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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on August 23, 2010, at 9:54:48
I thought it would be nice to follow up on a suggestion someone made on Admin, and start a thread for therapeutic experiences with pets. Does anyone want to share anything from their history, or anything that happened today or this week?
My experiences started with my third dog, a collie. She was the best listener in the world. She would stare into my eyes as I poured out all the pain at the trauma of middle school and changes in our home. I despised my psychiatrist/therapist at the time. But the dog was far more helpful. She even mumbled the occasional encouragement, in such a sympathetic tone that it was far better than the standard therapeutic rejoinders.
My sheltie reminds me so much of her. I can't bear to lose her. She doesn't mumble like the collie did, but she's got the same soul to soul stare.
We were doing obedience when she got sick, and it's so much fun training a dog who enjoys their work. I've been looking at doggie freestyle training.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbVbPvlDoM
The bonding level is incredible! I remember the first exhibition I ever saw, set to "You will always be beautiful in my eyes" and it made me cry. My girl isn't up to Rookie's level of energetic dancing, but maybe we could have some fun doing some gentler work.
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2010, at 12:29:39
In reply to Pet therapy, posted by Dinah on August 23, 2010, at 9:54:48
I will never forget my Brandy and Sheeba but especially my first dog at age 38. He's the one I cried into his fur nightly when my Son was deployed to Desert Storm. He just loved me. Sheeba I tried to make up the time spent with Brandy after he died and then she died l0months later. The two I have now Teddy is the best dog but will never be my other two. Why as he is much better behaved and loves deeply also? Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on August 24, 2010, at 6:44:19
In reply to Re: Pet therapy » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2010, at 12:29:39
I think there's a certain amount of chemistry involved. Some people just draw us more than others, and some dogs just draw us more than others. It's not always about how good they are or how much they love us.
But I also think that attachment can be encouraged through bonding activities. Just as in an arranged marriage, lucky husbands and wives can grow to love and attachment through shared goals and experiences, lucky dogs and owners can grow to attachment through shared goals and experiences. Training your dog, or spending time with him, is the best way to fall in love. There's nothing like the shared excitement of a goal reached to stimulate those bonding hormones.
It doesn't have to be a formal class. Youtube has lots of videos on teaching your dogs simple tricks or obedience with positive methods. Teddy will never be Sheeba or Brandy. But if you invest in your relationship with him, he might become Teddy, with his own memories.
I was reading a book by Cesar Millan, where he talked about the energy each of us has. Sometimes the energy between a dog and human is just right, and we effortlessly fall in love. But we can't always count on that happening. More often than not it takes some work, just by the very nature of chemistry and the chances of it coming along with every dog we get.
And of course, sometimes we fall in love with just the wrong dog. :) But it doesn't sound like you have to worry about that with yours.
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2010, at 19:35:06
In reply to Re: Pet therapy » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on August 24, 2010, at 6:44:19
Dinah that was sweet and I know what a dog lover you are. Yes definite chemistry as visited the pet store daily til my kids teens then arrived in VA Beach to live and took them to see him and they said yes also. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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