Wagasana, greeting the day

 with gratefulness and curiosity!

Have you had a doga moment today?

Enlightened!

MA - Counseling Psychology - Antioch University, Keene, NH

BS - Organizational Management - Leslie  University, Cambridge,  MA

NBCC - Board Certified Counselor

CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer)

Founder - Dog Talk LLC | New England Pet Partners Inc. |Daily Doga

Author of Awareness Centered Training - ACT, Train Your Dog, Change Your Life,

Contributing author Children Dogs and Education

Dog Talk Media: publications on canine training, human/dog relationships

Maureen has presented workshops on dog behavior, family systems and pet-assisted therapy  

Member: National Board of Certified Counselors NBCC, Association of Pet Dog Trainers International APDT, IAABC,

NH Non-Profits, Hudson Chamber of Commerce

Doga makes sense to me ... many of the Yoga pose’s names are related to Nature: Downward Facing Dog, Upward Facing Dog, Eagle, Tree, Cat / Dog, Mountain, Camel, Frog ...  

                                                

Living and learning with dogs is a lifelong passion. I used to study dog breeds in the back of Spiegel’s catalog, threatening my mother that "when I grew up, I’d get big dogs”. True to my word, I have lived with big, small, 3-legged, deaf, pedigreed and mixed. Forever grateful for their presence in my life, we created moments in our small, backyard jungle that paved a path for my adult passion and career.

Being an introverted-extrovert, dogs help lead me to paths I may never have found on my own. Training dogs has changed my life.

Living in a small, cramped, but affordable apartment in Lowell, MA, my parent’s choice of dog for me was small (Chihuahuas or little mutts). I had a menagerie of birds, gerbils, turtles and fish. Our family knew next to nothing about dog behavior, aside from what one generation passed on to the next, which wasn't brilliant, but the best they could do with the education (information) that was passed down.     

Things happened that, even as a child, I knew was not okay. You don’t drown a feral kitten in a sewer. Resiliently, the dogs and I managed to blend in and survive the chaos of growing up, much like everyone does. We didn’t know any differently. How could we? One thing I know for sure, is that perfect is whatever it is at that time. As Dr. Seuss says in Places You’ll Go, “we have a brain in our head, feet in our shoes, we can steer our life in whatever direction we choose!”

Dogs provided me a safe place, companionship, love, connection and a calling. My inglorious teenage years and too young first marriage and subsequent divorce, I had dogs as my protectors –partners, friend and therapist. This was and still is a too big a job for any dog to take on. Thank you dear dogs. Today, they still have jobs, with an older, wiser me, as companion, pet therapy assistant and teacher. I am proud to be a dog parent!

Many of your stories echo the reality of the "imperfect" family. News flash! Perfect families is an illusion. Learn what you embrace and let the rest go. All families have skeletons and secrets that are colored with pride, beliefs and values passed from generation to generation. That doesn’t mean that it has to apply to me (us).  

GEL: Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger, we can make lifestyle choices. I grew up with a resilient ability to withstand emotional chaos almost without flinching. It works well for counselors, dog behaviorists, journalists, law enforcement, in-laws, and so much more.  

Survival techniques: We are conditioned form the moment we are born. Puppies are too. What I learned from dogs and other species is that they are excellent at reading body language. Learning to read expressions, be aware of your surroundings are valuable survival tools as long as they are kept in check. It is useful knowing when to back off from a dog who is fearful or a person who is angry. Until the storm subsides, finding a refuge is okay. We can choose our battles with our dogs and others. A wise friend shared with me, “Know what is not your circus, not your monkeys”.       

Dogs have taught me to  listen to my intuition, balance energy and create clear boundaries. Dogs share our drives like fight or flight, react or respond. They share sensory overload. When overly stressed, they can’t learn. We need awareness to know when to take a 10-minute brain break. When we are stressed, overwhelmed, overtired or angry, we can’t make sensible decisions. Neither can a puppy/dog learn when stressed. Breathe. Give the body and brain a chance to re-energize.

   

Dogs are accepting companions, teachers and therapists (in their own way). Always, I remember, they are dogs, a different species. Try not to overload their sensory.    

Dogs are not unconditional. They tolerate / accept us as human. Dogs have species related pack conditions with survival being at the core. To survive (wild, jungle, home), they use coping skills that work. Misunderstood or pushed hard enough, dogs can hurt us. So can friends, family or the environment. Recognizing this is awareness!

             

With dogs I learned to accept death, grief and letting go too often. Life presents "stuff" to us (panic attacks, depression, anxiety, stress, death, divorce, transition and trauma). They say lessons are repeated until learned. Dogs keep teaching me to never give-up, to love many, trust few and try to harm none. We humans have stories. Dogs do too, but in a different way. They associate in context, remembering situations, and then move on to the next moment.    

Dogs mirror our behaviors! I consider myself privileged to be invited and accepted in the presence of dogs and their ancestors the wolf. I have the amazing opportunity to view the world through another specie's perspective. Watch their reactions to our behaviors, like teaching them to SIT when we ask. If our dogs aren’t doing what we expect, then we need to figure out how we can teach / communicate in an understandable way. Can they even do the task we ask?     

With insatiable curiosity, I am honored and content when I am in the company of others who have the same intrinsic love of dogs. Not a word has to be spoken between beings that include dogs as part of the Universe right along with elephants, dolphins, wolves and every other living being. They get it!    

My friend Stella, who passed at 93, taught me, "It is a knowing that needs no words”. Dr. Jane Goodall shares in Reason for Hope, "If I had one wish it would be to see the world through their eyes (her beloved chimpanzees) if only for a moment”. The late Cindy Fischer, M.Ed., TTouch Practitioner, author of Pets Tell us a Story shared, "Animals make me aware of my connectedness with others. In the big picture, we want the same thing, understanding, acceptance and love”. Dr. Ian Dunbar, whose lessons I revisit often humbly shares, “Do what you are passionate about – people will disagree, don’t get your knickers in a twist, fart and move on.”.   

I no longer care what anyone thinks about my passion for dogs. Not all of us like the same dessert. To me, dogs are delicious. Living and learning with dogs is my legacy. Sharing our pets to enhance well-being and education (New England Pet Partners, Inc.) is something I can give to those who want some.

I am forever grateful for dogs and friends who accept me for me. I will do whatever I can to raise awareness about living and learning with dogs, educational enrichment, relationship and well-being.

To the dogs ... I thank you with all my heart. Enjoy the Journey!

When Pablo Casals reached ninety-five, a young reporter asked him a question:

 “Mr. Casals, you are ninety-five and the greatest cellist who ever lived.Why do you still practice everyday?”  

Casals replied:  “Because I think I’m making progress.”

About Maureen  – Dogs – Teamwork

To all the pets I've loved
To all who taught me how to live
You are always in my heart and soul
Not forgotten, keeping me whole

~ Maureen Ross

You can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows and stressful moments with your dog. You share what you may never with anyone else fearing judgment. Dogs listen and agree that “you are absolutely right to feel what you are feeling.” They tilt their head, aha, lightening the situation, making us laugh. When a contented dog enters, they naturally change the energy in the room. What’s not to be grateful for?  

Balancing

 energy