DOGGIE DOG BLOG

Written and Posted by: David Harris

If I started writing an article on dog training, I can’t imagine what it would be about.  For the last twenty-five years I have given dog advice to people on a daily basis.  So, what else is there to say?  Well perhaps the same thing I have been talking about for twenty-five years.  Expectations.

In my opinion the expectations you have for your dog will rule supreme when it comes to your success or failure in developing a satisfying relationship with your dog.

There is an old saying, “Seeing is believing”.  But, I think that a better saying is, “Believing is seeing”.  The point is simple.  Behaviors start with actions.  And no actions start without thoughts.  Without the proper mind-set your mind cannot produce the right thoughts that will lead to the right behaviors. 

In my way of thinking EXPECTATIONS lead to thoughts.  So it is critical to have expectations that lead your mind towards your goals.  This is true for life as well as for dog training, but we will leave life behind and focus on dogs for now.

What are your expectations for your dog?  National Champion or Couch Potato?  Both are noble goals and both are obtainable to some degree if your thoughts and expectations lead your actions in the right direction.  When you know what your goals are, those thoughts will lead you on a path that will allow you to make informed choices regarding the raw material you will shape your National Champion Couch Potato from.  You will be miles ahead of the average dog owner because you know what your expectations of your dog will be BEFORE you even got a dog.  For example, no one could truly expect to win a Grand Prix road race driving a stock Volkswagon Beatle.  But, people that start out without expectations and goals often come to me with a dog that isn’t physically or mentally capable of fulfilling their goals.  So, knowing your expectations up front and having a mental vision of what kind of dog you want clearly sets you ahead of the pack.

What if you already have a dog?  You cannot do anything about that choice now, so can anything be done to still pursue your goals with this dog?  Yes it can.  Having goals, focus and determination to progress and move forward to the best of your dogs ability will still allow you and your dog to over-achieve and perform well above those people that do not have your degree of expectation.

I have seen the power of expectation. I have witnessed people with clear goals and the determination and drive to pursue them consistently over-perform.  So, I clearly know that results begin with thoughts.

Unfortunately, I see way too many people with negative thoughts.  Negative thought quickly become negative affirmation.  You do not want to AFFIRM that your dog isn’t capable.  Do that and you and your dog are both doomed to failure.  Since actions come from thoughts, a person with a negative affirmation stuck in their head cannot possibly have the proper mind-set and the proper thoughts that will lead to the type of actions needed for success.  So, be careful of what you think about.  Negative thinking tends to expand into negative actions or even worse, no action at all.

Regardless of the size of the task ahead it starts with the first step.  That one step, that first step in my opinion, should be getting your head wrapped around your expectations for your dog.  Once you have a clear vision of what you expect from your dog the rest will come as naturally as breathing.  Your mind will open, positive thoughts and emotions will pour out and positive, intuitive and sometimes genius thoughts will come forth - all led by the power of your expectations.

David Harris

http://animalresortstc.com