There is a difference between energy and power – when the energy level is high. I like to learn things by dogs, and this is something I keep on learning of Flóki. Ella has always had extreme energy, but her energy has been due above all to a will to do and experience things. Hence her energy, despite the fact that in many ways she was kind, been focused and goal oriented.
Passivity training with Floki about a week ago.
Photographed with a mobile camera.
Floki is his mate's first dog, and with my own experience of just that, I am fully aware that it is not always easy to keep track of all the parts that need to work for one's dog to achieve its full potential. Floki is fluttery, unfocused, unconcentrated and all over the place. However, this does not mean that he is hopeless – he needs some other influences, only. When he gets it, he will calm down and become more focused and compliant.
Today I have both Lilo and Floki here, and considering what energy party it was the last time both dogs were here I started by requesting a greatly reduced energy from Floki. How? I simply stood in the way when he wanted to start rushing back and forth through the apartment. I confined him to the kitchen, and it took me approx 25 minutes of standing still, silence and alternating between ignoring him and looking him straight in the eye, until he actually calmed down.
It feels on one walking in the air as a dog shifts its energy, have you thought about it? 🙂 And if it is so clear to me/us, then think about how clearly a dog senses our energy.
Another thing me and Floki have done today is to practice claw clipping. Floki's mother thinks it's a bit scary and hard to cut Floki's claws, and usually go to a pet store to get help. After our first round, I can understand why Floki's mother finds it both difficult and scary – he really didn't want to be a part of this nastiness.
I won't say that I have experience in cutting the claws of many dogs. Ella has always behaved fantastically well. Another shepherd dog from the Defense was more of a wrestling match. She was also big and strong. 😀 Floki is not very big or strong, but still managed to wriggle free more times than I could count. Also, he wanted to show himself big and fierce and pretended to bite me several times. To say that it was actually biting is an understatement – it was more about wrapping his teeth around my hand to let me know he didn't think this was all that fun.
It is in this mode one should not be afraid or give up. It is in this situation that it is important to keep calm and with determination (not violence!) show that you just like the situation and submit to this treatment. Mix in some cuddling and cuddling when the dog is actually calm, then the whole thing will go like a dance in time.
There are too– and disadvantages of taking care of other people's dogs. One of the disadvantages is that it is sometimes difficult to know exactly how strict you can be without the dog's human being upset. Not to mention that it takes a while before you get to know the dog well enough to know what it can handle in terms of warnings and corrections. Lilo is a very easy dog to deal with, but Floki needs a little more when it comes to energy level and what is acceptable behavior in certain situations.
Today's word to think about may simply be; Patience, peace and security – in all situations. ♥