The reflective relationship between dogs and humans is not a new revelation. Still, over the years, I have pondered the similarities between myself and Cooper, and now again with Mojo and, more recently, Grommet.
Suppose you’ve ever seen the original 101 Dalmatians Disney movie. In that case, the opening scene shows owners and their dogs with the same physical traits. Many other cartoonists have portrayed these physical and behavioural quirks throughout the years.
In my observations with my own dogs, I have noted many similarities between them and myself, as well as the stages of my life and areas for growth. When I look at my relationship with Cooper, it is profoundly enlightening to see the journey we shared and the growth we both made.
"What we have learned is that for the person who is truly open, the whole of life
has the capacity to speak, to become a word, leading us to greater wisdom and
understanding. We have but to listen. From such a perspective, it is hardly
surprising that our dogs have taught us much about ourselves, in many subtle
ways, showing us how we ought to be, as well as how we ought not to be…
dogs are in a unique position to offer humanity a reflection of itself."
- How to be your dog's best friend - Monks of New Skete.
Unveiling the Deeper Connection.
When Cooper came into my life, I was going through what I liked to refer to as my “Hermit stage.” I was in a period in my life where I was struggling quite a bit with worth and human connections.
Things started taking shape in my first business when I brought Cooper home. I worked seven days a week. Dog walking Monday to Friday and Pet Sitting and Dog Training during the week and weekends.
I had always thrown myself into my work, and coming from a Hospitality background, it had also been my social life. Transitioning to work and social as separate entities is a progression I didn’t find easy… Insert Cooper.
I knew he was my heart dog from the moment he came home. I didn’t realise he knew how to use aggressive behaviour to create space with others. That was one detail the rescue group failed to mention. As he used aggressive displays, I used work, and thus the reflection transpired.
Reflections in Cooper.
Initially, I was a rookie in the dog training game, knowing the theory but not the practical. Starting with a human-reactive dog is not one I recommend as it is entirely overwhelming. I used him as an excuse to avoid people further until I couldn’t.
There came a time in our journey when things started going from not-so-good to bad. I had to step up and out of my way, out of my comfort zone, and seek help from peers and mentors, or it would not end well for Cooper or our life together.
Through helping Cooper, I helped myself. I have always needed to be fiercely independent, so admitting I needed another and many others was hard work. Still, I needed to do that for Cooper. The full-on submersion into dog training, workshops, seminars, mentors, and rehabilitation began. It wasn’t perfect in the end. But our worlds, friendships and lives together expanded beyond what I thought possible. (You can find further details about Cooper’s story in Parts 1-4 of his blog posts.)
Personality Parallels with My Mojo.
Then came Mojo, my precious pup. Mojo has been a challenging relationship at times. He is a sensitive soul when he is not in drive. It has tested me in ways that I never imagined possible. Mojo is a working-line Kelpie. He is a lot extra so that we can compete in dog sports. I was thinking of GRC. He told me we are starting with Herding.
In March this year, I was relieved to get my ADHD diagnosis. It explains so much of my life thus far and has given me the support I needed with the meds.
Mojo is a feisty pup, and I adore him. He is entirely a reflection of my impulsiveness, hyper-fixation, hyper-focus and hyper-activity. I have seen my frustration reflected in his eyes, and the number of times I have needed to pivot in our training has been often. We both have a go-go-go excitable attitude and are learning to slow down processes and not get carried away together.
The Quirks and Traits with Grommet.
I have always wondered what Cooper would have been like if he had come into my life at an earlier stage… introducing Grommet.
Grommet came into our lives as a foster around four months ago. I was adamant that he was a project dog and that I would move on to the perfect family, not us! But he fit so well into our lives and hearts that I found anything wrong with interested parties, so I adopted him.
He had no training, didn’t seem to have any house rules, no exposure/socialisation to the outside world and had quite a few undesirable behaviours when he came through our door. We have been working on rectifying this ever since!
We are still getting to know him and his quirks. He has shown great potential with Herding, and I believe he will be a brilliant tricks dog.
The pieces of his personality I have seen so far… he wants to be loved, though he is very nervous with new people, especially if he isn’t with Mojo. He loves to play and have fun, which is typical of a young pup. If you are seated, he thinks that is an open invitation for cuddles and laying on top of you. And he is a sweet boy, eager to learn and please.
I believe, so far, he mirrors the side of me that wants to be loved and accepted, though he is still nervous about putting himself out into the world. And that is the part of our journey we will work on together.
Embracing the Enriching Depths of Canine Connection.
My dogs show distinct aspects of my personality and my journey in this life. Each has challenged me in different ways and helped me grow. We have learned and grown together.
These creatures are so beautiful and unique. They are so much more than amazing companions. And, if you, too, are open and willing to look carefully, you and your dogs can transcend your standard dog and human relationship and foster a connection that strengthens your bonds. You can grow together in a way that can open you and them up to the fullest potential and expand your world.
For dog obedience training and behaviour modification services in Geelong, the Bellarine,
Surf Coast and Golden Plains regions, contact King’s K9 Dog Training.