Lesson 27 Halloween is a lot more fun for dogs than fireworks night!

Personally, I like Halloween. Many  believe that it originates from the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain which means 'Summer's end.' It takes place at the end of the harvest season.

I like this idea. I like carving a pumpkin and sitting quietly at home hoping no kids will call round so I can eat all the sweets!

I understand why many people enjoy bonfire night but not if you have young children or dogs. In fact many animals hate the bangs and crashes and it can cause them a lot of distress.
I do believe that we should all learn to live and let live but in order to  minimise the stress to animals and young children wouldn't it be better to limit the number of nights that these displays take place?

If your life coach really was a dog he or she may be encouraging you to ban these events completely.
What do you think?

What time will I be safe in assuming that the kids aren't going to call around trick or treating? I am itching to make a start on those sweets!

Happy Halloween everyone.

lesson 26 guide dogs...

Although they are amazing and very helpful, I am not referring to Guide Dogs that have been trained to help blind and partially sighed people live independently. I am not even talking about Assistance dogs or Therapy dogs that enhance peoples lives in so many incredible ways.
I am talking about any old dogs!
I am talking about your family pet, rescue dogs, dogs you see running about after a ball in the local park.
I am talking about all dogs  really!
Dogs act as our guides in life if we let them.
They encourage us to go outside and enjoy the open air. They welcome us when we come home and show appreciation for every little treat or pat that they are given.
I have just come back from a lovely camping trip with G and  the three lovely dogs.
When I am with them it is easy to remember what is important in life and for me to go out and about appreciating every moment.
When I am on  my own it is easier to forget what is important and it can be tempting to stay indoors.
I have just come back from taking myself on a walk. It was lovely walking around the beautiful area where I live but it struck me that the vast majority of people I come across when walking here are with dogs. Dogs make it easy for us to appreciate our surroundings.
When we are not around them we sometimes have to try a little bit harder to remember how great life is and how lucky we are!

Lesson 25 There is no place like home!

I have just got back from a lovely camping trip to The New Forest. As soon as we got to G's house the three dogs jumped onto the sofas and looked so happy to be back. They absolutely love camping and enjoy sleeping in the van but it was obvious to me that all three dogs were happy to be home.
I am so happy that G has been able to offer them a place to call home and that they appreciate this so much.
I drove home to my caravan a few hours ago and now here I am sitting on my own sofa fully appreciating how lucky I am to live here.
Dogs are so good at reminding me to be grateful for things that I can sometimes take for granted!

This pic is of Rufus, Ollie and Bert. We have Lovely, Rufus and Bert now and the same sofa!

Lesson 24 Go camping!

Half term has arrived and the dogs don't know it yet but we are going camping!
We will emerge from the experience a lot muddier than we are at the moment but we don't care, puddles, mud and falling leaves are fun! 🎉
when you have dogs you go out a lot more in every type of weather.
Dogs encourage us to live life to the full and have fun in every moment.

Lesson 23 You are perfect!

We humans spend so much time criticising ourselves and others. Ollie my dog thought everyone was wonderful. You could come home looking like the back end of a bus and yet he would still leap up enthusiastically to greet you wagging his tail and licking your face and your ears!
I am taking a leaf out of his book. I look at people now and aim to see the best in them. This includes myself. On days when I do this people seem to rise to meet my high expectations of them. It is weird. Even if someone seems a bit annoyed with me I try in my head to think positively about them and amazingly they seem to cheer up and the tension is eased.
I can't pretend I am successful in my aim but I am giving it my best shot. If Ollie was able to think that everyone was wonderful then so can I!

Lesson 22 Your life counts!

I had a lovely day today. I was walking in Greenwich park with G, 5 dogs and our friend Gary. I suddenly realised if it wasn't for my lovely dog Ollie today would never have happened. G has offered a home to three Romanian rescue dogs and if he hadn't been walking the dogs in the woods he would never have met Gary. If Gary had never met G he would not have offered a home to Smurf.
The day Ollie bounced into G's life changed things forever. Getting to know Ollie helped G realise that he would love to offer a home to some dogs too.
Ollie was on this planet for 7 years. He was absolutely bonkers and full of such incredible energy.
He taught me to make the most of every moment of my own life. He also made me realise that we are all important and we all count.
Today was great, walking along with the 5 dogs bounding along with he as we walked past magnificent trees filled with berries and colourful leaves and even the odd parakeet!
Thanks Ollie!