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Be here now...With your dog

40 members • Free

3 contributions to Be here now...With your dog
What would you do differently? (🇪🇸abajo)
Hello friends, I am sorry I haven't been in touch. One of my dogs is very ill. It's been going on since June but lately his blood tests were even worse. The vets don't know why he is ill. The good thing is that if he is on meds he doesn't feel unwell. So I am fully aware that one day I might wake up to find him gone. And I am at peace with this because I have given him the best life I have been able to. Maybe not perfect, but I have done my best. Taking into consideration that he was an "unadoptable" dog due to his aggressive tendencies and bite history, he has had 6 years full of love, peace, respect and 0 hostility with us. I have managed to satisfy his needs as a family dog and as a livestock guardian working dog. And I have loved him, love him, and will love him infinitely forever. Sometimes the universe gives you a surprise because the love of your life is a dog instead of a human being. And this is our case. But anyway, all this got me thinking, now I know that any of our walks could be the last one, what I am doing differently? What would you do differently if it was your last walk together? I will give you my answer when I read yours. See if we think the same. Thank you for reading, walking this path and sharing your thoughts with me 🩷🌷🙏🏻 🇪🇸Hola amigos, siento no haber estado en contacto. Uno de mis perros está muy enfermo. Esto viene desde junio, pero últimamente sus análisis de sangre han empeorado. Los veterinarios no saben por qué está enfermo. Lo bueno es que, mientras está con medicación, él no se siente mal. Así que soy plenamente consciente de que un día puedo despertarme y encontrar que se ha ido. Y estoy en paz con esto porque le he dado la mejor vida que he podido. Quizá no perfecta, pero he hecho todo lo que ha estado en mis manos. Teniendo en cuenta que era un perro “inadoptable” por sus tendencias agresivas y su historial de mordidas, ha tenido 6 años llenos de amor, paz, respeto y 0 hostilidad con nosotros. He conseguido satisfacer sus necesidades como perro de familia y como perro de trabajo guardián de ganado.
What would you do differently? (🇪🇸abajo)
2 likes • 4d
I'm really sorry that he's so ill. What a beautiful video of your lovely old boy. This subject really crushes my soul a bit. As you know we have been struggling for such a long time with Chester. He's still holding on surprisingly well, but from time to time I start noticing subtle things that weren't there before. And I keep wondering to myself what is fair to him and think in circles. None of it is the life I had wished for him. We restrict so much to keep him comfortable, but that does come at a price. I sometimes wonder if it's worth paying that price. There is so much that I would change, if only I could go back to the beginning. But to be honest, if today was our last walk, I wouldn't change that much. Maybe for once just have some pure me and him time without Storm as I haven't been able to do that with Storm's separation anxiety. Go for a longer nature walk for one last time, as we can not go for really long with him for a long time already. Find somewhere where I could let him safely off-leash for just this once. Best of luck to you and him for the coming time. I know it's hard.
0 likes • 21h
@Maria Diaz Yes, I do believe that most people genuinely want what's best for their dog and just do what they know. We're only human, so we make mistakes. I often think I'm just lucky that I knew about learning theory from my study, so it's not as bad as it could have been. But we all make mistakes, and we have made our fair share as well. It's heartwarming to know that you came that far. There are some fenced in private forests but all a long drive away so not something we could do weekly. But definitely something I would certainly drive to when I knew he wouldn't have long anymore. But agreed, shame we're all so far away!
My favourite activity (español más abajo)
Do you know what my favourite activity to share with my dogs is? 👉🏻 Doing nothing. Because when I do nothing — when I have no goals, when time or distance don’t matter — that’s when I truly enjoy life: We watch the sun rise, feel its warmth on our faces, touch the cool damp earth after the night, enjoy each other’s company, listen to nature and its non-human inhabitants, be grateful for sharing this beautiful moment together, breathe slowly and deeply, smell the countryside… just be present. Being present, grounded, and emotionally regulated is living. At least for me, someone who has carried such an agitated inner (and outer) life for so long. I had to hit rock bottom to learn this. And now I am grateful 🙏🏻🩷🌷 What are your thoughts? What do you enjoy doing? Maybe you find joy in a totally different way! I would love to hear your opinion ¿Sabes cuál es mi actividad favorita para compartir con mis perros? 👉🏻 No hacer nada. Porque cuando no haces nada — cuando no tienes un objetivo, cuando el tiempo o la distancia no importan — es cuando realmente disfruto de la vida: Vemos salir el sol, sentimos su calor en la cara, tocamos la tierra fresca y húmeda después de la noche, disfrutamos de nuestra compañía, escuchamos a la naturaleza y a sus habitantes no humanos, damos gracias por compartir este momento tan hermoso, respiramos lento y profundo, olemos el campo… simplemente estamos presentes. Estar presentes, conectados y regulados emocionalmente es vivir. Al menos para mí, alguien que ha llevado una vida interior (y exterior) tan agitada durante tanto tiempo. Tuve que tocar fondo para aprender esto. Y ahora estoy agradecida 🙏🏻🩷🌷 ¿Cuáles son tus pensamientos? ¿Qué disfrutas tú? ¡Quizá encuentres la alegría de una manera totalmente diferente! Me encantaría conocer tu opinión.
My favourite activity (español más abajo)
1 like • 19d
I can fully understand how that is your absolute favorite thing. Your environment is so beautiful and calm, and everything I've seen from you so far reflects this whole mindset. With society getting more busy all the time, it's hard for us to really achieve that out here. Chester can't really get far anymore, and with his reactivity it was hard to create this for him anyways. Storm is so easily overwhelmed still, that we can't get out in the fields without him flowing over before we can get back. Though those quiet moments of connection out in the backyard or in the home are already worth "just being" for a while. However, Storm and I find joy in mantrailing and recently scent detection. It wasn't planned when I chose him or his breed to do this at all. But from really early on it was really hard for me to sneak by him, because he would catch my scent when I was long gone and lead my partner a part of the way to where I was going. I wanted to honor this talent that's so natural to his breed and dogs.
1 like • 19d
@Maria Diaz Haha, as long as they are having fun. But it's forgiven if you can't find the joy of it in the moment, we're only human. Only after the fact will I sometimes realize that Storm is trying his best, and that some situations (if only in hindsight) are kind of funny. Exciting! Curious to hear if both of you enjoy it just as much. Makes you feel really proud of them, even if it's not your achievement.
Sentirse acompañado
Buenos días comunidad 🫶🏻 pregunta para quien quiera responder. Qué te ha enseñado tu perro a parte de disfrutar del momento? A mí lo importante que es sentirse acompañado. Cuando estás acompañado todo es mejor; estamos más tranquilos, en paz...y al mismo tiempo, somos más fuertes, estamos más dispuestos a actuar y de ser capaces de superar dificultades. Sabiendo que nos apoyan incondicionalmente ❤️ 🇬🇧Good morning, community 🫶🏻 A question for anyone who’d like to share: What has your dog taught you, besides enjoying the moment? For me, it’s the importance of feeling accompanied. When we feel accompanied, everything is better; we’re calmer, more at peace… and at the same time, we are stronger, more willing to act, and more capable of overcoming difficulties. Knowing that we are supported unconditionally ❤️
Sentirse acompañado
1 like • 26d
Chester definitely taught me that his feeling of safety is more important than any social constructs we put on ourselves and others as humans. And that it's ok to lose the plot sometimes. Storm is right in the middle of teaching me that growing up is a process. It can't be rushed, takes a lot of patience and will definitely make me a better guide for clients with growing dogs. Bonus picture of Storm 😇.
1 like • 26d
@Maria Diaz Thank you. Yes, they definitely did that for me. It's reassuring to hear that with room to grow, they can grow up wonderful!
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Joan Smeets
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14points to level up
@joan-smeets-9745
Dogtrainer and carer for two dogs.

Active 11h ago
Joined Nov 5, 2025