The Connection

We bend over backwards, we twist our brains trying to figure "it" out (either in parenting or dog training) and oftentimes the solution is plain and simple.

For those of us who love to learn, grow, discover, and unpack new information... we can often feel overwhelmed and not know how to move forward. Today I want to encourage you to not let your information overload cloud your view to the obvious. Sometimes, the answer to our solution is plain and simple.

Perhaps in dog training you're trying every training tip out there but you're still spinning in circles- maybe for you the "plain and simple" next step is to contact a trainer and get some professional help.

Have you ever felt paralyzed with so many decisions?  I know I do in regards to figuring our what to say "yes" to and what to say "no" to when it comes to my children's schedule vs my business schedule. But just as my grandma said after dinner this past week, "You gotta do what's best for your family!" Such a powerful statement. Such a liberating statement. But also, such a plain and simple statement to a solution for my problem.

For me when it comes to parenting, I literally felt God tell me one evening as I was sitting at my dinning room table late at night, "Lauren, it's more simple than your making it out to be." I didn't need to read another book or listen to another interview with parenting experts, I just needed to prioritize  my relationship with God. Plain and simple. If I dedicate time to strengthening my relationship with God, I will naturally spill out love, patience and forgiveness to my children since I am already receiving these from Him.

I don't know what a plain and simple solution looks like for you in your life but I hope you can lift your head up from the grind of researching, learning, striving, discerning, etc and see just how exhausting, depressing, and sometimes confusing this can feel. I know you want to be a good person and do all the things right, but if you pick your head up, take a view of things from a zoomed out perspective, sometimes the solution to our problems and the answers to our questions are (despite our beliefs most of the time) plain and simple.

Picking up our conversation from last week, today we are asking the question, are there side effects from training with positive punishment? Cliff notes answer (if you were like me in school and hated reading) the answer is YES. Of course there is.
 
However, we can't stop the conversation there. There are side effects when we only train with ONE SIDE. I tell a story about when my kiddoes were getting in the bath about a year ago. (And if you come around our house often, you might be tempted to think that's the last time they have taken a bath. haha) Anyways, when my kids are in the bath for a long period of time and the bath water fills up, they don't notice when the water gets a turned to hot or cold for a few seconds because the rest of the water in the bath helps equal it all out. There is beauty in the balance of using both hot and cold water when you have an established thriving relationship.
When you check the "bath water" of the people you lead (kids, dogs, students, employees, etc.) is the water a little too hot ? Do you tend to naturally lean to positive punishment?  If so I highly recommend, Grace Based Parenting. Is that water alarmingly too hold because you often breed entitlement and couldn't tell "no" to a housefly? I highly recommend setting some good boundaries through the Program Positive Parenting Solutions.

Also, I share a story from Mrs. Universe and foster care advocate, Tori Hope Petersen
If you want to listen to her interview from our church happening THIS weekend October 13th and 14th -- you can find all the fun details HERE! :) (If you want Seth and I to save you a seat, even better. Just shoot me a message.

Until next time, know that I love you guys!

Whelp, here we are... our first controversial conversation on the connection. My ask is you would listen to the full length of this podcast (even though I let myself go wild and free and completely blow past my 20-30 minute committed time frame. In this episode we wrestle through the question "Should we lead in such a way where they (our kids or our dogs) fear us? Is this a bad thing? Can there be a HEALTHY and beautiful  way to allow fear to be a part of the relationship? Of course not in controlling, manipulative, or abusive way but in a way that allows the follow to become the best version of themselves. 

Then of course we talked our fair share about the character of God. The good o'l bible says over and over again "do not fear" but yet we are suppose to fear God. Fear God? 
Today we park on this quote from my pastor, "When we don't fear God, we will fear something else, but when we fear God, we have nothing else to fear."

I hope today's podcast stretches your thinking whether in parenting, dog training, or a view of God. Just know that even if our opinions conflict, you are always welcome here. And just know, I'm not here to prove "I'm right", I'm here to share content that I live everyday and the powerful ways it has set me free. 

Are you leading in any capacity? Trying to help someone? Want to love well?
There is huge problem.
At the end of the day, we don't really know what they truly need from us because the heart is hidden. We can't see or detect the nitty gritty behind the scenes details driving their behavior.
So whether your a dog momma, parent, teacher, coach, or just someone who wants to help others, there is amazing news for you today. There IS a person who does know. Someone who can tell you exactly what's going on and how you should approach the behavior of that person or dog.
Of course the answer here isn't a new app or some unique google search, it's God!
But before you roll your eyes, here me out. It doesn't matter if you call yourself a Christian because no matter your beliefs, no matter your stage and experiences in life, God ALWAYS wants to have open communication with you. Always.
So I just want to encourage you, it's never too late, it's never to random of a topic. Just start talking to Him today.
He will tell you what's really going on, behind the scenes with the ones you love. Because after all, He is the only one who does.

"Hold on" song we were singing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s3k8aUaFqk

All things dog training:
https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/

Are you Type A? Do you like things neat, put together and always tied with a bow? Do you shy away from things because you don't want to risk things getting a bit... messy?

There is nothing wrong with this mindset per-say. We need people in this world to help us with order and structure, no doubt. However, I think if we let this type of personality/approach to life dominate us, there is one big problem that surfaces. (Speaking from experience.)

We miss the magic! There is something magical about allowing yourself or the ones you lead (dogs, kids, students, employees, etc.) to get a bit messy. 

What does this look like for you?
Throwing out the script. Embracing the adventure. Taking the risk. And be motivated to do it all over again because you see first hand the magic in the messiness.

Disclaimer:
I am suggesting we embrace a life that gets a bit messy and wild at times NOT chaotic and disorganized.  If you feel depressed because you are drowning in the details of life and live with piles of clutter check out the life saving program that changed my life- 
https://learndobecome.com/

Do you feel heartbroken? Frustrated? Alone? Hurt? It can feel lonely can't it.
What do we do with this? Where do we turn?

Lucky for us, God promises His heart breaks over your heartbreak (and we talk about the proof of that statement at the very end of the show today.)

But I think we can all agree that every loving leader whether a parent or dog trainer doesn't necessarily prevent pain from coming into our lives but they sure as heck are right there in it with us through our pain, reassuring us, "it's gunna be okay".

Today, I hope you can find encouragement in the reality... no matter the source of your pain, no matter the intensity of your pain, God is holding you just like I was holding my daughter behind a closed bedroom door in a puddle of tears.
 
Have you ever sat in a quiet place and just talked to God before? If not, I dare you to simply let the word of these songs (which I have linked below) be your guide as you connect with God today. Even though the pain might not go away, the strength you will receive is unexplainable as you hear him whisper, "it's gunna be okay".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HznXBBCdBE 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s3k8aUaFqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dsW5ZIH0hk

bonus song- https://www.google.com/search?q=hold+you+christian+song&oq=hold+you+christian+song&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCggCEAAYhgMYigXSAQg2OTU2ajFqNKgCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:aab419e3,vid:9NIwrp2Rw6o


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All things dog training at- https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/

Hey there! Welcome to The Connection.
My name is Lauren and I have been training dogs for years. Through my training sessions I often form connections from my clients/dog to things in the world of faith and family.

If you are not a person of faith, no worries! I wasn't at one point either so I promise you'll feel welcomed here! You might actually find this faith filled podcast refreshing since a conversation about God isn't being preached from a pulpit or conversed about in a pues. Just a dog trainer with mic and a whole lot of stories and experiences of "Connecting" to God and why the heck it even matters.   

Are you a person who has a thriving faith, buckle up as we have hard conversations with the goal of digging our faith roots even deeper so we will be able to withstand the hardest of storms in life.

Are you a parent of little ones? If so, get ready to be poured into with encouragement and practical advice. (Advice that I have picked up from  people who are much smarter than I. Honestly, half of my brain cells are fried from the sleepless nights and toddler tantrums, but  I have always been able to regurgitate great content to others when I hear it.)

Not a parent? Don't you worry! Although often time I will be giving examples from my perspective from a mom of small children, the overall principles apply to anyone in any area of leadership. This is a place where we talk about discipline, why it matters, and how to get it right.
 
Dog lover? Yes! Let's go!
 As owner of Rock Kennel Training, and serving pet owners for almost 15 years, I am continuously humbled with the fact that I don't know it all, however... I have  accumulated years and years of experiences, data, trends, and stories that I hope help set you free.

I will also be talking extensively about my passion for balanced dog training  (and if you're a "force-free warrior", please know you are loved despite our vastly different views of how to help a dog become the best version of themselves. I hope you'll stick around to hear a logical conversation seasoned with grace and empathy opposed to the conversations that left you with battle wounds from heated and hurtful arguments.)

All in all, thank you for joining me! I look forward to chatting with you every Friday  for heart felt stories, compelling and motivating content, and hopefully a chuckle or two as my dramatic, theatrical, and inner cheerleader self starts to sneak out.  

https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/

In dog training, I rarely teach a dog "watch me" or "look".  Why? Because I want my dog to have an environmental cue or a default behavior hard wired into them. They become excited, they check in with me. They are nervous, they check in with me. They are want to take control over a situation, they stop and first check in with me.

What about us? When we are experiencing all the feelings- depression, sadness, overwhelm, etc, where do you turn? Where do you go?

In this episode I share what my mom in-law, who past away only 3 short weeks ago, taught me. Let your feelings be the driver (the default cue) to turn to God in prayer.   
I know you may have baggage when it comes to God so you have always written off prayer as "not for you". I know you may have wounds from other Christians' actions and words, trust me, we all do. I know your pain and hurt and grief may seems so heavy during certain seasons of life that all you are left to do is shake your fist and blame God for all these heavy emotions you have to feel.

But what if, God is still trying to turn your story into something beautiful. What if in the mist of your big emotions, He is using them to get your attention and call you to himself because He knows the positive reinforcement he can provide.  He wants to give you peace when your head is spinning and joy when your heart is throbbing.

So I hope you can view this foundation first podcast on prayer with a fresh pair of eyes. Eyes through the lens of a dog trainer. Just like we want our dogs to automatically turn to us with their big emotions, God is inviting us all to do the same through prayer. 

https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/