DOG DAY AFTERNOON

A businessman was visiting a small village and one day went down to the pier just as a small fishing boat was coming back in from fishing out in the bay. On the small boat were a few large Salmon. The businessman complimented the fisherman on the catch and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied "only a short time". The businessman then asked why he hadn’t stayed out longer and catch more fish. The fisherman replied he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The businessman then asked what he did the rest of his time? “I lie late, fish a little, play a little with my dogs, take an afternoon nap with my wife, take a walk into the village at night and sit and watch the stars whilst sipping a glass of wine”. “I am very busy” said the fisherman. The businessman scoffed and said “I have an MBA and could help you out”. “You should spend more time out fishing and with the proceeds from the bigger catch you could buy a bigger boat”. “From the...

I was out walking my dog this morning as usual. She’s a white Northern Inuit. I rescued her from Dogs Trust about six years ago. When she came to the house she was, to put it politely a basket case. Throughout the first year at home she had a go at each of the other three female dogs in the house. Being the biggest she challenged them all for the right to be top dog one after another. I had my hands full with her to say the least.  Miya and Star playing in the snow last year. Out walking with her in those early days was a challenge in that every time I met another handler and dog combo she would go into stalking mode and completely freak out the oncoming duo. Her head would go down in line with her spine in an almost arrow like fashion and she would slow her walking pace. Her body would slightly stiffen just like you see the lions on the serengeti do when stalking an impala. By the time the other dog came close it was ready for a fight. It took me many months to train he...

In this months Kennel Club Standard news letter there’s an interesting article written by one of the trainers that will be at their teaching event this weekend. The article is about a recent trip she was on using public transport and whilst travelling, she sat near a dog owner who was busy speaking to their dog about something it was or wasn’t doing. The article boiled down to the fact that this trainer felt that we as trainers were not getting our message across to our clients and the general dog owning public at large that, Dogs cannot understand us when we speak to them. This particular dog owner was saying something along the lines of “now I have told you before that what you are doing is wrong, so why are you doing it again”. So not only has the poor dog supposed to understand what its owner is saying but that it also has to relate what it was told last week to the bad behaviour it is doing now. Challenged by this trainers remarks that we are not getting our message across, I...

A man walks past a beggar and the beggar says “Can you spare some change” The man says “Sorry I have no money”. The man then notices that the beggar is sitting on a box. “What is in the box” the man asks the beggar? “I don’t know” the beggar replies. “How long have you been sitting on the box” the man says. “30 years” the beggar replies. “Why don’t you open the box and see whats inside” says the man. “Theres no point there’s nothing in it” says the beggar. “Try it anyway” says the man. The beggar gets up and turns and tries to open the box. After a bit of a struggle he manages to pry the lid open. To his surprise the box is filled with gold. The beggar was unaware he had been sitting on a box of gold for more than thirty years. If you look inside, not any old box as in the parable above, but inside yourself you will find Joy and deep unshakable peace. People with material wealth are still beggars, continually looking outside for scraps of pleasure, fulfilment, validation, securi...