The next virtual practice group is February 9th, Tuesday. There are three sessions, two require Skype, one is by conference call. The times are for California which is Pacific Standard Time (PST). If you are not sure what the time difference is between us check the world time converter to find out:
 http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
The sessions are:
10 am – noon – Skype
5:30 – 7:30 pm  – Conference call
8Â – 10 pm – Skype
Make sure you have the latest version of Skype downloaded and please connect with me by Skype a few days before the session, otherwise I can’t add you in to the call. People who have been participating are finding it really helpful. If you have an animal you would like the group to work with please send me the animal’s photo a few days before the session so I can send it to the others. Also sign up early so I dont have to track everything at the last minute! Thanks. You can sign up through my website and pay by paypal or call me with a card number. I will send you instructions for the session when you sign up. Any other questions just email me at  marta@martawilliams.com
Cute Video
Your Stories
Dianne’s Story
I had an experience recently that shows animals do understand us. I keep my horse next door at the neighbor’s. They were out of town for a few weeks so I was taking care of the horses. I got there in the morning to find the four mares and the stud colt from next door together. The colt had broken down the fence. My gelding was nowhere to be found but I knew from experience he was probably in his safe zone back in the woods, and he was. I had to take the colt home and fix the fence. I had never handled a stallion before and I was nervous about that and rattled about the whole thing. He was acting up and I was afraid of him trying to kick me, which he’d thought about when I went to catch him. I was having trouble keeping him on a short lead while fiddling with the fence. Finally I said to him “Look, I’m nervous. Haven’t I been nice to you before?* Please be nice to me and just be calm.” And he was, immediately. I got him on his side of the fence without incident. I’ then brought him some hay and stayed to pat him awhile. I know he is lonely over there b y himself.
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Note – This reminds me of a time I put my gelding in with a stallion to play and they started ripping around this small space. I realized my mistake and in a panic said to the stalllion, “You just have to stop this is not safe, you will slip and somemone will get hurt.” He immediately stopped and waited calmly while I took my horse out. He was clearly one of the most intelligent animals I have ever met and his life was so sad. The people who owned him kept him in a dark stall with a small turnout and that was his life. He wasn’t hurt in any way, except that they fed straight alfalfa, but he was miserable. Just one of the many reasons I rescue horses and continue to do what I can to help them.
 Rebecca’s Story
I had an experience with my dog, Buster, that demonstrates how animals do as we ask. I’m still amazed by it, because it was so out of character for him. The dogs, Emmett and Buster, and I were playing the other day, and I had given Buster a stuffed bear. Normally Buster is ball-fixated but he saw that Emmett had a bear, so he dropped his ball and let me know he wanted one too, so I gave him one, which he promptly took under the sofa. He happily squeaked for a while, then I decided it was time to take the bear because I was concerned he would tear it up and possibly eat the stuffing (something I’ve never verified he’s done, but I’m always worried about an intestinal blockage due to stuffing). I told him aloud that it was time to give up the toy, but I would exchange the toy for cheese. Squeaking stopped immediately, so I knew he heard me. I peeked under the sofa, and he grabbed the toy and had it firmly in his mouth. I stood up again said, “Buster, if you give me the toy, I’ll give you cheese.” He popped out from under the sofa, but without the toy. I said, “Nope, I need the toy, then I can give you cheese.” He scooted back under. I lifted the skirt of the sofa and looked at him. He had the toy next to his cheek, under his ear, a favorite “toy hug” of his. I explained again about the exchange of toy for cheese. He paused, then pushed the toy toward me with his nose. Now, normally, this means, “Go ahead, try to take the toy, I’ll snatch it back, it will be big fun for me, frustration for you.” I slowly took hold of the toy, and began sliding it out, and he didn’t move. I stood up, he popped out from under the sofa, sat and looked at me. WOW!! He showed me he GOT it!! This is so out of character for him, allowing me to take the toy which he usually holds hostage until the cheese is actually in hand, then he’ll drop the toy and take the cheese, so you have be fast and snatch the toy before he grabs it again!
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 Then, the next day I came home with new, soft, squeaky toys and gave them to both boys to play with. Normally Buster would have the toy pretty-well taken apart within minutes, as well as killing the squeaker in it. This time, he very purposefully caught my eye while chewing on the toy. Then dropped it and jumped off the sofa. He sat, looking at me, then the toy, me, the toy. Bing! I got it! He was letting ME know that he wanted to exchange the toy for cheese!! I thought I would die laughing, truly! This wonderful guy teaches me something new all the time, but this was a biggie!
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Cute Photo
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I’ve had another experience with my animals that tells me they do listen to us. I have four cats, 3 males and one female. Two of the boys like to bug the female, Bella, just like little brothers bugging their sister just for fun. She reacts in the worst possible way, hissing and running from them, which just eggs them on. One of the boys insists on supervising all activity in the house, and he just has to run up and greet Bella when she comes in from outside. Normally this sets off a round of hissing, which escalates into fighting. Finally I explained to her that he just needs to greet her when she comes in, to make sure she’s ok, and if she would let him do that, everything would be fine.
Darned if she didn’t start allowing him to greet her without reacting negatively to it — we’ve had no more squabbles in that situation.
Hi Marta
Did you get my email saying I’d join the practice group again at the same time as last time?
I have sent the payment already.
Thanks, Anne