When you are looking for your animal to change an unwanted behavior or adopt a new preferred behavior, realize that animals don’t always work according to our modern, unrelenting time schedule. They do things on animal time, more organically, more in tune with the environment, because that’s their natural state. Even though domesticated, our animal companions are not as influenced by culture as we are. Thus the fact that they retain intact the ability to communicate intuitively and we have to learn it over again. We typically demand and expect instant results, but this just isn’t the way things often happen. Of course, things can change quickly, but some things just take time. It took me over a year to realize I wanted to keep my rescue dog Dougal, a Chocolate (lab) (Irish) wolfhound. I spent that year trying to find him a new home, taking him to four obedience classes to temper his high energy, and despairing of ever finding anyone who would want him. Then one day I realized I wouldn’t sell him for a million dollars. He became one of the greatest dogs I ever had. He also mellowed out and was the most polite and gracious dog I ever knew. Well, except for Bear of course!Â
Lately I have been blogging about my cat Miles, a Maine Coon who showed up at my door as a 5 month old feral about 8 months ago. I have been working with him on tempering his aggression toward my other cats and he has been doing pretty well. One thing he had not mastered, but wanted dearly to do, was to get the other cats to play with him. They would see him coming and scatter. I talked to him about it and explained what he would have to do to achieve this goal, but had no expectations. Eight months later he finally got it. I saw Miles and my long haired black and white cat, Megan, lying in the grass batting at each other in a companionable and leisurely way, and then chasing each other around the back garden. Good job Miles!
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THIS STUFF REALLY WORKS!
 Terri Carver sent in this story about trying out intuitive communication with her sheep and her new herding dog, Gid.
I work stockdogs and have a large herd of sheep. I was taking a new dog that I have in for training out to about 15 of my sheep on about 5 acres. Well, not knowing the dog, and he’s an intense Border Collie; my sheep took flight. The dog and I moved to stop them, but they were still poised for flight. So, I told them, “Boys just stand still. I promise not to let this new dog hurt any of you.” The sheep then calmly turned to look at me and waited patiently for me to send Gid around to bring them to me. I’ve talked to them before, every day as a matter of fact. But, this little experience really opened my eyes.Â
I continue to talk with my sheep and my dogs. I am getting the behaviors that keep both the sheep and dogs happy while working. I believe that the sheep enjoy working with me since it is like taking a walk. I have certain sheep that always want to participate. Thank you again for providing the insight in to what is always there.
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  HORSE VIDEO PROJECT
My Blog designer, Mark Mottershead, who also does the HorseConscious site, is traveling from Germany to visit some of the HorseConscious teachers. He will be videoing Liz Mitten Ryan in BC . Liz has a beautiful ranch in Canada and I wish I had had time to go see her and her horses when I was there last month. Maybe next time Liz. Mark will also be going to visit my favorite horse trainer, Carolyn Resnick, in Escondido, CA. You can follow his trip at
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Dear Martha,
I loved your story about Dougal! It parallelled my own with my rescue boy, Emmett. I thought he was a pure shih-tzu when I saw him at the shelter at 5 months, but the terrier in him bloomed over time. Boy, howdy, did it bloom! He is a very dominant dog, and really put us through our paces, but I’ve learned so much from him and a wonderful trainer for whom I had some communications with her horses. I would get really frustrated and tell him that if he didn’t shape up, we would have to re-home him with another family, that he was on the fence, that he really had to stop being so hard on Buster, who was the whole reason for Emmett being with us. Finally I realized the poor little guy probably spent ever day wondering if it was his last with us, constant fear. So I took a deep breath, took him in my arms, and told him that he is family, that we won’t ever give him up, that we are committed totally to him, to his care, to loving him without condition. Well, the change in him has been remarkable, just in the last 8 months or so (he’s now over 2 1/2). He hugs us, he tries very, very hard not to bark (and always fails, lol!), and he and Buster play almost constantly. His energy is joyful, and he’s turning into quite a lapdog. All because I changed my mind and my heart and made a full committment to him!
This is a very kool video on sheep dogs at work, perhaps your readers would like to see it:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=17075685001
Hi Marta
Your “Horse Video Project” piece prompted me to write. Last year at Equitana Melbourne I booked a session with you. That 15 minutes has had a very interesting follow on effect – you suggested I do the Waterhole Ritual with my horse “Bird”. I purchased Carolyn’s DVD and at the same time, on intuition, “The Path of the Horse” DVD. I have enrolled into Carolyn’s Waterhole Rituals Insider Program “In a Box” and am about to go to Canada next week to do the first of Liz Mitten Ryan’s 6 day “life changing workshops”! How interesting this is all a result of a very brief meeting with you!
Warmest regards, Jane
I rescued a 20 yr old rope horse about 3 years ago. He had been a champion in his day (went the PRCA finals 3 times) but had been shuffled around for years. He and my young 5 yr old horse (that I had raised from 5 months) became best buddies and the old man just started to blossom into a gorgeous animal. Last Oct. my young horse died suddenly. Both of us were devastated, and I literally shut him out other than throwing feed, turning him out, and bringing him in at night. I even considered finding him another home, even tho I’d promised him when he first came that he’d never be sent away again. He became very distant and spooky with me when I was around him. I finally sat down with him one night and asked what the problem was. He looked away and tried to ignore me – I continued to ask for an answer. Finally, he said he missed Shoni (his buddy) very much. I told him I did, too. I asked if there was any other reason for the change in attitude – again, ignoring for awhile – then he said, “You don’t bring me carrots anymore!” I had to laugh – he was right. It had been a nightly ritual with both of them, and since the Shoni had died I had stopped everything except throwing feed twice a day. I realized that he was also aware of my thoughts about sending him away. At that moment I realized I had to keep my promise – and told him I would find a friend for him AND start bringing carrots out again. The response was sort of a “yeah, right….” as he walked away. He started changing his attitude when I kept my word about the carrots, and while many people offered me horses, none fit the bill till a lady vet surfaced looking for a home for her 20 year old buckskin molly mule that she did endurance riding on, and felt it was becoming more than the mule should have to handle – so she wanted a home for her where it was just pleasure riding. I looked at pictures, fell in love with her, and had her brought here. China was not sure why SHE had come to a new place, but I assured her she had been CHOSEN, and ASKED for – and after an amusing and rocky start between them (Casper was a bit startled by THE EARS), they are now like an old married couple – and both are as mellow with me as they are with each other. Don’t ever forget that they hear/read OUR thoughts all the time – and react accordingly. I won’t forget it ever again!