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5 Easy Steps to Share the Joy and

and Double the Fun!

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5 Easy Steps to Share the Joy and

by brigid, www.denktier.com

So, you got that lovely pup, all cuddles and play and bliss in mind.

And it was!

For a time.

Till you got used to it.

Till you needed to start teaching your dog some basic skills. Like not

peeing inside. Walking nicely on the leash. Being polite with other

humans and all sorts of fourleggeds. All those things you need to teach a

dog. Not so much bliss any more

Does it get a bit of a drain sometimes? Maybe even a bit of a challenge?

Well, it always does! With most dogs at least. There are a few dogs

around who are all well behaved and relaxed and totally attentive to you

right from the very start and at all times. Very few dogs!

Chances are: yours is not one of those. Mine definitely arent!

Lets face it. Some days they do get on your nerves. It is pouring with rain

but your dog wants out. You are all stressed out from work and just want

some peace and quiet and your dog is all over you with their toys. Just

normal stuff like this.

Double the Fun

with your Dog

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Everyday life needs so many things done. You have your routines, your

chores, your job and your dog often is just one more of the things that

need being taken care of. Not so much fun.

Do you want the joy back?

Do you want to increase the fun in your and your dogs life? Now?

The great thing is: Joy is contagious!!!

You know that already, dont you?

Isnt this one of the reasons we love our pets so much?

We enjoy watching them play and have fun and it makes us happy just

to see them happy.

So lets go and find new ways to deliberately share the joy!

Make your dog happy

allow yourself to be infected by the fun they are having

..let your dog indulge your great spirits

...and just notice how you are filled with even more joy just because your

dog is so happy.

and so on

and so on

Merry roundabout that is!

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Ready for revving up the laughter and the bond and the bliss of being

with your dog, of just being, of sharing, of loving live?

Whooeee!!! Then here we go. leap!!!

right into a couple of really easy steps to

share the joy and double the fun

Have you ever noticed how differently your dog behaves when you are

in a great mood, all relaxed and at ease and playful?

Believe me: your dog wants you to be happy!

Not just because they are good souls (they probably are). But because

life is so much more pleasant and fun when you are happy.

So lets do it: Be happy, have tons of fun!

and let me know how it goes please come and share your fun &

adventures on www.facebook.com/denktier with me.

Id so love to hear from you!

joyfully yours truly,

brigid

www.denktier.com

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STEP 1. SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS

What is it that makes your dog happy?

Or should I rather say: what ALL is it that makes your dog happy! For

some dogs I might even need to ask: Is there anything at all that does

NOT make them happy?

They just have the most awesome, marvellous, astonishing gift to find

happiness in the simple things of life. Even the very simple things.

I mean: most dogs are happy just because a new day begins hooray! A

new day! And mummy gets up hooray! (She may not be as happy

about the new day as her dog is but never mind!)

And there is food hooray! And the grass outside hooray! And the

leaves hooray! And a bird hooray!

Full of enthusiasm to meet the new days magnificent adventures.

(You probably can tell I have the odd retriever in my group . But the

other ones are just as happy!)

My big rescue boy was overwhelmed with joy every day we came back

home and got out of the car and hooray, home again! Didnt matter if

we had only been away for an hour or two for our walk! Just overjoyed

and rolling in the grass with bliss because of home!

(Almost three years later he still does it when weve been away for a day

or so jumping around like a pup, rolling in the grass and smiling all over

his cute face!)

How often a day do YOU think: hooray! ???

..or think: Awesome thing, love it!

Honestly, how often? Could be a bit more often, dont you agree?

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After all it is a pretty awesome thing to be alive on this beautiful planet!

Sure, some things in life suck. Or have the potential to suck if you let

them. Just dont let them! Do as your dog does and look at the bright

side of life.

So many bright things to look at! Maybe just tiny.

You step out your door and hear a bird sing.

And see the sparkling tiny water drops hang on the tip of a grass blade.

Maybe somebody walks by with a smile on their face or with a brilliantly

turquoise cap on their head.

Soooo many things you could enjoy.

If you notice them.

Make it your habit to notice the beauty around you!

Your dog does! Sure you can do what your dog does!

Practice!

Practice together with your dog.

Start out by finding happy stuff FOR your dog. Things or places or

something you do together that they will enjoy even more than just

loving their normal life.

Go and search happiness!

What is it that your dog doesnt normally get to do but loves? Or

absolutely adores?

I am sure you know already. Youll probably have a whole list of things

once you start thinking about it and jotting it down. Go ahead! Write it

all down!

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There will be things on your list that are really special. Like my curly girlie

loves the sea and digging huge holes in the sand. Unfortunately, we do

not live near the sea. Not even close. The next sandy strip of beach is

about an 8 hours drive away. So doggy beach bliss is a vacation only

thing. Which is a pity.

(Come to think of it, maybe we should move! Beach is bliss not just for

her, I am ever so happily sharing that one!)

No sea. No beach. Unhappy dog?

No way!

There is so many other passions to enjoy. So much water to swim in in all

sorts of places. And to compensate for the lack of hole-digging-

appropriate-sand there is creeks with loads of sticks and branches in

them. Curly girlie just loves to jump in, pick a big one, struggle to get it

out, skin it, jump back in, pick the next one.and so on. I swear there is

some beaver in her genetics!

So, as often as possible, our walk will lead us down to the creek to an

especially beautiful hidden away spot where I like to sit and enjoy being

in nature and having all the greenery around me. And I have so much

fun watching her do her beaver thingy. On rare occasions a kingfisher

will flit by in all his dazzling blue glory. Almost as good as the sea!

Make a list of all the

special joys you can

organise for your dog!

Go on a walk with your

dog and turn it into a

treasure hunt for beauty

and things to enjoy.

What reasons will your

dog find to have fun?

And you?

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Make it a daily practice.

Search happiness for the two of you!

Provide a nice litte surprise for your dog

Are they used to getting a chew every day at lunch or when you

leave or at another specific time? Go ahead, surprise them with yet

another one two hours later! Yeahh, hooray! Isnt live full of

abundance . Treat yourself to something nice, too .

Set up a Doggie-Date

Does your dog have a special friend? Another dog they know from

play-time or grew up with and doesnt see so often any more?

Arrange a walk or a playdate with that other dog. Dogs love to

have friends but unlike us they dont get to choose for themselves

when or how often to meet them. So be a nice human and let

your dog meet their friends. And then just enjoy watching them

be happy to meet and play.

Go on a Magic Walk

Imagine living in the land of milk and honey and finding some

magic offering around every corner you turn! Wouldnt that be just

so cool? You can wave a bit of fairy magic over your dogs walk.

There could be a tree with sausages growing on it

or a boulder partially covered in cream cheese

or a favourite toy appearing out of thin air from behind the

bushes

Let your imagination run wild! What is it your dog might find the

miracle of miracles? And then go prepare or go distract your dog

with some off leash activity while quickly quickly sticking the

sausage pieces on the branches.

Just make sure that it is always YOU who first finds the goodies and

then calls the dog over to share . Will work miracles on your

recall by the way! Which in turn is going to make you very happy

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STEP 2. DISCOVER NEW PLACES

Do you like to travel? See other places, great nature, beautiful plazas?

Much of it is the joy of discovery, of seeing things fresh and new and

untainted by already been there, done it all, seen it all.

Why not have a bit of it everyday?

Your dog is probably a master in taking a fresh perspective at things!

Pick your daily route and observe them. Is there something new to be

found on the walk?

Oh a great paperback blown in by the wind, lets examine and sniff it.

Or whatever!

Whenever your dog finds something to examine, why not have a close

look around and try to find something you havent noticed before?

Or look at something you have seen a million times before and try to see

it as if you were seeing it for the first time!

Dont get stuck in routines!

We humans are not that much different from dogs. We share a

behavioural trait that we need to exercise every now and then to stay

happy: exploratory behaviour!

Dogs (and we just the same) need a chance to explore new things once

in a while. It is their nature. Nothing to be debated.

Sure, there is dogs who had a traumatic past and are very fearful and

quickly overwhelmed by about everything. And still, they want to

explore. Explore within their comfort zone, maybe just a new object? Or

a strip of grass next to the path. Tiny tiny steps of exloration. But

exploration it is!

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Your average dog will want to explore a lot more! Otherwise it gets

boring. It would for you, too, wouldnt it? Just imagine all you ever

experience day in day out is your place, the walk to the park, the park,

the walk back. Finito, end, thats it. Not good!

So make sure your dog gets to explore. It can become a joint adventure

and real fun!

Do you tend to stick to the well-trodden roads?

Step out! Let your dog lead you accross the imaginary boundary you put

up through your habits and routines.

Take me for example. One of our regular walks takes us to a path along a

creek. There is other people walking their dogs and joggers and cyclists

and all sorts of life going on during the weekends. But it is a lovely walk

on the less frequented occasions.

It caused me quite some annoyance when they closed it down last year

for the whole summer for whatever construction work was going on

there.

Guess what

I discovered other paths on other creeks (my curly girlie really is into

water so I had to find a creek!) Beautiful spot! Lovely sand banks on the

little river.

I confess: Once they reopended our regular path along the creek I fell

back into the old routine. Went there. Took my dogs along the walk.

Went back home.

A bit strange because for quite a stretch of that path there wasnt any

creek any more! Can you only half imagine the look on curly girlies face

when we reach one of her favourite splashing places and there just

isnt any creek any more? Just the dry river bed?

Totally puzzled. Totally I-cant-believe-this-is-even-possible puzzled!

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They had done some renaturation project that changed the path of the

creek. Go and try explaining that creeks can change course to a puzzled

wanna-swim retriever!

So what did we do?

Ill be honest with you

Nothing! Just went our way along the dry river bed stretch all the same.

Sorry and a bit fed up they had destroyed our beloved water spots.

This went on for weeks! (shame on me).

Did I notice that the dogs were sniffing and very interested in an area just

left of the newly built bridge across the newly moved creek?

Sure I did. They got a lot of praise for being good dogs and staying with

me on the path in spite of it. And along the dried out river bed.

It must have taken me all winter and half of spring till that little thought

crept up for the very first time:.wonder where that leads to. wonder

where the creek has moved

Just goes to tell you a thing or two about humans! Or at least about this

human here!

The dogs had wanted all along what was the most obvious thing: Leave

the dried out river bed and follow the creek instead! Never mind there

was no nicely paved path any more. Who needs something paved when

the water and adventures are calling you!

So finally, finally, finally I followed my dogs.

To discover a gem! A creek gone (mildly) wild, trees lying across it, pebble

banks, natural growth everywhere. A piece of wilderness in the middle of

our tame and neat countryside! Just a couple of steps away from that

well trodden path I had been following for so long.

You have to know I absolutely adore the wilderness!

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It there was a way to make a living from living in the wilderness thats

what I would be doing. If my career wouldnt require proximity to urban

areas, I would be living somewhere in the forests, close to a creek

probably.

So here I was, literally stumbled on a dream place of mine! Since then I

have spent so many wonderful lovely hours there, relishing every minute

in my private close by wilderness!

After having walked past it for months! Literally months. And I might still

be doing so if it hadnt been for the dogs. And their curiosity. And their

need to explore new grounds.

Off you go. Dont wait as long as I did!

Explore new ways. Discover the everyday magic around you.

Who knows, you might just stumble onto your piece of paradise!

!

What haunts would your

dog enjoy to explore? Find

some new ones to have fun

with.

If your dog where to take

the lead, where would they

lead you to? Trust them and

follow. You never now what

you may discover!

Which places in nature do

you both enjoy most? Find

more of them! Go on a hike

or - move to the sea .

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Make it a habit to break your habits!

Yes, your dog needs some structure and routine to their days.

They also need to explore to stay healthy and sane.

Introduce some discovery channel and new programs into your walks!

Time for Exploration

Dont just rush through your day and through your walks.

Make time for exploration! Time to observe, follow, take a sniff, get

a new impression, roam .

It is not wasting time - it is sane time you are building!

So let your dog sniff and let your mind wander and let yourself off

the hook of time pressure.

Go follow that creek!

Go New Places

There is a need to walk your dog every day. But there is no need to

take them on the same walk every single frigging day!

Change!

Go new places!

Find a great new hike or maybe just a little detour.

Let them check out the new building ground along the road, climb

the fallen trees along your walk in the forest. Take them to a lake, a

new park, the mountains, whatever. Diversity is it!

It makes life so much more exciting and enjoyable.

For your dog and for you!

Let Your Dog Take the Lead

Not sure where to go? No time for a big excursion? No problem!

Let your dog take the lead!

Every now and then I will take that curly one on a 15m leash and

just follow her along, cross country, following a track or just her

whims. You should see her happy face (and my all-tangled hair)

after such a walk!

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STEP 3. TAKE A SNIFF

and smell the roses. Or whatever

To a dog the nose is what vision is to the average seeing human.

Everything!

They perceive their world as a realm of olfaction. What must it be like to

live in world filled with finest nuances of scent imaginable? If imaginable

to a human at all!

Oliver Sacks (well-known neurologist and best-selling author, among

other books he wrote The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat) wrote

in one of his books and apologies as I dont remember which one it

was about a man. A man who due to some strange mishap acquired

an acuity of smell unknown of to him or most likely any other human.

That man waded throug a world filled with scent, fragrances, smell of all

sorts.. For about three weeks or so he perceived as he himself claimed

the world the same way his dog did. And then this weird phenomenon

disappeared as suddenly as it had set on.

And the man? He became depressive for a time. He had experienced the

world in a richness of sensual impressions and an exciting combination

of scents and emotions. And then he lost it all again. No wonder he

became depressive!

Did you know that no other of our senses is as closely linked to our

emotions as smell? And to our memories, too! All you need is a whiff of

a certain smell and you are back in childhood, in a special memory, in a

traumatic experience, in your favourite vacation spot. Just take the smell

and it triggers the emotion. Nothing you can do about it.

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When I smell conifers maybe with a mossy moist undertone to it

bhamm I am back to the happy forests of my childhood. And hot pine

fragrance takes me to Tuscany in a whiff. I am sure you have your smells

and triggers, too!

Now imagine: When smells can do this to us although olfaction is not

particularily well developed in us humans, what must life be like for a

dog! Dogs have like a godzillion more scent cells to their brains then we

do. It must be like living in an incredibly vast universe of flowing,

intertwining and constantly changing vibrant colours and muted shades.

Only in smells. Awesome!

More awesome even what dogs are able to do with that sense of smell!

Dogs can

- detect the tiniest bit of mold inside of bricks and woods and

buildings.

- find landmines gone lost years ago and stuck 8 or 10 metres deep

in the ground.

- detect cancer cells in a human body long before the most

sophisticated medical equipment can diagnose it.

- warn diabetics of onsetting hypoglaecemia

- and lots more of stuff!

It just blows your mind, doesnt it?

Now please, go and look at your dog. Yes, your average mongrel has all

the same capacities, too!

(Note: If you look at your dog and see a beagle you better know that

beagles have THREE times the scenting capacities of any other dog!)

Do you see an animal with a remarkable gift? A natural aptitude for

smell?

An inborn desire to exercise that capacity?

A need to employ that amazing sense?

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What chances does your dogs every day life offer them to do so?

Not many!

Imagine being an artist and knowing there are incredibly vivid colours

and all you want is to capture them and paint paint paint.

But unfortunately you live in a world of black-and-white-beings. They

dont allow you to paint because simply they have no notion that colours

exist, that painting is an option.

OK, I am exaggerating a bit. But can you feel the frustration?

I often think our dogs must be feeling that same frustration quite often.

So, lets find ways to allow your dog to paint

Stop and smell the roses

and let your dog smell

whatever smells like roses

to them.

Engage in scent games.

Offer your dog different

smells and discover the

world of scent for yourself.

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Make your dogs nose happy and your dog is happy!

Big plus for you: they will be happy AND very tired. In a good way!

The best way to tire your dog out is a good go at some scent games or

nosework or tracking or man-trailing. Whatever they enjoy and you find

feasable.

You want a tired happy dog? Then forget about throwing balls, running

around or playing tug of war. Just makes them hyper all too quick.

Start hiding things for them to seek. Give their nose something to work.

Search for treats

The easy not-much-training-needed variety: hide a treat! Obviously,

your dog will need to learn the rules and understand that you are

hiding the treat (usually treats are in you pocket or your hand) and

then they go and find. They will not need to learn to scent. They

can anyway. However, some will need a little practice for that rusty

sense of smell. Once they got it: make it more difficult! Check out a

good book on nosework or go over to my website for the

upcoming e-course on scent games(bookmark www.denktier.com

now and revisit in mid-october for the english language version.)

Offer a sniff

You are surrounded by scent all the time. So is your dog. Give them

an opportunity to take it all in! When you come home with your

grocery why not let your dog have a sniff first? Spend a walk with

letting your dog sniff whatever there ist o find. Get creative!

Put out a line

Doggy ways that is . Pick random 15 or 20 objects with different

smells, lay them out in a line on the ground and just let your dog

examine each one. What do they prefer/abhor? Does it change the

seconde time around? This one fits even into your hall or living

room! So make your dog happy and actually do it once a week!

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STEP 4. GET IN TOUCH

Oh, touch! Dont we love to touch!

Touch establishes a bond, connects you to another being, allows you to

feel them and them to feel you.

Not everyone is too keen on being touched or going all touchy-feely. But

I have still to meet a person who doesnt enjoy to touch and stroke and

cuddle their pup.

True?

There is plenty of research by now that shows how stroking a dog

- decreases blood pressure

- relaxes and diminishes stress

- boosts your immune system

- etc. etc. etc.

It makes you happy to cuddle your pet, doesnt it?

It is soothing, calming, comforting, reassuring, .

It touches much more than just the skin.

You will notice how you (or other doggy people for that matter) use a lot

of touch when you are happy, excited, enthusiastic. Unless you have

trained yourself to do otherwise.

There is good reason to train yourself to do otherwise!

Dogs dont enjoy touch half as much as we humans do.

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You see, we humans are primates, privileged to have gripping devices

our hands. And a lot of our life is determined by that gripping instinct we

have. A lot of pleasure, too. Nothing like a good hug when you need

one, aint it true!

Dogs on the other hand are canids.

No hands, no gripping devices, no embracing and holding tight.

Different culture, different language!

They do establish physical contact as a sign of closeness, yes!

But differently from us.

Ever wondered why your dog will be running around, come closer while

still playing or doing their thing and just ever so slightly graze your thigh

in passing?

Well, is is their way of saying Hello, I am still here, appreciate you being

here with me, still love you, will go and play some more.

And you thought they were being clumsy or impolite or even

disrespectful? NO! Just applying a bit doggy body language!

Bet you have observed the other thing they love doing on the touchy

feely plane! When dogs cuddle, actually what they do is lying side by

side, sides touching. That ist he equivalent of a doggy embrace.

Everything that is more of a holding nature or a squeeze or getting really

tight is not dog repertoire. It is uncomfortable! Might even be perceived

as threatening.

If you want your dog to be happy with your expressions of love for them:

Go tender! Soft touch! Be gentle!

We humans are seldom aware how intense our hands can be! We are

just so used to them

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Here is a little experiment for you:

Take the backside of your hand and put it on your cheek.

Feel into it.

What sensation is it? How intense is it? Does it feel OK, too close, too

distant?

Take away your hand. Allow for a little pause.

Now take the palm of your hand and put it on your cheek. Make full

contact.

Feel into it.

Is it a different sensation from the one before? How intense is it? Does it

feel OK, too close, too distant?

I bet you found the palm of your hand much more intense than the

backside of your hand!

And here we are talking your own hand. Now imagine somebody else

would put their hand on your face maybe even somebody you dont

know that well!

And then go and imagine what this type of intensive contact must feel

like to a creature who doesnt have hands a all and doesnt do any of

that intense skin to skin stuff.

Very weird!!!

Very intense!!!!

If you observe dogs closely when they are being patted you will see

sooooo many calming signals, also called appeasement behaviours, like

turning the head away, looking sideways, a flick of the tongue, eyes half

closed and head lowered. go and observe!

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Does it look like there is one happy dog enjoying their cuddles?

Mostly NO.

Not if you are seeing any of these behaviours.

There is an easy way out: Dont do it!

If you want to caress your dog, do it in a way that is caressing to THEM!

Sure you can use your hands.

But please be mindful how!

Most dogs will love a gentle rub or stroking on their chest. While most

hate being patted on the head.

They absolutely prefer you not to lean over them. Instead sit or cower

next to them and stroke them using the hand next to them and on that

same side. No reaching over and embracing and stroking the off-side

please!

Be mindful with your touching. Do it consciously, with intention. With

nice intentions, of course. Not just to give your hands something to do

and instead of kneading your hat you are kneading the furry one.

You want to go all doggy-style with touching?

Then make yourself available for a contac lie-in. Sit somewhere your dog

can join you. Let them establish side by side contact with their back and

your thigh or back or whatever they choose. Even a little spooning can

be OK. But

Please keep your hands to yourself.

They are just too much. And they seldom keep still .

Can you feel your dog relax? Snuggling up a bit more, deep sigh of relief

and oh so happy you are now a compatible partner for the cuddling

game.

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Can you feel yourself relax? Relishing having your dog all cuddled up

next to you. Calming down. Resting. Ease settling in.

Your hands do a reliefed sigh. No more holding, doing, handling, pulling,

struggling, working, twisting, busying.

Lying in your lap they are (or at your side), at rest finally. Release. Can you

feel the tension leave your hands, leave your body? And your mind? Yes?

Good!

Can you be in touch with your dog without physically touching them?

Be in touch without

hands touching!

Be in touch with your

heart and your mind

and your soul and your

breathing.

Be with your dog. Be

here. Now. Can you

feel the joy of being

together? Their joy and

your joy!

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The bond between your dog and you is strong. The minute you really

pay attention to it you know you do not need to hold on or hold back.

You can feel the connection!

We are just not very accustomed to doing things without our gripping

devices. So play and experiment. Which ways are your preferred ones to

keep in touch with your dog?

The Invisible Cord

Take your dog for a walk or to an area where they can be off-leash.

Now imagine there is this invisible cord between you. Its elastic

so your dog can move away quite a bit, no worries! Just notice

how every now and then they will look back and check in with

you. Are you there? Is your dog getting an answer on their check-

in just a little nod or brief eye-contact or a minute, invisible sign

telling them you are keeping in touch?

(This practice can be tough in the beginning if your dog has gotten

used to you NOT ever being there with them and therefore they

might have given up on you. Start slowly. Or get in in touch with

me for some support)

Through Your Dogs Eyes

Be aligned to your dogs perception and it will be so much easier to

keep in touch with them. What is it they perceive and what is of

relevance to them? Get used to seeing, hearing (well, we are stuck

on the smelling) the world like your dog does.

Tellington Touch

There is one great way for your hands to get in touch. Tellington

Touch is a method of gentle lifts and touches to release tension,

moderate behaviour and support your dog emotionally. Find out

more about it, check out a practioner nearby or learn it for yourself!

It will make you just as happy as your dog to do it. Promise!!!

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STEP 5. THE LOVE & JOY GAME

Here comes the last step in this little guide!

A big one!

A huge impact one!

A little input one!

A fun one (I hope)!

The ultimate find-your-dogs-favourite-fun-stuff-and-let-it-make-you-

happy-to one!

This is what youll do: You will implement some simple truths. Thats all.

Your probably heard them all before:

The follow your heart and do what you love one.

The follow your joy one.

The share your happiness and make everyone else happy one.

Believe me: They are all true!

They are all relevant.

And arent they all quite difficult to implement in everyday life?

Because we just forget. We are not in the habit of nourishing our joys.

There is one thing, however, you are in the habit of nourishing:

YOUR DOG!

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So lets start with your dog and see where sharing their joy will lead you

.

You will enjoy making a list of all the things your dog loves, wont you ?

I mean it is YOUR dog we are talking about! And the things (and people)

that make them happy!

And now lets have fun and play!

Here is a little game for you.

On the next page is a nice and colourful game plan.

Print it out and scribble in it!

Here is what youll do:

1. In each red field your write one thing your dog really loves! The big

loves of his life.

2. Then go on to the yellow fields and in each one put one thing your

dog enjoys (the smaller loves of life or occasional joys).

Start! Do it now! Go!

Mine love

- jumping boulders

- beach life and sand-

digging

- the fresh cool

temperatures of fall

after a hot summer

- being together

- walks, walks, walks

- search games

- a myriad others

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Well done!

That was easy, wasnt it?

And it gave you a lot more ideas what to offer your dog more often in

their lives, correct? Yeahh more fun for the two of you!

Ok, lets proceed:

3. Now look at the lilac fields next to the red ones with the things your

dog loves. For every one thing your dog loves (i.e. you wrote in a red

field), ask yourself: do I love this, too?

If yes, jot it down in the lilac field.

For example:

There is a red field saying walks in the woods.

If you also love walks in the woods, you put the same thing into your

lilac field.

Or there is a red field saying your dog loves you.

Now (ah. here we go): Do you love yourself? If yes, then you put it

in your lilac field.

And so on

The lilac fields will tell you, what loves you share with your dog! How

much you have in common and can indulge in jointly

Good! On to the next level!

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4. Next to the lilac fields you will find pink fields.

In here you write all the things YOU the things you enjoy (without

your dog)

Probably you will fill one pink field with my dog .

What else do you love?

Watching movies? Cooking? Going to the opera ? .. List it all!

When you are finished and all the pink fields are filled in,

take one after the another and ask yourself:

Is this something I could share with my dog or not?

Dont get me wrong! Your are absolutely entitled to love many many

things you cannot share with your dog or which your dog definitely

would not want to have to share (going to the opera for one thing!).

But maybe there are others you CAN share with your dog and you

would both enjoy?

I am quite positive they might enjoy you cooking for them (just

dont make it a hot thai curry!)

Maybe you need to get a bit creative to see the options?

Never mind, it is just a game.

It is all just about finding fun ways to spend time together, share

each others lifes.

The pink fields are your potentials!

Here youll find new ideas for sharing joy and pass-times

with your dog! More fun for the two of you!

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Time for the next move

5. Revisit the yellow fields in the charts where you put down the things

your dog enjoys. Notice the orange fields next to them?

Again, you will look at each thing your dog enjoys and ask yourself:

Do I enjoy that thing, too?

If yes, jot it down in your orange field.

Here is an example:

In one of the yellow fields I wrote down that curly girlie enjoys getting

the pick of two different chews I offer her.

And I enjoy letting her choose between two different things. So that

goes in my orange field.

My little one enjoys rolling in stinky things. (OK I find them stinky, she

disagrees!) Believe me, the orange field next to this one will remain

empty!

How many things are there that bring both of you joy?

The orange fields will give you an overview of all the things in life

you both enjoy (already) and have in common.

Of yourse you can build this up if you want to. Or be happy the way it is.

Your choice

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Ok, so on to the next step (almost finished!)

6. Time to fill in the green fields

Here you put down all the things or activities YOU enjoy.

A beer in the pub? Lazing around on Sunday morning? Having friends

over for dinner?

Whatever comes to mind first, dont think about it for too long.

If you filled in all of your green fields, you will do the same exercise you

did with the pink ones:

Ask yourself: Which of these would my dog enjoy to share? (Without

spoiling the fun for you, of course). What ideas do you get for fun

activities for the two of you?

The list of things in the green fields show potential for shared fun. Let

it inspire you, follow your inspiration. What will bring you more and

your dog more joy?

OK. Game over.

Run out of fields to write stuff in? Get your own huge chart up or scribble

around the edges or print out several sheets.

Play with it and have fun.

And maybe redo it in a couple of weeks or months! Things change. You

will have new ideas. So will your dog . Focus on the ones that bring

both of you more joy!

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happy endings.

Writing this booklet has been so much fun for me!

Most of the time I was sitting on my computer with that silly grin on my

face. It just made me happy to think and write about joy and fun. You

feel what you deal with!

My doggies had fun, too, because obviously we needed to test and try

every single tip I shared. Did they like it? They loved it! Completely crazy

over the Magic Walk!

And do you know what?

Today I followed that creek a bit more. Further down the path.

And we found another precious little place

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I love it! And writing this booklet inspired me to do so.

So, now its your turn.

I hope you find some piece of inspiration in here. Or within you. Doesnt

matter where.

Be the happy person you are (at least deep down!). Or become it if you

arent right now. Your dog will love it.

Dogs enjoy being around happy humans!

I am not talking happy as in all the time uber-enthusiastic, thrilled and

totally hyper. What I mean ist he pleasant, joyful, at ease, relaxed type of

happiness. The type dogs enjoy most.

Go and play and share and have fun! Loads and loads and loads of fun.

And dont forget to share it . With your dog, obviously.

With other humans, other pets, just go and share!

Feel free to share this booklet, too! You can send this link

5 Easy Steps to Share the Joy and Double the Fun with Your Dog

to your friends, so they can order their free copy.

Please also share your adventures on my www.facebook.com/denktier

page and let us know what jewels you discovered and what fun ideas

you came up with.

I would love to hear from you!

Meanwhile:

ENJOY LIFE WITH YOUR DOG!!!