The Tao of Jax – Training – The Real Mystery

Why does my dog chase after cars?

Why does my dog chew my couch every time I leave?

Why does my dog eat his own poop? – Answer here!

I hear these questions a lot. Without trying to sound too philosophical, I offer this simple and very true answer…

The reason is because you ask the question!

For many dog owners (especially first time owners) your dog’s behavior is all based on what “tricks” the dog can perform upon command.

Sit

Stay

Roll Over

High Five

Other Paw

Sound familiar? I’m not saying this is wrong… if it works for you and your lifestyle, by all means, continue. This will develop a very reactionary dog who will respond to your commands – as long as he knows the command you’re asking of him/her.

But, if you’re looking for a deeper connection with your dog, where commands are unnecessary due to the relationship and deep understanding that you share with your dog, perhaps a whole different approach is necessary.

Instead of trying to “force” actions by your dog, take a step back and allow your dog to just be. Don’t try to make it work – simply allow. For many of you this concept may be completely foreign and therefor frightening. Dogs are hardwired with hundreds or even thousands of years of instinct which tells them how to act in certain situations. So if you try to push your dog to do something it doesn’t naturally want to do, you have all those years pushing back. If you allow a dog to act in it’s natural state, and become a conscious and quiet observer, you will understand what motivates the dog, making it easier to work with him/her.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALLOWING AND WANTING

Most people think they’re allowing they’re dog to be; when they’re actually wanting them to be. Wayne Dyer explains this difference perfectly in his book, “Change your Thoughts, Change your Life“:

Think of gardening and desiring those luscious homegrown tomatoes. Allowing them to grow is ultimately what happens. Now think about all of the things in life that involve wanting and how they differ from allowing: Wanting to go to sleep, for instance, rather than actually sleeping. Wanting to diet, rather than actually dieting. Wanting to love, rather than loving.

Jax’s Yak Back

(Jax’s advice for Us Humans)

It’s not just us… Of course this can be applied to you humans too… What are you wasting your time wanting when you can just lay in the sun, relax and allow. Scott and I will show you some simple ways to work with your dog and develop natural behaviors in both you and your dog. If you ALLOW it, your dog can be your greatest teacher!

Quote of the Day – May 7, 2010

A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

- Lou Holtz

Dog Blog – Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

Tired of your dogs crappy breath due to eating their poop?

It’s an issue that us humans really don’t understand. All we see is:

- Dog eats

- Dog poops

- Dog eats poop

- Human pukes

- Human yells

- Dog poops again

Before we talk about how to stop your dog from eating it’s feces, let’s first look at why they have the urge to buffet on their own excrement.

One reason a dog may order a “poop de jour” is because they think they are doing a little house keeping. Dogs are naturally very clean animals and will look at eating their poop as a way of cleaning up after themselves.

Another reason a dog may partake in the “poop ala carte” can be because they are not getting enough nutrients from their diet. This can be from not being fed often enough or from poor quality food that is not supplying your dog with the proper amounts of nutrients needed. Instinctively, your dog decides that it didn’t get what it needed the first time it ate it, so why not go for round two. Yes, I know! Disgusting!

The third reason your dog might “hoover it’s own manure” is because of simply being bored out of its mind. A bored dog is a dangerous dog, a ticking time bomb just looking for something to do like… well… eating poo!

So how do you go about changing this behavior when you dog is eating poop?

Limit your dogs exposure to situations where the dog can eat poop. Clean up his play area and den area regularly and there will no loner be the allure of poop in the air to tempt your dog to cheat on its diet.

Do you have any other questions about your dogs behavior? Send your questions to:  scott.weller@shaw.ca

The Tao of Jax – Misty

I’ll never forget that sight! Fresh blood flowing from her mouth and from her under her tail. The last time I saw her, even though she had visibly slowed down, Dusty was still so full of life. “DAMN!” I thought, “she seems so empty – so hollow!”

I got the call just after I finished a long day of work. My dad was clearly weeping on the other end of the phone as he told me, “Misty died today. She’s still laying in my bathroom!” I knew my Dad shouldn’t attempt to deal with this on his own. I called my sister, told her I was coming to get her and we were going over to Dad’s place to deal with the “clean up” for him.

When we arrived I had Cathy take my Dad into his room and comfort him so that he wouldn’t have to watch me remove the body of his 14 year old sheltie who was more than just a dog. All dog owners out there know this:

A dog is a member of the family!

I don’t know if it was naivety, or just plain ignorance but I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal for me. I was more worried about helping my dad and never really thought about what I was about to walk in to. I swung open the door to the bathroom with a blanket in hand, took one look at the corpse laying in the middle of the room and instantly broke into tears.

I have picked up dead stray cats, foxes and gophers and felt the motionless emptiness of a dead animal. The dead weight that offers no challenge other than the force gravity impresses upon your hands but, to feel the lifelessness of one that you held so dear is an emotional and overwhelming feeling.

I wiped away the tears as I made 3 different attempts to wrap her body with the blanket, which resulted in me carrying her remains to my car which I then drove to the 24 hour animal care center for disposal.

I’ll never forget that night. I have watched as other animals peacefully drift away while being euthanized and it was a sad experience but, to have to remove that dead, furry mass was an entirely different experience.

I was at the dog park recently with my 2 year old boxer, Jax and I thought about Misty and the night she passed on. I thought about how she still had a brain, a heart and blood flowing through her veins. Up until that last moment, that last breath she was, in many ways, no different than Jax is right now while I watch him run and play.

What is that “spark” that offers animated life? The “spark” that decided to leave Misty that night?

Hmmmm….

I spent some time watching Jax filled with that “spark,”  running, jumping and playing…  then I turned inwards and started asking the same question…

What is that “spark” that offers me life?

Thanks to Jax, with a big help from Misty I am on the path to some more of life’s big lessons. Of course, this leads to so many other questions… isn’t it exciting?!?!

The Tao of Jax – Let Go and Let God

Have you ever gone over to a friends house, walked through the door and heard the “pitter patter” of furry feet rushing to the door to greet you? Whether you have a dog or you have visited someone who has a dog, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Dogs love greeting people… well… most dogs do anyways.

My 2 year old male boxer loves greeting people. When he hears someone at the door, he tears over to say hello which is usually accompanied with a few jumps onto the person and then a retrieval of his favorite toy and the challenge to the guest to test their strength in a bout of tug-of-war. He’s so cute!

Have you ever tried the opposite? Rushing up to greet a dog? If you love dogs as much as I do; you see a dog and that’s your initial reaction… Run up and say, “HELLO!” but if you do this, what usually happens? The dog is taken off guard and usually retreats or looks to it’s owner and cries, “HELP!! What’s the deal with this guy?” Even Jax, the most friendly of dogs will back off and look for safety.

BUT….

If you just sit back, calmly, and allow things to unfold… a dog’s curiosity and the natural bond between humans and canine will kick in and even the shyest of dogs will approach, if even for a moment, to acquire your scent and see what you’re all about.

I love observing dogs and their behavior because they are constantly acting in the moment. Never in the past, never with the future in mind; always now! This was yet another lesson Jax taught me recently:

Don’t force things to happen in your life; allow them to flow with life.

Or, as Wayne Dyer writes in his book, Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life;

Be like water – which creates opportunities for swimming, fishing, surfing, drinking, wading, sprinkling, floating and an endless list of benefits – by not trying to do anything other than simply flow.

Quote of the Day – April 20, 2010

Try to squeeze it and it eludes us; relax our hands into it, and we experience it readily. If it stays stationary, it will become stagnant; if allowed to flow freely, it will stay pure. It does not seek the high spots to be above all, but it settles for the lowest places. It gathers into rivers, lakes and streams; courses to the sea; and then evaporates again to fall as rain. It maps out nothing and plays no favorites: it doesn’t intend to provide sustenance to animals and plants. It has no plans to irrigate the fields; to slake our thirst or provide the opportunity to swim, sail, ski and scuba dive…. Water simply does what it does and is what it is.

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Every time I get excited about something; whether it be a new opportunity, a new idea or a new relationship, if I get really excited I tend to try and speed up the process. It’s natural! I’m excited and would like to see the result expedited! Well my 2 year old boxer taught me ANOTHER big lesson the other day. He may be a dog, but he is one of my greatest teachers.

I was leaving to drive somewhere and I brought Jax along with me. He jumped into the truck and hopped across the seat to take position in his passenger side chair. I was on my way to go pick up a friend and once we arrived, I asked Jax to get in the back. He just looked at me with a “you gotta be kidding me” look in his eye. “Jax… GET IN THE BACK,” I said with a stern voice and frustration welling up inside of me! Not a chance!

So I reached over, grabbed him and tried man handling him to the back seat. Jax is a 2 year old boxer who is as physically strong as he is head strong (stubborn). He hunkered down and was determined that there was no way I was going to be able to physically remove him from “his” seat!

After a few heaves, and a couple ho’s, I realized I was not going to move him. I could have got out of the truck, walked around the other side, opened the door and grabbed him by the leash and forced him into the back seat but I thought I would take another approach.

Jax has a “sweet spot” on his neck that if you scratch he just melts… instantly! If you lean in and kiss him on his head while you’re scratching, he is in heaven. So… that’s exactly what I did and as I was scratching him and kissing him, I was quietly whispering to him, “Get in the back Jax… Go on!” Within seconds he was laying quietly in the backseat with a very gentle content smile on his face.

Later that day I was thinking about this situation. I realized too many times in life I am trying to force a result that I desire. When I take some time to put some love into it and trust in the perfection of any outcome; things will just happen the way they are supposed to with a whole lot less effort and struggle.

Thank you Jax for teaching me yet another important lesson! Who wants a milk bone?!?!?

Blue Collar Begone Presents: Conversations with a Half Empty Beer Bottle

PSSST…. Just do it!

Who is Scott Weller? Why do I care and what can I learn from him and really… what’s so special about him? You might be thinking that I’m starting with these questions for your benefit, and maybe I am but it’s more for me. I have asked myself these questions time and time again only to run from them each and every time they were asked.

It wasn’t until just recently that I realized that it’s the WHOLE story which makes you who you are. That includes the good stories and the bad…. And even the horrible!

After spending some time reminiscing, I realized I’m like rapper, Eminem – I have another, more negative and incorrigible personality (my slim shady). Over the years, this alternate persona has coaxed me into doing unbelievable things and led me into ridiculous situations. I like to call this persona “Steve”.

Steve’s regular appearances were usually initiated by his very best friend – BEER! Beer was Steve’s best friend and worst enemy. “PSST…. Just do it,” is usually how each evening was started. With the cracking of the first beer (PSST – being the sound of a beer opening) followed by a mischievous, “Just do it” which usually led to actions that required some sort of physical, emotional or monetary debt to be paid at a later date.

The stories to follow are the unbelievable, yet true adventures of Steve and his running partner – drunkenness! Welcome to, “Conversations with a Half Empty Beer Bottle”

Your friend in FUN,

-Steve

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BLUE COLLAR BEGONE

Scott Weller Presents: Blue Collar Begone Bulletin – Automotive Fatality

Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Consulting engineering
Date of Incident : 2009-Oct

A pickup truck was traveling on an icy highway. As it negotiated a corner, it slid into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer unit. The worker in the pickup truck was fatally injured.

Don’t become a statistic. Scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE!” and leave the construction life behind in 6 simple steps?

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Scott Weller presents: Construction Site Hazards – Pre-Planning Your Work

Today’s Construction Site Hazard is Pre-Planning Your Work. When preparing to start the workday, take the time necessary to plan what is needed to complete the tasks safely. Too many injuries are caused by rushing a task and trying to meet deadlines in haste.

When Pre-Planning Your Work Ask Yourself:

How many people will be needed?

Is the pathway fully open?

Is housekeeping in the area well maintained?

Would it be better to enlist mechanical help to make a lift?

Am I using the proper tool for the job?

Has the tool been properly inspected?

Make sure you ask yourself any additional questions that may be job or jobsite specific. As you know, the hazards change from job to job so make sure to identify all hazards prior to commencing task.

Work smarter rather than harder.

Blue Collar Begone Backtalk:

Pre-Planning your work does not stop when you punch out at quitting time. What do you want for yourself? A miserable, empty existence filled with loneliness and frustration? Yes?!?! Well good thing you’re in construction then. You’re in the right place. For those of you who would rather have a happy life, spent with family and friends, having a couple of cool drinks at the lake, well that lifestyle only comes to those who plan for it.

Just like the jobsite, you need to pre-plan your work in everyday life.  Take some time to set some goals that you want to accomplish. Long term and short term. Start with simple easily accomplishable goals first and then move into the big dream goals.

After you write down some goals, then it’s time to develop your plan of action to ensure you set yourself up for that beautiful day, laying on the beach, enjoying the warm sun and sporting that tiny yellow banana hammock! The ladies will love it!

So take some time to set yourself up for an easier run at daily success by Pre-Planning your work.

Work smarter rather than…  “harder?”

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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To avoid this Construction Site Hazards – Pre-Planning Your Work completely; follow these 6 simple steps!  Don’t become another statistic – Blue Collar Begone!

Need another reason why to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE!” and leave the construction life behind? Check out another Blue Collar Begone Bulletin – Fractured Vertebra.