stress in one of the following ways:

1.)   Fool Around (Displaying Calming Signals to Relieve Stress)

2.)   Fight (Bit or Attack)

3.)   Flight (Run Away)

4.)   Freeze (Totally Shut Down and Do Nothing)

5.)   Faint (Pass Out)

Happy Training!

Johanna Teresi, Professional Trainer and Owner of Four Legged Scholars LLC

Your Dog is a Journey. You Might As Well Love It All!

As I remember life is journey and that everything that happens is suppose to happen.  I shift back and forth from many emotions as we all do….anger, sadness, fear, joy, sexual, and love.  As a person who has been through much…..depression, chronic illnesses, insomnia, excessive tiredness, I am learning that all of this has a purpose.  I remember going through these times and wondering “why me?,” being irritable and just hating it.

 

Shadow took me on a journey from aggression to friendliness to heaven and I loved it all! I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

I have a new light.  I developed a chronic condition of warts and just came down with another sinus infection (my doctor in the past has diagnosed me with chronic sinusitis and I have had sinus surgery).  I had done much to prevent another infection.  I became vegan realizing that dairy was a huge trigger for me.  I also made sure I got plenty of sleep, worked on positive thinking, and always getting plenty of sleep.  I made it through depression, insomnia, etc with flying colors as I learned that everything was in my control….or is it really?

Focusing on my with my efforts, I allowed myself to again develop anger and frustration about my health.  “Why again?  What was I doing wrong?.”   I talked to some people and a person who shed the most light was Annabeth Christie, my life coach with Lifeworks and one of my beautiful friends who is always very loving.  I remembered that everything is not always in our control. Carol Tuttle discusses that there is a higher power, God or a divine being that has our whole life path in his/her hands.  We don’t always know what will happen or why.  What we do know is that everything that happens is suppose to happen.

I went to an amazing doctor in Sugarhouse, Dr. Cameron.  He helped me realize more than I already knew that the multitude of antibiotics that I have been on had weakened my immune system.  With a weak immune system who wouldn’t come down with another sinus infection and even warts?   As I begin to remember to love what is I realize that at this time in my life something that appears to prevent me from accomplishing what I want is actually good.  Due to this condition my body is able to restore its immune system to ultimate health and balance.  As I do this more energy and vitality occurs. Remembering to love this time in my life and not resist it is the most precious gift I can give myself.

I realized I can fight or I can choose to love it.  I can allow my body to communicate what it wants to say to me and say “thank you body.”  Through this I am learning to be more friendly with my emotions.  To listen to my body when I feel a feeling and discover how I can just allow myself to feel the feeling in a healthy manner and shift to ultimate joy and happiness.  

As I go through this transition, I remember so many dog owners and people go through this same scenario over and over again.  We get a puppy and the puppy takes longer to be housebroken or cries throughout the night way longer than most other puppies do.  Our dog grows up and he begins to bite people, bark excessively, not come when called, attacks other dogs, etc.

The first thing, I see most clients do is resist.  They resist what is occurring right in front of them.  Sometimes they go through denial.  They wait to call a trainer until years after the behavior started.  As I was in denial about my immune system.  I had numerous blood work done and my white blood cell count was always low.  I heard the reports and subconsciously chose to just ignore this.  Then I realized the truth and I wanted to fix it. I wanted my immune system better now because it shouldn’t be down it should be up and healthy.  This is the same with my clients….they want to fix their dogs.  They want the problems to go away now.  An immediate fix.

The most important step is forgotten…to love what is occurring in this moment.  To realize that everything is perfect.  Sure, it is okay to take action to create a different result.  I can take Vit B supplements, colloidal silver, etc to create an awesome immune system.  My clients can participate in an amazing training program with Four Legged Scholars to create a dog that is more emotionally balanced and happy.  If the loving step is forgotten many emotions of frustration, anger, and resistance are constantly felt.  Instead, welcome these emotions.  Fully feel them and shift into love.  Welcome the present moment and the shifts that are occurring to create a different result.

Happiness is not on the other side.  The grass is green right now.  Look at what is right in front of you right now and love it.  It is much easier than saying when my dog knows this (is quiet at night, sits instead of jumps, is friendly with strangers, etc.) then I will be happy. Be happy right now. Embrace how your dog is right now and embrace the journey and the learning process that is created as a result of wanting to create a different behavior. Make a list of everything that you can appreciate from the current condition your dog is creating.

As I remember to love my body.  I love my warts.  I love my sinus infection.  I love the way my immune system is at this moment…weaker than the average person.  I am not resisting.  Then I shift into what I can do to create a different result and I enjoy the journey as I go to the doctor and learn what supplements and foods I can choose to consume to create a healthy and strong immune system now.

I am much happier than if I wake up in resistance to what is going on with my body.  You will be much happier if you will allow your dog to be what he is right now and enjoy the journey together as you change.  Love it ALL!!

Happy Training!

Johanna Teresi Owner and Professional Dog Trainer of Four Legged Scholars LLC

A Wonderful Dog Story

Today was a beautiful day with many clients.  I was excited to work with Beau again.  Beau has fear issues with many people.  When I first arrived he showed many stress signs.  He would bark at me and move toward and then away from me in confusion.  He also had a very stiff body and was not happy to take his eyes off of me.

His owner and I worked to help Beau become more comfortable.  He was asked to perform many behaviors in my presence and his stressful behavior became more and more relaxed over the next visits.  He was sitting, downing, watching, targeting, and spinning on command.  As he performed these commands I gradually decreased my distance.

Today was a break through.  He approached me.  He allowed me to interact with him.  He sat, down, targeted, and watched on command for me.  His behavior was much more comfortable.  His body was less stiff.  He even laid down.  His eyes were much more relaxed and he was okay to look at me and away from me. 

I felt invigorated to see Beau come out of his shell.  It is fun when you see a dog realize that he can shine with his true essence.  His owner was happy to get to see the progress and watch her dog move from fear to happiness and love!

Everyday I feel I have a rewarding career and I am happy to make a difference in so many dog’s and people’s lives!

Happy Training!

-Johanna Teresi Professional Trainer and Owner of Four Legged Scholars LLC