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.

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Many of us live in urban areas where there is so much right in the neighborhood. I know I have been guilty of saying things like “I could have walked or ridden a bike to do this faster than in a car”.

So capitalizing on that thought, this weekend we decided to do just that while out on a walk with the dog in support of our Walk Your Dog Every Day Challenge. As it turns out there is a market about 1 1/2 mile away from our home. So we decided instead of going out for dinner this weekend to plan something really cool to make, walk to the market (with the dog), get the groceries, & come home as a project done together.

I know it doesn’t sound so enticing when considering we could have gone out to a restaurant and done nothing but eat… BUT here is why it was so great after we did it. First we had a great time together, walking & talking. The dog had a more than awesome time. Unlike us, a very small outing without even know where they are going makes a dog’s day a hundred times over. And the calories we ate for dinner & glass of wine were burned during the walk. Happy dog, happy people who got to eat and burn the calories in battle of the bulge so many of us people are feeling these days.

Many of the people who have joined our Walk Your Dog Every Day Challenge are dealing with teaching their dog to walk nicely beside them. We have plenty of tips and tricks for that in our dog blogs and our online dog training website… or we have had people who so badly wanted to be able to walk with the dog that getting private lessons or having their dog join our exclusive dog training camps here in San Diego, Temecula, CA or Taos, NM. Then there are the people who have a dog that already walks or runs beside them… we want to give out ideas for both.

The important thing is to get out and do something with your dog in an exerciserly way! Weight loss is a big deal for people and getting the dog out to walk every day can make a dent you never thought could possibly be that easy in the war against fat. You’ll end up happy and your dog will be end up the well behaved best trained dog of the neighborhood.

Now the big question. What dog is going to end up being our new White House dog? The decision should be made shortly. In the meantime we are polling all of our true “dog people” out there. The Obama girls have some allergies so the choice has been narrowed to a hypoallergenic breed. The choices: Labradoodle or Portuguese Water Dog.

Dog breeds certainly have their differences and as a family people should research those things before getting a dog. One of the things as professional trainers we do our best to get information out about since a new puppy becomes a family member so choosing the right one is important.

Take our poll. You vote still counts. Which dog for the Obama family? We’ll be following up with how to train each dog breed and of course, what should they name this lucky White House dog.

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