Ignore the Dog

 Encouraging bad behavior is akin to allowing a bull to roam free in a china shop...

Here is a fact:  I am not a dog person.  Rather, I would like to be characterized as a dog appreciator because there is something unique a dog can give to their owner.

About two months ago, my family and I got a dog.  His name is Jax.  We found him at an SPCA and after a week of searching other places we decided to get him.  He is a five and half years old, Jug, which is part Jack Russell and part Pug.  Jax is a great dog and that is saying a lot since dogs and I are not usually best of friends.

The main reason our family decided to get a dog is because of our daughters.  We wanted our youngest daughter to learn to connect with dogs, so one day she can get her own seeing-eye dog and get around on her own. Owning a dog also provides an excellent opportunity for our oldest daughter to gain valuable responsibility taking care of him and garner some companionship as well.

The one annoying habit our dog displayed initially was bark uncontrollably when we come home from somewhere.  To remedy the problem, we watched a dog trainer video on you-tube.  His advice was simple - IGNORE THE DOG.  Amazingly, it works like a charm.  Often when I come home, I talk under my breath to remind myself - ignore the dog.

The premise of ignoring the dog works because the animal reacts to us.  If we yell when we get home, he gets excited and responds accordingly.  If we stay calm, he stays calm. What a great lesson from man’s best friend.

Many successful people are known for being at their best when things are at their worst or most stressful. There are many words to describe it: unflappable, irascible, undeterred, regardless, cool as a cucumber, calm and collected. It is almost as if things slow down for some people when things are going crazy all around them.

 

Here are a few examples of those who have ignored the dog and done what needed to be done:

·         Early in his pro basketball career, Michael Jordan’s critics claimed that his jump shot wasn’t good enough. So, in the off season, he took hundreds of shots every day until he became what many now consider one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

·         Throughout her life, Mother Teresa, set out to love the least of these, the little orphans of India.  Regardless of how small and frail her stature was, she didn’t stop until God took her home.

·         Despite being President during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln persevered till he freed the slaves, despite being hated and eventually assassinated.

·         Then there is Joni Erickson Tada who despite being paralyzed in her late teens did not let her wheel chair keep her down.  With God’s help, over thirty years ago, she established a ministry called, Joni and Friends, which supports and aids the handicapped community worldwide.

The art of remaining calm and confident is one we should all strive to master. Whether it is just training our dog to behave, or doing something of critical or eternal significance.

Ignore the dog or whatever it is that tries to drag you down to its level.

Swavel