Pets: Who is Training Who? April 13, 2010
Posted by Elaine Correia Dollowitch in Pet Wisdom.Tags: Inspiration, pets, spiritual healing
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Scooter heard me calling him, but the messages contained in the scent called to him far more strongly. He pretended to be totally oblivious of my calls- until he was finished, and now it was convenient to come. Frustration coursed through me. Why won’t he listen to me??? He needed more training, I thought. I had enough presence of mind to be kind to him when he came, praise him for coming, but I’m sure he sensed some of my frustration, and immediately bounded off again.
As I walked along the beach, Scooter cavorted through the driftwood, coming back to me to make sure I was still there and following his lead, like a good pack dog. I had the thought that he was treating me like I was his companion- instead of the other way around. This had to change!!
What did I want? I wanted him to be my companion, treat me with respect, be attentive to me. Extending this desire, I wanted the people in my life to treat me with respect, and honor my requests (for paying their bills). The trick I faced was how to convey that energetically. Scooter was making it very obvious to me that being respected and honored was not the dominant energy I was putting out. I really had no idea how to change this energy, so I started saying over and over, as I walked along the beach, that I respected and valued myself. On our way back, I noticed that Scooter was being more attentive, walking along side me, looking up at me, and coming back quickly after inspecting treasures lurking in the sand. I concluded something in my energy had shifted- or he was tired. Heartened, I was amazed how quickly he responded to energy changes.
Who is training who, really?
When I was a child and before the public debut of the horse and dog whisperers, I watched as our horses were trained in the old philosophy of submission by dominance and intimidation. I cringed as I watch the animals frightened and fighting to get away. When everyone was gone, I sneaked over to the horse and gave her some grass. She was so scared that she was almost dangerous to be around. Eventually, she calmed enough to nervously grab the offering. I knew there was a better way, but who was I to challenge the experts?
After many years barren of horse friends, I got a Peruvian Paso horse that showed me very clearly that the old ways of intimidation and dominance would not work. She taught me to respect her and work with her. We became really good friends, and learned to trust and respect each other. Soon, I could ride her anywhere- to the beach, along the highway, into town and especially racing through the woods- bareback with only a halter. Forget the formality of a saddle and bridle. She was willing, and trusted I would not ask something from her that she could not do. She stopped doing the little wily tricks of other horses, like stepping to the side when getting on, and looking for opportunities to spook. She loved people, and understood when to be very gentle. She was very polite when I gave a ride to a lady with MS and a very shy young boy.
What is training, really? The establishment of certain behavior responses as a result of specific stimuli? The school of dominance, control and will power is still very dominant, but a growing school of animal training is with positive reinforcement, and understanding animal psychology in order to reinforce positive behaviors. The trick also seems to catch the undesirable behavior before it can escalate into action, such as the dog running off in pursuit of some interesting person or item. As a sight hound, when Scooter sees something of interest, he is off in full pursuit almost instantly. If I do not call him back, just when he sees his object of interest, he is gone. He comes back, after he has satisfied his curiosity.
This same practice can be applied to people who want to change their thoughts and reactions. The thought/ action must be re-directed before it can get started. Issue a new command. Create a new thought, before the old pattern can run it’s course. Over time, the new habit can be established, so that the stimulus either has no effect, or causes a more desirable response. Creating new behavioral patterns can get tricky, especially when dealing with unconscious old habits, which most of us have. Success improves over time and with practice.
Training an animal- or myself- also has another benefit. Before I can direct Scooter to do anything, I need to be clear about what I want- not a nebulous concept like I want his respect. I have to be clear about what it means, and how he can show it. As it is with creating anything in life- the greater the clarity, the easier Source can bring it and the more quickly your pet can reflect it back to you. It is like going in to a store with shelves and shelves of Respect, in all sorts of colors, brands, quality, and packaging. A choice must be made or you walk out of the store overwhelmed and without Respect.
Scooter is training me to be a great leader! Not only of my animal friend, but of my own life.
Another gift from the pet world is positive reinforcement training- rewarding and supporting behaviors that are desirable and not giving attention to the undesirable behaviors or kindly setting boundaries. This simple principle can be applied to our daily lives. With conscious awareness, we can treat ourselves just like the dog or horse we are training- re-directing thoughts and the attendant feelings and actions to something more in line with what is desired. This is a useful for gaining Mastery over you life, by redirecting your perceptions surrounding stressful situations, and creating possibilities for healing and abundance. When you set out to train your pet, is it just as likely that your pet is offering you the possibility to train yourself into being a better leader- both of your animal and in your life?
What are your beliefs surrounding training and your pet?
This is another of a series of articles about Pets: Agents to Self-Mastery.
For more information about Elaine, go to her website at or her sister blog
Pets: Reflections of Yourself April 13, 2010
Posted by Elaine Correia Dollowitch in Pet Wisdom.Tags: Inspiration, pets, self growth, spiritual healing
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Gentle rain fell, as Scooter, my Italian Greyhound, stood shivering and whining outside the dog door. He wanted to come back into the warmth of the house, but was afraid of what might lurk within. The two cats had him well trained. Nadia regularly took it upon herself to be sergeant of arms, and when the dog went outside for his potty break, she would also saunter out, making sure he was aware of the vigorous and thorough sharpening of her claws on the bottom step. Then she would take up guard duty at the top step, in front of the dog door, or for variety, just inside the door.
Today, however, she was sleeping on the massage table. As I watch him whining and pawing at the door, causing the magnets to click, I felt a moment of frustration. Why couldn’t he just come through the door? Silly dog! This went on for several minutes. Eventually the noise summoned Nadia from her slumber, and she took position a few feet away from the dog door, curiously waiting. Now his worst fear had realized.
An inspiration hit me. I’ve acted like the dog. I whined in misery, and wanted someone to rescue me, make it easy for me to step through the doorway into something new that I wanted to do. And, like the dog, I perceived danger in taking that adventurous action, and if I fretted long enough, the danger would become real. I decided to become bold, stepping into the new ventures I wanted and see how the dog responded. Interestingly enough, as I worked on this concept within myself, I noticed that the dog would go out to potty and come back in, all by himself! I began to wonder just how much influence we have on the behaviors of our animals. How could we utilize their behaviors to show us about ourselves?
This began the birthing of a program that uses our closest friends, our pets, to show us about ourselves and our behaviors. As I became more aware of how my dog was reflecting my behaviors, and where my words and actions were out of alignment, I gained more and more respect for the wonderful guides and teachers I have living with me, that are so willing and helpful in showing me where my energy is going and what happens when I change my attitudes and actions. Dogs seem to be much more responsive to expressing energetic shifts than cats. Cats have different messages for us.
I have studied energy, bio energetic medicine and Law of Attraction for years. It was finally sinking in that everything I experienced was a reflection of my dominant thoughts or vibration. I was aware that different experiences contained gifts, sometimes well wrapped and hidden from view, that helped me learn to take more and more charge of my life. As I became more conscious of my thoughts, I started directing my attention and focus on positive outcomes, gratitude and seeking out the blessing in everything. I turned my primary relationship totally around- from deep unrest, unhappiness and conflict to peace, harmony, understanding and genuine love. As I practiced finding the positive, the comfort and satisfaction in my life increased exponentially. I have cash flow, a loving and harmonious relationship. I am doing work that I enjoy and pleases me. I am more confident and clear about who I am and what I can do. I am touching people’s lives, conveying hope that our planet will survive 2012 and optimism that we are OK in this economy. Now I have stumbled, with the help of my Iggy, into a new and provocative way for people to gain mastery over their lives, their health, manage stress, and satisfy their desires for love and companionship, with positive and loving support from their furry friends. This is the perfect marriage between my desire to show people how to live a magically empowered life and my life-long respect and love for animals. It all finally made sense!
This work is not for the feeble at heart. Utilizing your pet as your self-mastery agent will take you on a deep, winding journey through places that reflect to you your inner wonders, and your deepest fears. It takes an open mind to take your dog or cat or other animal friend out of the role of soul-less animal, companion, or meal, to grasp and use the concept of your pets as reflections of your personality, your behaviors, your dominant energies and what is hidden or unexpressed in your life.
Take a look at your animal friend. What is he or she showing you about yourself? I’d love your feedback.
This is the first is a series of articles on my program Pets: Agents for Self-Mastery. Tune in for the next installment.
For more information about Elaine, go to her website at or her sister blog
Pets: Agents for Self-Mastery April 13, 2010
Posted by Elaine Correia Dollowitch in Pet Wisdom.Tags: coaching, Inspiration, pets, self growth
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The photo in the newspaper tugged at my heart. Something about the expression in the eyes. Still I resisted, not sure I wanted the commitment of a dog. Something urged me to just ‘take a look’. For several years, I had held in the back of my mind, the image of a loving, friendly, small and clean dog that could help me in my healing business; someone who would motivate me to get some exercise, and be a great companion. The cats were great companions, and protective, in their own ways, but I wanted someone who could go places with me and bring joy into people’s hearts. Little did I know what else I would get in the little Italian Greyhound package! Funny how we are guided to choose an animal that becomes one of our best teachers and friends. Law of Attraction at it’s finest!
I got what I wanted: a very outgoing, friendly and loving dog. Iggy’s tend to be a little shy and withdrawn. Not Scooter! Sometimes, I think I should have called him Romeo, since he unabashedly kisses anyone willing to receive! He approaches everyone like they are his best friend, delighting in seeing them. He melts anyone’s heart that sees his innocent and loving expression of happiness radiating from him. I often wonder what the world would be like if we could all act that way towards each other! Definitely something to work towards.
Exploring my beliefs about how our pets reflect the best and the worst of ourselves, I marveled that I must also have that ability for innocence, enthusiasm, love and happiness, since I so easily recognized it in Scooter. Watching Scooter’s behavior was drawing my attention to what I held inside and was too timid to express. It was so easy and natural for him- what if I started acting that way, too?
I was even more intrigued by the energetic shifting I saw in people after interacting with him. Scooter truly was a healing dog. He seemed to draw kindness and love out of people and I could visibly see joy fill their hearts. It was the same with each person. Some thanked me for sharing him, others walked away with a lighter step and an inner smile radiating from them. I’ve talked to more strangers since Scooter became my companion, than I have in my whole life!!!
Not all pet owners have such heart-warming experiences. One lady chose a kitten who was a terror in the house, clawing up anything in her path, including her owner. What energy was she expressing, and what law of attraction vibration caused her owner to pick her out of a litter of placid kitties? What was the owner not expressing in her life, that the kitten was?
There is a lot more to our pets than meets the eye. As an expansion of the soul level energetic clearing work I was doing, I started exploring the role of our pets in our personal evolution, and discovered that we choose each other, mutually, because each party can grow and expand who they are from the relationship. Pets show us about ourselves, our personality, our behaviors and actions. They also show us about being proud and delighted with who we are, how to live in the present moment, genuinely contented and patient, be unconditionally loving, and forgiving. Their needs are simple- a full belly, a warm, dry bed, companionship and stimulating activities. They bring to the playing field, a set of pre-programmed behaviors, otherwise known as instincts, such as hunting, chasing or keen senses. Both cats and dog enjoy reading scent emails. (I’ve wondered just what information they receive that holds their attention so keenly. )
Domesticated animals bring the ability to learn behaviors and interact with us more intimately.
Pets know who they are, and are quite satisfied with that knowing. They don’t try to be who they are not. They bring the energy of healing, balance and harmony. They show us how to live by universal laws, not man-made laws. If left to their own devices, most animals live in peace- they generally do not deliberately create wars, seek revenge or pillage. In the wild, the herd allows the best leader to emerge, who has the strength, wisdom and determination to guide the rest and keep them safe. They hunt and eat what they need for the day, generally not being wasteful. When their numbers get too great for their environment, nature again steps in to keep the balance. The laws of nature are simple and sometimes harsh. Perhaps we can take lessons from animals on how to have peace and harmony in our lives and the world. It starts with a clear realization of our connection to our Divinity.
This reasonably peaceful existence is not always the case with animals in close communication with humans. They tend to adapt their behaviors to reflect their owners. Animals reflect what we, the humans, create, back to us very simply, clearly and symbolically.
Animals are here for their soul’s evolution, also, and together with their human partner, have the opportunity to gain experiences for their own soul expansion. We have a mutually supportive relationship. The more consciousness and awareness we bring to the relationship, the greater the overall growth experience for both parties.
Whatever we learn while working with our animals can be applied to the rest of our lives, our relationships, our work environment. For example, a dog or cat will express their opinion about something very strongly by peeing on your bed or someplace important. This is a definite statement- animals usually do not soil their favorite places. They may be expressing what you are afraid to express…… What would happen if you could express yourself so clearly and authentically in your life?
You pets come bearing gifts for you, and it is up to you to recognize and honor them for these gifts. This does not mean letting your pet rule your house. Part of the gifts they bring is teaching how to gently yet firmly set boundaries, align behaviors to what is desired, become clear about what is important, and let go the rest. They provide nearly instant feedback. They are agents in favor of encouraging and supporting your self mastery, and as you align with who you really are, they get the benefit of your personal growth and learn their lessons, too.
What part of your personality is your pet showing you?
This is another segment of the Pets: Agents for Self-Mastery series.
You can find more information about Elaine at her website and her sister blog Spiritual Midwife
