Happy Dogs

I walked my dog (Padstow) yesterday morning, and decided to focus on him, and him alone. This is in stark contrast to my usual focus on me, my pace, fitness, what I’m listening to, the passage of time, when I need to be back, and why etc. 

We’ve had him more than 6 years and I’ve never done this before. It was very revealing.

Unlike me, he was completely in the moment (or present as some would say) – utterly focused on what was happening RIGHT NOW. Whether an exciting smell, noise, sight, or the temporary apprehension of other dogs, people or things. He just enjoyed, observed and reacted to what was happening RIGHT NOW. Not what had just happened or might be about to happen. And he looked fully engaged and stimulated throughout. He looked happy.

Everything seemed new to him. Everything he did was purposeful – conscious. He had the freedom to explore and just deal with what comes up, and then move on.

And then my focus on him noticed the lead I was holding. Sometimes he was on the lead (near danger), mainly off, running freely along paths and in fields. When he was on the lead, sometimes there was tension in the lead, other times not. I then realised the link between a lead, and leadership.  The role I was playing in his experience, and the role leaders play in the experience of those they lead, and the analogy of the tension in the lead, and whether Padstow was attached, or not.

I noticed Padstow processed everything I said whether meant for him or not.  He read my cues.  He didn’t necessary follow them all, but you could tell he read them.  You could see him thinking.  He obviously knows a few words, but is also sensitive to tone, and emotion – information that would inform him as to how he should react.  And it made me think of how we can trigger reactions and emotions in others, often without meaning to.

I’m stunned at how much I learnt from my short walk with Padstow yesterday.  It’s amazing what we see when we stay in the moment and shut down all the before and after “noise”. It also amazing what we can learn from dogs.

It’s like I was seeing things for the first time, that had been there forever.

Needless to say I’ll be doing this again! ??