Angelic friends - my dog pal Joshua
Do you feel people and even situations come into your life with a specific purpose? I feel it is like this with everything and it makes me aware that everything is an opportunity to grow and also heal issues that hold me back from realising my full potential.
Last year I was gifted with a friend and his dog who came to my rescue in a time of deep crisis. I was given signs, like when I feel on the floor at work and the doctor I went to see asked me if I was sure about the direction of my life. Just that in itself I found amazing. This was a doctor I found online and he was like a shaman. I'm telling, Im surrounded by guides and angels. Second time I saw this doctor it was because I became really ill from toxic mould. I made a post about this on my website and might share it here later but what I wanted was to honour the four legged friend that came into my life and helped me keep some kind of balance in those very challenging times. Joshua!
Look at that face!! I miss him so much. My friend took me in and we spent eight months together. Me, a bit lost to this world with my nasty intoxication, but every day I would walk the woods with Joshua for an hour or two. It was so lovely. I connected to the trees and I could focus on Joshua. It warms my heart to see the pleasure he took in walking on the path. I have known a few dogs and I am a real dog person. I love to train them and spend time in nature together but I had no previous experience with this type of dog.
Joshua is some pit bull mix and is himself a rescue dog from N.Y. who ended up here in Paris. He is one of the most big hearted and loving animals I have ever met, but very dominating. He needed a firm hand and I am good at that. I could have been a good dog trainer and this also took me out of my own misery. Joshua absolutely loves people, he has a very funny and charming character, but because of his upbringing, he is not at all safe around other dogs.
I reckoned we both needed to walk and we would walk fast and long stretches at a time, then I would find a safe calm spot and either throw a stick or let him pull at branch or even chop them down! I've never seen anything like it, that big jaw needed to chew and if let loose Joshua could have taken down several young trees a day. Amazing to witness.
The point of this post was to honour this lovely friend who saved me on so many levels. Its so endearing the loyalty and love of a dog, and especially when you connect on this level. We have now taken separate ways but my heart makes a jump every time I see his picture and I miss him very much. Bless my friend Joshua and may he himself be protected and loved for forever.
In addition to "formal" forms of dog training (operant conditioning, reinforcement, or classical conditioning), dogs are able to learn merely from observation.
Hi @dogfact You mean from observing the pack? I guess its how most of us learn actually as we grow, by observing Its very fascinating and rewarding working with a dog. I hope to be able to own my own again one day soon.