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How Pets Open your Heart Centre

by Lorraine Murray

Pet and Energy

I was reflecting the other day about pets and what they teach us. I have 3 pets now - 2 cats and a new puppy called Jess (featured).

Each animal has their own personality and whilst we can follow guidelines, like bringing up children we have to adapt these to their energy. Here is what I have learnt (so far) from my new puppy Jess.

Patience

I thought I was quite a patient person until I was introduced to our puppy. Of course training a puppy takes great patience as I consistently encourage her to "sit", "stay", "leave" and so on. I realise that our puppy Jess is just a 'baby' in dog terms and it's up to me to teach (and be patient with) her. As I'm patient with her, I have to be patient with myself.

Clear Communication

Having read many articles and books on puppy training - they talk about how important clear communication is - "use 1 word or a maximum of 2". So for a dog the rest of the words we use are just noise. They look for a simple clear command (although it's more in your body language and energy that tells them what your intention is). This is a lesson for us humans who often do not say what we really mean (or feel) or aren't clear with ourselves (or others) when communicating what we want.

Fun

Not taking life too seriously. Watching a puppy play, roll about and learn about the world is a lesson to us all about how important it is to make time in our schedules just to play. If all I do with Jess is training, she'll become mentally tired. In fact the expert advice is no more than a few minutes each session for training (like "sit" and "stay") as the puppy gets mentally exhausted. Isn't this the same for all of us? So I dedicate my work time to when pup is sleeping and when she has to play - so do I!

Routine (being organised)

Bringing up a puppy has some similarities to bringing up children in that they need routine - pee/poo, play, sleep, 'train', eat (then repeat). If I know I only have an hour or 2 hours to work (when she is sleeping) this focuses my routine and I am much more organised in terms of work and home. Plus I prioritise what really needs to be done - there is no point in trying to do everything, I just pick 1 or 2 things that really need done that day instead.

Persistence

This goes hand in hand with 'patience'. When we started out to teach her how to "sit" it seemed as if our puppy would never learn. Almost as if she was displaying some kind of canine ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). Then after regular short bursts each day of teaching her - she did it! The joy (for both of us) was immense and a great sense of achievement - small steps leading to the bigger picture!

Being in the Moment

A true demonstration of this is when puppy Jess is chewing her bone. It may seem like nothing to us but the smell and taste of her bone keeps her happy for at least 30 minutes (longer as she gets older). This is her way of meditating and being truly 'in the moment'.

Energy Awareness

Many of the dog training books talk about the importance of energy - and what type of energy you project to dogs. Dogs learn through nose, eyes then ears (so we want to talk to them all the time but really they take in much more information through their other senses). However they also sense the energy of a person. Teaching her (with persistence) also requires me to be grounded and firm. Often if I visualise the words or images of what I want her to do (without saying the words) she does it! It's amazing to watch. I keep my energy calm when I'm with her by focussing on my breath into my solar plexus (centre/below the ribcage) with the intention of calming this area.

Personal Power

This is a big lesson for me (perhaps you) where we can express our power and strength - but without anger. Standing in your personal power seems to be what Jess is teaching me as I learn to express (through words/intentions/energy) of what I ask her to do but without force. If I get angry, this is uncontrollable force and I think it backfires (eg she resists back). Where as if I use controlled, peaceful power our relationship is much smoother.

Meditation and Healing

As dogs can read energy so well, I have to take time out of my day (at the start) to just balance my energy through meditation or Reiki Healing. I've experimented with this a few times and on the days I do this - we have a great, fun filled and productive day. When I don't then life seems much more of a struggle. She's teaching me the importance of meditation and being balanced for her and all things in my life.

Unconditional Love

Finally Jess (as have my other pets) teaches me how to feel unconditional love (opening of the heart centre). I should also add the word forgiveness. No matter how stressed I may have been the day before trying to cope with her routine and how to train/bring up a puppy - it's as if each day is a new day and everything of the past has been forgotten (and forgiven). This master in the form of a puppy is teaching me how to forgive myself for my mistakes and the true meaning of unconditional love.

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