My Pack, Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Pack, Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer

There have been many well known and respected people throughout history who have said that humans who endured in the face of great adversity carry many scars but it is these same people who have the most to contribute to society. I believe that the same can be said for the dog.

All dogs have so much that they are willing to share with humanity. If we are willing to open our minds to see, we can learn so much from them about ourselves. They can help us be more aware of our own behaviour and give us a second chance to grow into better, wiser and happier individuals. When you help a dog it is not just the dog that gets a second lease on life and a new opportunity...it is also the human.

Because dogs live in the moment it is easier to change a dog's 'bad habits' than it is a human's. Humans carry grudges, dogs do not. Dogs are very forgiving and treat each day, each experience as a new beginning. It is only with difficulty that we are able to convince, permit and allow ourselves to do the same.

To rehabilitate a human who has acute anxieties, fears or phobias they must be allowed to face their fears, they must be shown a method to cope so their fears can be neutralized. The same is so for dogs.

For example, if a dog had a bad experience at a certain place and left that place frightened he will always associate that place with a feeling of fright. If you work with the dog you can change how the dog associates and reacts to that person, place or thing.

A dog is very adept at doing what needs to be done. On the other hand, present-day humans have switched priorities, tending to do what they want to do rather than what they need to do. This is another reason why the human is much more difficult to rehabilitate than the dog!

When I note the above;
I am referring to a dog whose natural state of being has not been negatively affected by humanity). I am referring to humankind as they once were as hunter/gatherers who, in order to survive had to do what needed to be done. Today with all the technologies that make our lives more convenient we have the leeway to make many choices, and as a result have become adept at choosing what we want instead of what we need.

THE DOG'S CONTRIBUTION TO HUMANITY

For the last 20 years I have shared my life with dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pig pack members.

My pack is comprised of ten dogs,

seven rabbits,

and two cats.

The Ottawa Valley Dog Whisperer

LEARN, GROW, CREATE BALANCE
MY PACK

'Shanny', my first dog (a beautiful German Shepherd x Malamute) passed away ten years ago and 'Odie' our guinea pig passed away a year ago - however they are both still important members of the pack as they continue to contribute to the pack's well-being in many ways.

Both of them taught me irreplaceable lessons in love, respect, kindness, sharing, tenacity and patience. As most of the pack members were not around at the time Shanny and I were together, Shanny passes these lessons on to the other pack members through me. Odie's contribution to the entire pack is directly derived from their experience living with him.

IT IS EASIER TO REHABILITATE A DOG THAN A HUMAN...

Many of the dogs in my pack were abused and/or neglected and others simply came with multiple issues resulting from their past experiences with humanity.

There are a few I have had since puppyhood; they had no prior adverse experiences with humans and my job was just to bring them up right.

There are many people who have been taught to believe that the best and only solution for a 'vicious' dog is to euthanize them. This belief is one born of pure misinformation - there are so many dogs that have lost their lives unnecessarily as a result of this belief. Aggressive dog attacks have caused serious and sometimes fatal injury to humans, dogs and other animals - when this happens humanity so often blames the dog - this conclusion is wrong.

A dog in its natural state is a social being and a pack animal with the potential inherent to get along with others. There are very few dogs born with 'bad wiring’. When a dog goes bad it is almost always a human who is responsible for the bad behaviour.

There is a huge range of breeds made up of Companion Dogs, Hunting Dogs (gundogs and hounds), Terriers, Herding Dogs and Working Dogs.

It is humanity that has created all of these breeds yet it is humanity that mishandles them, disrespecting the dog’s needs and requirements and when things go wrong it is the dog that is blamed.

Over the centuries humans have selectively bred dogs for both physical and behavioural traits. Sometimes the goal was to achieve a loyal, strong, dog with stamina and intelligence that could be taken into war, or employed as a guard dog.

So many dogs have been put to death needlessly, while the humans who altered the dog's natural, balanced state of being, walks away; never taking any responsibility for what they have done.

Some breeds have been completely stigmatized. The best example is probably the Pit Bull.

Other breeds although not so utterly condemned have been similarly stigmatized as aggressive and not to be trusted.

For example the German Shepherd and Rottweiler, Dobermans and Boxers...the list includes many.

When my daughter was a toddler strangers would criticize me for leaving her in the car with Shanny (my first German Shepherd x Malamute) while I stepped into the pizza place to pick up the pizza I had called ahead to order. Shanny would have done anything and everything she could to protect my daughter if the need ever arose. Shanny would never have harmed her - I had nurtured Shanny's balanced state of being and enabled the best attributes of a dog. I had respected her as a dog and as a non-human person. I had every reason to trust in Shanny. Not only did Shanny never let me down, but she often astonished me with her kindness, instinct, intuition and great intelligence.

Humans that have dedicated their time to working with dogs whose natural state has been compromised (by adverse treatment at the hands of other humans) know from direct experience that the dog is not to blame and that almost all dogs can with patience, respect, persistence and the right knowledge be returned to their original balanced state of being. Many of my dogs are a case in point with Robbie being the most extreme example - it is a testament to the true nature of the dog.

MEET THE CANINE MEMBERS OF THE PACK...

Introduced to you from largest to smallest - in size only (attitude, energy and spirit are another matter!) You can click on their picture to go to their bio.

Jordie
German Shepherd
x Malamute

Abby
German Shepherd
x Belgian Shepherd

Robbie
Boxer

Tasha
Australian
Shepherd

Sarah
German Shepherd
x Huskya

Buddy
American
Cocker Spaniel

the girl
who started
it all...

...and Shanny
German Shepherd
x Malamute

Jacob
Pomeranian

Carmen
Chihuahua

Zoey
Pomeranian

Stevie
Sheltie
x Pomeranian

SEE THE PACK TOGETHER
At work, rest and play...click on any of these photos to see more Pack Pictures and spend a day with the pack.

...yep! That's' one of the squirrels bouncing by, but our bums are planted until we get permission
to go out!

Here we are working again! We're lining up at the door waiting politely until Mom gives us permission to go outside...the door is wide open, but until we get the go ahead we're staying here...hey, just a minute...

MEET THE FELINE MEMBERS OF THE PACK...

Some people ask Mom 'what happens if you are walking the pack and they see a cat?' When Mom says ' not much' she means it. We live with these ten mutts, and you know what...they are all right! Some of our best friends are dogs, our other best friends are bunnies! Carmen's great for play time and Robbie's our favourite guy to cuddle up to for nap time and Tasha is always available to groom us! If you want to know more about us just click on either of our pictures...

Tibby
Grey Tabby

Callie
Domestic Medium Hair

AND THE BUNNY/CAVIE PACK MEMBERS...

Ok, so you want to know how we fit in with all those dogs and cats. You can click on our photos to find out more about us! If you want some extra grooming go see Tasha. If it is chilly out and you're going for a ride in the car, make sure you bring Carmen with - he will cuddle right up to you. It's a good thing mom gives us lots of timothy - theres always enough for the dogs to munch on too! If you want to see some more pictures of us just click on any of the pictures below...

Katie
Dutch Dwarf, Lop

Hannah
Jersey Wolly

River
Fuzzy LoP

Tommy
Dutch Dwarf x Rex

Pumba
Lion Head

Penny
Flemish Gaint, Lop

Jasper
Dutch Mix Agouti

Odie
Guniea Pig