Life Lessons I've Learned From Dogs

You know one of the reasons why I love dogs and training so much? They can teach you so much about yourself…and inspire self growth…if you’re willing to listen. Training has afforded me a way of making a deeper, more meaningful connection with them. And - as I discovered along the way, a deeper and more meaningful connection with humans too. It’s one of the things I’ve always wanted to share with you - my students - but that I didn’t always have the chance to say.

Having just started this blog, I thought this would be a good place, if any, to start.

Jocko Wilnik had a saying: “Discipline Creates Freedom”. It’s a saying he coined from the life experiences that he learned in the US Military.

It’s one that stuck with me since I’ve first learned about it. Think about how true this is.

No - seriously.

Discipline feels like such a yucky word. But is it really?

If you don’t have the discipline to exercise, you can’t expect to improve your health and wellbeing. If you don’t have the discipline to save while you’re young, you won’t have the freedom to retire early or comfortably.

And the same is true for dog training.

Making the discipline to thoroughly teach my dog loose leash walking means I have the freedom to bring her with me to the busiest places - dog friendly festivals, dog competitions and events, downtown neighbourhoods, and even busy airports - and actually enjoy my time with her.

Making the discipline of teaching her to settle in my house means I have more friends that welcome our visits to their homes with open arms.

This past year, making the discipline of teaching my dog a solid down stay meant I had the freedom to make going through airport security checks a smooth and painless experience for everyone involved.

Enjoying those freedoms in my life with my dog has inspired me to create that in the other areas of my life too.

It’s why I don’t shy away from the word discipline. In fact, I couldn’t think of anything that could be more freeing in the long run.