This second home didn't work out either and she ended up at the shelter.
Panda turned my life upside down! She pushed me out of my uncomfortable "comfort zone" and true to her Border Collie nature, she is still doing it.
It is because of her that I am currently enrolled in one of the best schools for dog trainers, "The Academy for dog trainers".
It is because of her that I am embarking on a journey that will, without a doubt, lead me home. I already feel like I have "found my tribe"! Turns out, I am kind of a science geek!!! Behavioral science, that is.
Up until a few years ago my knowledge about dogs was pretty limited. I was more experienced than most of the people I knew, but nothing compared to the people I was about to get to know. Dogs who growled or showed any signs that weren't clearly friendly, scared the crap out of me! I was very afraid of getting bitten, so getting more and more drawn to dogs who are exhibiting signs of aggression is NOT what I expected!
I guess in hindsight, it's not surprising. When I worked with horses I always gravitated towards the ones nobody else wanted to handle. Although I didn't have much mentor-ship in my early years with horses either, I found my way around them fairly easily. Maybe it's pretty clear that when an animal out-weighs you by 100 times your own body weight that you can't "get there" with force. Maybe when you handle a huge prey animal, you get pretty familiar with FEAR. If you've ever seen a frightened horse, you probably understand.
Once I learned that most aggressive behavior dogs exhibit is based on fear, I was in more familiar territory.
So, I dug out this blog I started at least 7 years ago, but hadn't utilized for a while. Blogging will help me digest my experiences and hopefully also serve to share what I am learning along the way.
At an age where many people settle into what is familiar, I feel like I am embarking on a journey that will lead me to places I cannot even imagine, yet.
All, because of a dog that was too inconvenient for her previous owners. Lucky me!!!!
Working with animals has made me a better human being. It has increased my tolerance, my patience, my humility, my empathy and compassion. They have brought out the best in me and I am truly grateful for that!
I often hear people question why some of us sacrifice so much for animals while there are so many humans in need. To them I would like to say that the majority of people I meet through Rescue or Missing Pet searches don't stop at kindness towards animals. They extend their hearts to people as well, often even if those people don't really deserve it.
~ Peace
