Training the Family Dog: Life Lessons For People

From Blog Photos

I find myself many times as a professional dog trainer focusing on how to get the dog trained and forget sometimes why its so enjoyable for me to be able to work in the field I do. It’s mainly because of my own dogs and what they have taught me about life.

Here is just one of the big things that I think dogs teach people, especially those who are looking to find the same feeling of contentment in their lives:

Dogs live in the moment.

When one really thinks about what that does for your outlook on life it’s pretty cool. For the most part we are all running around somehow reacting to or angry over what has happened to us in the past. From years ago or the argument you had with your spouse last night. It doesn’t really allow you to focus on what is going on right now, and making this the best moment of your life, because really, it’s all you have.

We spend the rest of our time running around worried about what is going to happen tomorrow, or next month, or next year, or in the next ten years. With the latest in the economic world news, that has really been a big bag of fear that we’ve all been wallowing around in.

Dogs really do think in the moment. What is happening right now is what is. And everything you do in this moment effects what you do in the next moment, whether its feeling good, or feeling bad.

Ever notice how your dog just smiles at you, even though you just got really pissed off at him just 10 minutes ago? Your dog isn’t hanging on to that, but instead living in this very moment in time and happy about it.

I also notice that my dog just lays down and goes into the most peaceful deep sleep every single night. He’s also not worried about what might or might not happen tomorrow. And in the morning he jumps up, bright eyed and bushy tailed for what the day is in that very moment.

It’s one of the things that we do teach in our dog training programs and once people grasp that concept about their dog, the learning becomes very easy for the dog and training becomes easy for the owner. Lack of projection is a very big thing….

I have my dogs to thank for teaching me that lesson. And in times when it seems like the world is not doing so well, when I go back to the practice of living in the moment life gets a lot better. I’m able to feel contentment, and the things I want to happen around me start happening.

Our dog training private lessons and boot camps cover the San Diego, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Vista, Temecula, CA areas as well as Jt Clough spends time in Taos, NM teaching the art of dog to people and dogs.

For fun dog photos, tips, tricks & dog news, follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GoTrainYourDog