10 Things my dog has taught me….

Seven years ago, I was lucky to have my Border Collie, Bobby come into my life.

For those of you who know Me – and him, you will know that we haven’t travelled the easiest of roads together.

Despite owning previous dogs, Bobby has been quite a challenge in terms of his anxiety and reactivity around certain dogs (usually those who are very quick or too bouncy for his liking!).

(a training session with Craig Ogilvie, addressing some of that over-stimulation)

He is a sensitive dog,

an excitable dog,

a clever dog,

a dog who is desperate to please

and last but not least …

a dog to whom I owe so much(enjoying trick training)

Here are just some of the things I have learned from Bobby during our last 7 years together…

1. Sometimes the right path is not always the easiest one

True for both Me and Bobby!

Unfortunately when I first realised that Bobby had issues that I needed to address, it took time to find the right dog trainer who could actually help us.

In that time I spent money unwisely on training aids and methods that were not helpful and probably made things worse for Bobby.

Eventually I found a local dog training school in Bedfordshire, Dogzaloud who were able to thoroughly assess the situation and give me practical help with addressing Bobby’s needs.

After several 1:1 sessions, Bobby was able to join a class along with other dogs – something I never envisaged he would be able to do.

2. When life gives you a rainy day – play in the puddles!

As I’ve already said, things aren’t always easy…but we have to make the most of every day and every opportunity within that day.

Dogs have a way of enjoying every day – no matter what life throws at them!

3. There’s a world out there, just waiting to be discovered

In a world where we spend so much of our time working at desks, looking at our mobile phones and watching boxsets on TV, I can’t recommend enough getting out there and enjoying the wonderful countryside we have around us.

I am fortunate that part of my work includes walking with dogs, but on days off its not always easy to motivate myself to leave my comfy sofa  – especially when the weather is inclement.

The benefits of getting outside (both physically and mentally) are well documented. I know its good for me…and I know my dogs love it.  If you have a dog, the chances are you already get out more often than your non-dog-owning friends!

4. A good dose of Vitamin Sea does the world of good

If you live in the UK, the chances are that you are probably less than a few hours away from the sea.  We are about 2 hours from the beautiful Norfolk seaside.

The beaches are beautiful and the County is very geared up for dog visitors, with dog friendly pubs in every town and village.  You can even buy doggy ice cream at the seaside.

At the next opportunity, book yourself a day out at the seaside – or better still a weekend away and go and explore the sandy beaches and peaceful walks along the dunes – your dog will thank you for it!

5. Take time to enjoy the view

There is a reason why we don’t see the world in black and white.

Look around you and enjoy all that your area has to offer.  I love the different seasons of the year, the cold crisp frosty mornings, the balmy summers, evening sunsets and the beautiful colours of spring flowers.

Enjoy the simple things in life…they are free!

6. Dipping your toe in the water, won’t make a splash!

I am the world’s worst procrastinator! I just can’t make decisions. I overthink.  A lot.

But what I’ve learned is that taking baby steps…is still progress!

I don’t have to jump right in at the deep end to make a difference.

It’s been the same training Bobby…just small steps each session have reinforced the desired behaviours, and I am very proud of where he is now.

7. Reach for the Moon …even if you miss you’ll land amongst the stars

Great achievements don’t just happen.  They take effort.

The hardest things to attain can be a real challenge for us to achieve, but as long as we keep trying we WILL get there.

Bobby – like most dogs, just wants to please people.  He will always “try” to do the right thing.

But sometimes like all of us he just needs a bit of guidance to show him which direction he should go in.

8. Sometimes you need to slow down

Bobby does everything at 100mph!

I’m guilty of trying to do too much in a day, and consequently rushing things.

Those who know me often tell me….I eat quickly, I walk quickly, and generally I have a tendency to do things as quickly as I can, so that I can move on to the next thing.

I do TRY and slow down, but its not something that comes naturally to me.  I practise yoga almost every day, to ensure that I least have a small window once a day where I BREATHE properly.

This is definitely an area I still need to work on more….maybe having a super speedy Collie was the perfect dog choice for me!

9. Life is better with friends

This is so true!

Bobby was an only “child” for the first 4 years of his life, and because of his nature I was reluctant for a long time to introduce another dog to the household.

However with encouragement from my husband Charlie, we took the plunge and visited Wiccaweys Rescue Border Collies and ended up rehoming Sammy, a beautiful Tri-coloured Collie.

Although initially not impressed, Bobby soon came to accept and possibly even love (?) his new brother.  They have enjoyed so many adventures together and as you can see above, they have the best time when they are together.

I feel blessed to have so many amazing friends, many of whom I have met through my work, our common love of dogs or just because fate has bought us together.  I’m thankful to have every one of you in my life.

10. REST

Even Bobby takes a break sometimes!

In this fast paced, 24/7 life we now live in, it can be really difficult to switch off our devices and take a break – but we do need to.

I know I wasn’t alone in getting the dreaded flu bug at the beginning of the year.  It seemed to take forever to get over it, and I do believe it was my body’s way of saying (shouting!) …”you need a rest!”

…and eventually I took a leaf out of Bobby’s book…and I did!

Bobby has taught me so much more than the 10 things I’ve listed here…but I was worried people might not read to the end if I wrote it all down!

I hope you have made it this far…and if you have …I really hope you’ve enjoyed it.

I’ve enjoyed reflecting on some of the happy times I’ve had with my dog…I’m hoping we have many more special times ahead

If you are interested in booking a lifestyle photo session of your dog (with or without you), please contact me via Facebook/Instagram

email info@katrinawilsonphotography.co.uk

call/text: 07967 676131