Puppy diaries 2 - “Being” not “doing”

Our cockerpoo pup has a mind of his own.  And his attention span for any one thing can be measured in nanoseconds.  So when Uttara pointed that out to me, I offered  how our minds are very much like that with the difference that we have the ability to notice and with the noticing we are able quieten the chatter and experience a calm, clear and more productive mind.

So I had a clean canvas and some tools and tricks to bring our boy, Rumi, in line.  They say the initial learnings puppies 🐶 acquire are hard coded and really difficult to change.  So if you indulge them and are not consistent, you will be slave rather than pawrent to them.  We needed routines associated with the following ( us humans are better off with them too):

-regular sleep and nap times

-meals, method and place

-training sessions and play to provide enrichment

-structured socialization with a range of humans and exposure to varied experiences 

-toilet training

Underpinning all this is relationship building and trust.  Puppies come with a lot of separation anxiety so you really have to work hard at earning their trust.  

Truth be told, the connection with the little mister was not instantaneous.  Even though I intellectually knew that Rumi was an expression of consciousness like you and me, I had to overcome some resistance to accepting this creature from another species with an attitude of “ oneness”.  

But the most important spiritual learning was  around the attitude of doership!  When I tried to “change” his behaviour to bring about routines with my will and thoughts, he sensed my energy as being forceful with a need for power and control over him.  And boy did he become all squirmy with his defenses on high alert!  So noticing, I eased up and just relaxed my mind and body to give him the space, besides  lots of treats (!) and positive reinforcement.  For eg when I took him to the backyard to relieve himself, and especially when it was rainy and cold, I stood by calmly noticing my impatience and, in that process, letting go of it!  By not  expressing through body language my impatience, I just “being” and using this as an opportunity to notice my restless mind, my thoughts and reactions to them.  I believe Rumi now believes he is doing this and other things (initially for treats) on his own! For eg, Rumi after day 2, began to trust me enough to lock him in his crate through the night, even as I sleep in my bed beside his crate.  I take him out twice at night for toilet breaks and he goes right back in without any protest!  And this otherwise curious and active puppy sleeps through my yoga sessions too.

We have routines for everything now.  I have given up on some sleep and “me” time.  But the breakthrough for me has been the ability to stay present.  I notice the mind’s chatter, telling me I should be somewhere else doing something else and just surrender to the moment without a sense of doership.  The end result - I am now fully able to enjoy and laugh through every moment with Rumi, antics, exasperating moments and all.  I also notice when I try to hold on to these experiences...

There is growing attachment now.  But that is for another blog..,

Puppy diaries - Embracing the unknown (1)

 Puppy diaries -1 

Me? A puppy mom?  Had I even dreamt I would become one?  Not in a million years!  Well this old dog is learning new tricks now.  More than anything, raising a puppy has helped strengthen my spiritual practice.  I thought I would write about that.

My first lesson - embracing the unknown. 

Having never raised a dog, the prospect of bringing a little puppy into our world was pretty daunting.  Responsibility for a life I knew nothing about.  This was not a baby which could be kept in diapers and a crib. This one would race around, poo and pee everywhere, bite, scratch, chew and eat everything in sight.  Besides, he was being separated from his mother and the host family which boasted 10 dogs, two bunnies, birds and lots of family members.  This gave him a head start in that he was properly socialized.  Who knew the first eight weeks in a puppy’s life are crucial for the development of his brain and healthy personality traits.  Yes, a common puppy ailment is anxiety which could manifest in behavioural issues.  

Anyway, all signs were that our puppy was a healthy creature.  I started to feel the pressure to keep him that way!  With a healthy dose of optimism and nerves of steel we decided to walk this unknown terrain.  Luckily for us, at a time when puppies are premium and super hard to come by even for a hefty price, we landed one just 15 minutes by walk from us in London, the day after we began our search.  Host mom and dad, Keeley and Paul, were absolutely lovely and reassured us that they were just a phone call away if we needed any help, 24/7.  I also enrolled in an Udemy course on puppy training and  arranged for live training sessions on zoom.  Read a book on puppy training as well.  However, none of this prepared us for the first week from hell.  Refusing to sleep in his crate, he was puppy at large for two nights.  We had to be up to ensure he did not wreck the place.  Then came toilet training in the backyard.  He is still little at 10 weeks and only due for his second vaccine at 12-14 weeks until which time it’s not advisable to take him out to public spaces except in a carry bag.  Day three found us thoroughly exhausted and wondering if we would get over viewing him as a chore rather than a being to be adored.  

Then it popped into my head that my tendency was always to seek comfort and security in the known.  Here was a great opportunity to show up with courage and explore the unknown!  So I decided to observe the resistance within me to go places I have not been in my mind, do things I had not done and confronts all my fears and anxieties around caring for a vulnerable creature, especially given the small room for error.  When negative thoughts popped that second guessed my decision, I saw them for what they were.  I still have a long way to go to become a good puppy pawrent.  However the fodder for spiritual growth has been fished out to me in spades.  As I learn and grow everyday, always taking a few steps back even as I move forward, I hope to be able to share my experiences.