This expression is familiar to most people but it is when we become involved with other beings that we find an understanding of this as being a truth that will help or hinder us in all that we want to achieve.

When we breathe in a steady pattern we feel at ease and calm but when we raise our heart rate, breathing rate or anxiety then we know only too well how this can affect not only our well-being but also the quality of the decisions that we make. ‘Act in hast, repent at leisure’ is never more honest than when we work with others, of all species.

Only today I watched with great sadness as a family tried to entice their beautiful dog to them. This dog repeatedly escapes from their garden and heads out to investigate its world and on each occasion we hear the owners yelling its name usually in a very harsh way and I leave it to you to imagine the actions of the ‘master’ when it is finally captured. I am reminded of the story of the west wind that determined to blow so hard that it would remove the coat from the man walking along a lane and so it blew harder and harder, colder and colder, almost knocking the man to the ground but rather than removing the coat the man only wrapped the garment tighter around himself.  At which point the sun said that it could remove the coat from the man with no effort at all and began to shine bringing warmth to the world and within a few minutes the man removed his coat of his own free will and stepped out happily.

As I work with my new young horse I am reminded of this, as I set out to encouraging him to walk forward in a rhythm, just as happy as my dogs are with the steady rhythm they have as they walk alongside me when we venture from the house.  When my horses, or my dogs become confused or uncertain about a situation or an object I simply slow my breathing, relax and allow them to look and most importantly, understand what they see then move on. I know that they will gain in confidence and learn to cope in this crazy world and as long as I make it possible for them to trust me.

Remember it is always easy to misinterpret anything we see when we only see it from one perspective without complete understanding, or information. Harsh correction of an animal because it doesn’t understand helps no one in the relationship. So if we set our sights on breathing with them, feeling what they do and seeing things from their perspective, it is easier for us to give them the correct information and help them to see when they have no need to fear.

A partnership that is based on understanding the needs of all parties is the strongest kind and will lead to happiness and contentment for all the individuals involved. Us and our dogs!

Wishing you all the very best for 2012

Jan Fennell

1^st January 2012

As a great lover of fresh fruit throughout the year I buy as greater variety as possible. Amongst the choices available are large and very hard plums, so I leave them in the fridge (to ripen and soften) and wait.

The end result is that I rediscover them, days later, they are still rock hard and bitter but now a little wrinkled as well, so I throw them out for the birds.

Last year I bought a tiny ‘Victoria’ plum tree and planted it in my garden and to my amazement last week there were clusters of small green fruit, ah bless it was trying so hard, so I walked away rather disparaging of the tiny fruit.  Two days later about one third of the fruit had turned a lovely reddish purple, so I gingerly picked them.

Not only were they slightly soft but succulent and sweet and a total delight to enjoy.  Now I make daily trips to the little tree, which has provide a brilliant crop already. Not one plum has been wasted, being shared and thoroughly enjoyed by others too<.

The simple reason is that it is the right time for this fruit, so why do we kid ourselves that it is possible to force such perfection, which means that we actually settle for an inferior produce that we waste. Is it just because we can?

Natural is wonderful and in exactly the same way when working with our dogs, we can have the very best experience, once we accept their nature and savour their unique qualities and by understanding their instincts and working to make them want to be with us and work with us of their own free will, all made possible by adopting Amichien® Bonding, we can savour every moment.

So when my dogs help themselves to the biscuits that has fallen on the floor, stick their noses into something completely disgusting (to me), when their only desire at the Vet’s is to find the way out and when they spread mud all over the back of the car, after a run in the woods, I will love them, provide for them and feel so lucky. Just as with the little plum tree, value what they have to offer, be grateful for that and be patient for best result, happy that I will never settling for forced failure.

Jan Fennell
26^th July 2011

Enjoy a twilight stroll and an evening of family entertainment on the Grade I listed grounds after all other visitors have gone home.

Bring a picnic and join in the festival-like atmosphere as we gather to celebrate the work of your local Marie Curie Nurses.

After completing the 10k course, we will gather together at 10pm to remember this important time for all our nurses and the people they have helped and conclude with an exciting fireworks display.

There are loads of other walkten events around the country so check out marie curie walk ten for more information.

Beware of Strangers, of Any Species

A few years ago I was invited, by a Doctor, to help with a family who had experienced a very bad dog attack, resulting in the children being terrified of any dog, which meant that even a walk in the park became impossible.

I listened to them tell of the events that had caused this response and could fully understand their concerns but then shuddered as they told of the methods that they had been advised to try in an attempt to ‘cure’ the problem. One of which was to take the terrified child up to every dog that they came across, after asking the owner if it was ‘friendly’, in the hope that this would work.

I asked them to think of the effect that being approached by a group of people, all at a high level of fear and stress, would have on the ‘friendly’ dog, only to be told that if it was friendly then that would be alright, especially as the owners of the ‘friendly’ dogs wanted to help too.

It was very clear to me that my job was to teach the family avoidance methods, as they had also mentioned that almost every dog that they came across approached them and no amount of telling the dog to ‘go away’ worked. All of which is so frequently heard.

The solution for all of such encounters, whether people and dogs, children and dogs or dog on dog is to learn how to walk past calmly and quietly.

Even taking a frightened child or dog into a group of ‘friendly’ children or dogs can only confuse the sufferer more, as they could then begin to assume that all are as friendly, which could not be further from the truth.

With dogs that are aggressive (defensive) around other dogs, introducing them to a group of quite, amicable dogs can never prepare them for the world in which they live. The only way to help dogs and children is to teach them to ignore strangers, whatever the species.

If your dog reacts negatively to any outside influence, whether it be children, cars, joggers and the like then your dog is simply not ready to be out in the big wide world until you have convinced it that you are the one to make the decisions for your family (pack). In other words the owner steps up to the role of leader and can then show the dog how to behave when faced with any situation (life).

As for the family concerned, I explained that the reason that dogs approach them is that they actually look at the dog, which to a dog means that you want to interact with it. So I taught them how to quietly avoid dogs that they did not know, which would calm them down, help them live their lives and also protect dogs from being ‘gone at’ by strangers, which is the most common cause of anyone being bitten by a dog.

This subject also brings me onto another issue that worries me immensely, which is the practise of introducing an aggressive dog into a group of other dogs (to cure it). We know that the intelligence of the single dog will result in it adopting the cautious, ritualistic stillness that all of its kind instinctively do when faced with a number of strange dogs, something that I have seen many times with canines living in the natural world. The main error with this practise is the belief that everything will be okay from then on, which is not true, as every encounter with any stranger will demand new thinking and just as we do when meeting others for the first time, we take out time, are cautious and stay safe.

There are some great prizes for the best pet photos. The competition is open to anyone under 18.

So get snapping and get some great shots of your pet looking Healthy and Happy!

PDSA Photographer of the Year Competition.

Jan’s Weekly Topic

DOGS LEFT IN A CAR

Question: When is it acceptable to leave a dog in a car unattended?

Answer: NEVER

The recent deaths of another two Police dogs, who were left in a vehicle while the Police Officer, their ‘primary care giver’ attended an hour long meeting at the Police Dog Training establishment at Keston in Kent, has once again highlighted  the unbelievable and disgraceful suffering inflicted on defenceless animals resulting from thoughtless actions by humans.

Strong language? You bet.  Dogs are only able to sweat through their paws and by panting so it is like you wearing a rubber lined fur coat and balaclava and sitting in a sauna at full steam, unable to escape.  They literally cook from the inside.

If you feel that you may have to leave your dog then leave it at home, in a cool area, with plenty of fresh water, not a conservatory or greenhouse (both of which has happened).

If you want to attend an event then check that there is a set aside, attended kennel tent where you can leave your dog, so that you can enjoy the time and your dog can relax and sleep.

If you do see a dog that is clearly in distress from being left in inappropriate conditions then avoid trying to touch the dog, as in its confusion and distress it is likely to bite you. Simply seek assistance if there, smash the windows, open the doors and allow the fresh air to flood in and hope that the dog’s physical condition is such that a gradual recovery is possible. If you are able to touch the dog, then find something fabric and soak this in cold water, better still immerse the dog in cold water.  At least get the dog into good shade quickly.

While we on the subject of dogs and heat there should be a great deal of thought given to taking the dog for a walk on a hot day, again if you would happily set off wearing the rubber lined fur coat and balaclava helmet then fine and please give some consideration when asking a dog to ‘sit’ on pavement that you could either fry an egg on or freeze water on.

‘Walk a mile in their shoes’

Jan Fennell

29^th June 2011

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