10 Things that make me happy

I saw another blog with this so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

1. Spending time with my loved ones: mom, daughter, dogs

2. the color yellow-sheets, towels, candles

3. german shepherd puppies-saw one the other day-too cute. And of course, Jamaican.

4. Warm but not too warm days with some clouds.

5. Good coffee with lots of cream.

6. Peaceful music: Native American fluke, celtic, south African, classical

7. Dogs and owners working as one team. Beautiful.

8. Chimes ringing, binging, clonging, pinging. I have 7 chimes in my yard.

9. Wolves. Especially when they howl.

10. Macaroni and cheese. Just had to add that one.

New Stuff

I just thought of a couple things I want to try in class. One is talking about the Invisible Leash. It's not a new gadget or letting your dog run loose. It has to do with the relationship you have with your dog. The invisible leash that connects your heart to theirs. The one that is always connected and continues past the grave.

Another idea is to have most of the commands or behaviors that we work on printed on big cardboard signs that I can put out during class. It will signal when we are moving from one thing to another and at the end of class I put up all the ones we worked on that day.

Also playing music when clients and dogs walk in and the stop to the music indicates the class started and at the end when class is over, the music comes back on. It can be a transition from one level to another.

Another one is more emphasis on the head turn, graduating to the Whip lash head turn. I swear it works, worked on an Aussie in Focus class today. I have to remind them to use a "I have something really wonderful for you" voice and not the "You're really in trouble now" voice. That's huge.

My last idea-I need a digital camera bad. I see so many opportunities for pics in class and with my own dogs. Pics that I can post here or my website or my newsletter or graduations or just perfect moments in class. Well, I will add it to my list, right after a car, a dryer and a new pair of shoes. Some day.......

Bootsie

Had a fun time this week training Boots (aka Bootsie). He is a foster dog and his foster mom went on vacation and asked if I'd work with him. He was so much fun and such a pleasure. It is refreshing to work with dogs that love people and other dogs. He is about 8-9 months old, mixture of: Plotthound, Akita, German Shepherd and who knows what else. He's big and adorable. He came to 4 of my classes this week. We also did private training. He's walking well on an Easy Walk harness. We even walked in front of Animal Ark today and he did great. He's not going to have any trouble finding a home. I wish I had a picture to show you. He is such a mix and soooooo handsome. If you are looking for a great dog, check him out at Safe Haven.

Money, money, money, money

It amazes me how some people are so money driven. It is over everything-people, relationships, pets, everything. I need money, we all do. But it is not the driving force of my business. I will talk to clients and help clients even before they pay me. Sometimes even if they don't pay me. Or take my classes. People and your relationship with them matter most. The money will come. And even if I'm not rich like Cesar Milan at least I can sleep peacefully knowing I helped people and their dogs live better together.

I don't say-money first and then I help you. You don't run a business like that. It's people and clients that drive the business. If you sincerely want to help them, and they know it, they'll come to you and they'll pay you. It just drives me crazy how people are money, money, money, money. It's just not my nature, it's not my personality, it's not how I choose to run my business. I love what I do and hope to continue for a long time. Even if I have to scrape and scrimp which sometimes I do. But having a job you love and love going to and love the clients is so worth it to me. I guess for the money people it's counting the paper money every night.

Just chillin'

Just had to add this pic. This was not today but it looked exactly like today. Me and Rock just chillin'. I had the day off so I rested and chilled. I never get tired of what I do. I just get tired sometimes. I now teach 24 classes a week plus privates and sometimes I get really tired. I don't have a regular day off but I have days when I just have a couple classes so I have most mornings and afternoons. And 2 evenings a week. So chilling time is important whether it's morning, afternoon or evening. I have to decompress and put everyone else's problems aside for awhile and enjoy my life and dogs. Just chillin'.

My New Campaign

My new campaign is to heavily promote puppy classes. I'm not sure if I want to offer something free but I know I'm going to hit all the vet, groomer and pet stores with my new Puppy Packet. It needs to be cleverly designed to grab attention right away. It needs to have helpful info that new puppy owners can use. My aim is not to make money but to get those puppies trained before they start developing bad habits that are hard to break. I get so many calls from owners whose dogs are a year or two and their habits are so bad they are ready to get rid of the dog. I ask if the dog has had any training, the answer 9 times out of 10 is no. Most dogs are given up to shelters in the adolescent ages of 6 mos to a 1 year or 1 year and a half. That's because people don't take the time to train them.

And other positives are that they are with other puppy owners to help support them and they have a training coach to help them and the other puppies in class to help them. Sometimes that can make all the difference. I answer calls and emails as soon as I can. That is another resource outside of class. I tell them about a free book download from one of the greatest trainers ever. I have to start working on the puppy packet right away. Then I have to sell it to the vets, groomers and pet stores so they will give it out and not just sit on it. Lots of work to do.

We miss Michele

Michele is on an extended stay in Nevada. She has been gone 3 weeks. Although fun, I miss her here. Her dog Ganja really misses her. She isn't eating much and last night she was crying and crying. I think it was part fireworks. I could tell by the look of the street when I came home that they shot off a lot of them and it isn't even the 4th yet. And we had a little thunderstorm. So at 3am Ganja came up to bed with me. Then Mary came up to bed. And the cat was already in bed. It made for little sleep for me. Hopefully she'll do better tonight. I think Michele will be home soon. She isn't having much fun. I didn't think she would but you can't tell kids anything.

I made a Vision board last night. It envisions what I'd like to see in the next few months to years. A converted barn into a home, a new Explorer, a training center with training assistants and lots more customers, 2 german shepherds and some land for training purposes and of course, more money. More to be added but it was a beginning. It is all bordered in yellow, a happy color and one of my favorites. The lettering in purple another favorite color. It gives concreteness to plans and dreams and helps me to vision them. Try it for yourself.