Focusing on Gratitude

This past week was hard, sometimes you have to choose your hard. I sent my 15.5 year old dog ahead without me. I've spent days reflecting on things my dogs have taught me. I'm focusing on these lessons with gratitude. This is the best legacy they can provide. In no particular order:

1) The animal choses the reinforcer. Rae's favorite thing on the planet was being within 6ft of me. We had an amazing time as a narcotics detection dog team, once I understood.

2) The animal can choose the punisher as well. Talyn thought that side eye from me was punishing and would hide under the table. Rae being touched by a rake during herding was punishing enough that she stopped herding for the rest of her life.

3) Sitting on the floor and playing with your puppy can provide a wonderful mental break from the world. Every puppy continues to teach me this.

4) The job you have selected may not be the one they want to do. Echo, a border collie I rescued, wanted to be a national level herding dog, not a cadaver dog. I placed him in a home where he could do that. Bristol wants to pick up birds, not find narcotics.

5) Being a pet is a valid job. Jenks taught me that. He could have done all sorts of things but an injury kept him from doing it. Being a buddy was 100% amazing.

6) Finding a dog that has 95% of what you need for a working dog makes it easy. Moses taught me this. When Rhonda let me adopt him I should have bought a lottery ticket that day, I hit the jackpot. He was a once in a lifetime type of dog. He saved someone's life.

7) Sometimes letting a dog go is the best thing you can do for them. Winnie, a lab I adopted, had elbow dysplasia which ended her working career. She went to a family and lived to 15.

8) Allow your puppy time to grow up and mature. Don't rush their odor training. Teach them to be confident and courageous. The rest will come.

9) Having excellent timing is crucial. Niko and Sheba taught me this. Brilliant fast thinkers that learns in one repetition, require you to be on your game.

10) The relationship you have with each dog is different. Each dog is a part of my heart.

You get the idea. What are some of your lessons?