It's been a long time...

[Teresa]

So.....

It's been a really long time since I posted anything here on ES, but after this long break I've decided that today is the day I'm returning to action here in ES!

I'd like to tell you a bit on how we are doing after so long:

Pitanga is 6 years old now, and nearly died this summer due to a nasty tick fever. Her heart got a bit worse from that, and as a consequence she also has arthritis. She is stable, fat and happy and when I return to Portugal I'll start her on her heart meds to make her heart last longer (more on me later!)

Romã is now 4 and a half and has blossomed into a very nice and balanced girl - she's still a bit shy (it's just who she is really) but has learned to cope and accept new things really well! I'm very proud of her, she's come a long way. She is also my main dog, when it comes to training right now.

Here is some of our recent work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APxtO02g5OE (go to your mat training)

And for those of you who still remember about my old cocker spainel Ginja, she's now 11 and a half, grumpy, but doing really well. Our guard dog Trigo, is a nice happy boy, and does his job perfectly.

We also have a new honorary setter: a little lamb, called Aveia (Oats) that was rejected by her mother. Pi and Romã made sure she felt fully integrated in our pack! Here they are looking really cute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBIWPRE_VME

As for me... I'm currently on an externship in Michigan, that will get me closer to my dream of becoming a veterinary behaviorist. I'm also taking a positive dog training course that has completely changed my views on training and raising a dog. 

I'll have to stay away from my girls until the end of March, which is really hard, but sometimes we have to do hard choices in order to follow our dreams! And as soon as I get back, if I have to go live far away from Portugal, they get to come along!

And I think that's it, that's pretty much whats going on with our lives right now!

[Finding_Beau]

Hi Teresa, I Love your little lamb, Oats. She is lucky to have so many mothers!

Re your dog training/vet behaviourist course, do they discuss intuitive communication?

I train my dogs and my horses with my verbal and non-verbal (intuitive) language and they respond amazingly. I have even learned "wild bird" talk. I have always believed that animals are much more intelligent that human beings give them credit for. I do not consider myself to be the alpha. I consider myself to be the mother. 

I'll give you a recent example. "Out of the blue" I kept dreaming about Khatalyst. She also kept coming into my mind constantly. I have never met Khatalyst. She is Khomet's sister. The breeder offered to sell Khatalyst to me in 2008 but it was too soon after Khomet had died. I decided to phone Khatalyst's current owner and she was amazed. She had just sent Khatalyst away because they were trialling a new horse for her son. I truly believe that Khomet was communicating to me from Heaven. Khatalyst came to live with us on 7 November 2013 on her 15th Birthday. I know Khatalyst was meant to come to us, as every single one of my animal children are meant to come.

Some human beings do not believe in ESP but animals are masters of ESP and if your connections with animals are deep enough, this is natural language between you. You have to believe though.

Susan

[Catherine Carter]

Thanks for all your news, Teresa ! I hope it is not too cold in Michigan! But so interesting to have the opportunity to go and study abroad! Please keep us posted how it is all going for you!

[Teresa]

Hi Susan,

Thanks for your comment, I found it very interesting!
We do talk about intuitive communication, but it's usually not a good thing in our line of work :-(
We find that most people are sending all the wrong signs to their pets, making them scared and confused, so we normally find ourselves teaching people how to act and talk around/to their pets so they can all understand each other better.

We also teach people how to read dog language better as there are many wrong concepts out there!
As for being Alpha... Many of our clients come in our office as Alpha or trying to become Alpha. They all leave as moms and dads!!!

Dominance is an outdated unscientific concept. Dogs are sensitive animals and they are not trying to rule the world!!! They are opportunistic, guard whatever they see as valuable resources and will do what works on trial and error basis.

This makes them perfect for pure positive training techniques and not the usual punitive heartbreaking methods you see advertised out there!

So, the way I see it, you are doing perfectly on any behaviorists' book!

[Teresa]

Hi Catherine,

It's freezing cold in Michigan, I feel like I moved to the North Pole!!! But it's totally worth it for all the amazing things I'm learning! :-D

I'll make sure I keep you posted!

[silvia]

Wow, such a great experience, good luck Teresa and thanks for posting! Love the tiny lamb :)

[silvia]

and my god.. it must have been scaring with Pi! so glad she's better by now!!

[James Doran]

Nice to hear about how life is going for you, Teresa. Best wishes for the present and the future.

[Howard Glansfield]

Good to hear from you,glad all is well.