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Teach your puppy what you want. So often, we try to teach our animals what we don't want. Don't jump on the sofa, don't jump up on people, don't surf the counter, don't bark. Don't, don't, don't … Don't is not a word that translates into a picture. All your dog sees is dogs on sofas, dogs counter surfing, and dogs barking. Instead, acknowledge the things your puppy does right and create a template of what you want. Listen in! I share ways to set your pup, kitten, horse, or bird (and you) up for success!

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/81-setting-puppy-up-for-success

Author David Brooks, a journalist, talks about how he often leaves a party or some gathering to realize that nobody ever asked him a single question. He estimates that only 30 percent of the people in the world are good question-askers.

Many animals feel that way, too. They want to be asked questions so they can express themselves. Hence my tagline: animals just like us want to be seen and heard. In this episode, follow me as I ask one important question to help Slick, a rust-colored Mule, shift from confused and uncertain to becoming his sweet and personable self again.

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/animal-want-to-be-heard-and-seen

When horse people talk about being the horse's leader, I joke that a horse lives 22 hours without us, and in the two hours we see the horse, we expect it to hand over the power to us? Distracted pea brains like us? You have seen the visual I use to make the point: a person walking next to animals with a thought bubble above the head, mind full.

For a horse to accept us as a leader like another horse, we must get present enough to direct their feet consistently.

With humans, it's always a guessing game. Sometimes, we are in charge, for example, walking down the aisle and not letting the horse sniff the other horses in the barn. But the next moment, we wrestle the sliding door and leave the horse in charge of himself without direction. That's why human leadership is a gamble for the horse. When we lead or direct, we are a leader, but when we drop our attention and intention, we leave our horse leaderless.

What if we leave the word leadership behind and find a new way to describe an ideal relationship with our horse? Join me. This episode wrote itself and clarified our relationship with hoses and dogs.

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/leadership-or-conscious-connection

Spraying, peeing, pooping out of the box? There is a reason for it. Any unexpected or undesired behavior from your animal is a cry for help. How do you prevent or change litterbox issues? By having a chat. I'll chat about it in this episode.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/78-spraying-other-out-of-the-box-issues

Do you know those moments when it feels like life is running you instead of you running your life? When that happens, our animals often step in ... literally ... to help us.

One night, Shana, my mare, took me aside. I was mucking the run-in shed, chop-chop-chop, when Shana stepped between me and the pitchfork. She brought her face close to my chest, lifted her head high, and then moved her head sideways from above the left shoulder over the crown to my right shoulder. She stepped back and took a breath. After another breath or two, she again brought her nose to my solar plexus area. I sensed she was working on my breath, opening the channels so I could breathe more deeply. Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/77-receiving-animal-healing

I let the beautiful gleaming sunlight shine upon me as I took in the truly magical cloud formation. And right then, a shiver ran through my body. From the top of my head down to my tail. I was realigning. Do you know that feeling? When your body does a little shiver? When energy runs up or down your spine? And then came the crazy bit. As I oscillated between "I feel balanced" and "kind of am ready to go back to my book," I got a message. "We do not have to make those moments so sacred that we don't feel they're part of our normal world." Whaaaaat? Listen to this episode to understand how you can get daily alignments of your nervous system. By following love and joy.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/76-getting-a-natural-alignment

Like many older dogs I communicate with, why is our dog Scout suddenly more sensitive and reactive to energies? When I asked Scout, he told me, "Because our bodies are hurting." He explained that when their body hurts, everything else becomes 'another thing' that needs to be dealt with. If one has chronic pain, any little thing stacks on top of the stress caused by it. So, what can we do for our animals? We can look at the five areas that make up our life and reduce the stress and overwhelm. Listen in to learn more about how you can help your furry companions.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/75-is-stress-stacking-up

When I see Rollie shake, I make eye contact, and with that, I say, I see you. If he does not reach out, I will offer him my hand so he can communicate with me. If he gives me a lick, I know he knows I know. If he is motionless aside from the shakes, I will put my hand on his neck and stroke slooowly down the spine. A beautiful way to remind him of his body. This podcast is less about the shakes and anxiety for Rollie or my dad but an insight into seeing and hearing others. Being seen and heard is the most powerful gift we can give.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/my-dog-has-the-shakes-and-other-notes

Due to popular demand … another pearl of wisdom from Bennett. In one of my conversations with Kathy, it was now mid-summer, she told me that Bennett had gotten very assertive around the hand grazing. On the way to the barn, he pulled her toward the grass. Kathy's pulling back resulted in the classic push-pull situation in which no one wins. It was unusual how much effort he suddenly put into it.

When Bennett did it again the next day, Kathy got mad. What was up with this horse? Why was he suddenly so forceful? Kathy, who has also re-learned to communicate telepathically with animals, finally asked Bennett what was happening with him. And she was as surprised about the answer as I was. Listen in to hear Bennett's explanation.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/we-have-a-herd-schedule

My friend Kathy and her horse Bennett rode up to the pole and parked parallel. Bennett came to a stop but got antsy the minute Kathy leaned over to get the jacket. He jigged in place, and nothing Kathy tried made him come to a quiet halt. I told Kathy, "You know what, I don't think he knows why you lean off to the side. Have you told him?" Kathy said, well, I always have the obstacle course in my mind, and sent him pictures of it. And I tell him before the ride what we do, like today we're doing obstacles."

I felt Bennett was more particular. He needed details so he could be part of the exercise. So I said to Kathy, "You got to give him specifics. Like, Hey Bennett, for us to get good scores at this obstacle, you have to stand still while I get the jacket."

There is a place between "good boy, good boy, good boy" and a mile-long ramble. Find the golden middle. Did it work out for Kathy and Bennett? Listen to this episode.

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/more-details-please