Spontaneous Dog Therapy

--by linnaeab, posted Mar 28, 2012

Two days ago, in the pouring rain, a young man was yelling into his cell phone as he was approaching the horse trail where I was walking with my two Great Pyrenees dogs and Yellow Labrador.

Kailash, my biggest dog, wanted to approach him. But, since the man was so engrossed in the angry conversation, I did not want to come up behind and startle him. We just stood silently sending unconditional love as he walked on.

After returning home with the Pyrenees and Lab, I headed back out with my two Golden Retrievers. Down on the trail we found the young man bent over, holding onto the horse railing.

I asked if he was okay. He said he was frustrated. We talked and I suggested he pet the dogs to help him feel better. I told him about oxytocin, the hormone released by stroking a dog, how it calmed the brain and helped people feel nurtured. He related that he has anger management issues and was ready to hit out at his girlfriend because she would not let him see his son that day (even though he had court ordered visiting rights). I rubbed his back as I listened with empathy and a wide-open heart.

I told him to tie his shoe lace (like a grandmother caring about her grandson). He smiled at the grandmother comment and walked back where he came from. He walked around the area for a while and calmed down.

Yesterday he rode his dirt bike down the same trail to where I was talking with an older gentleman. The older man, frustrated with how the recession was hurting his retirement, was also petting my dogs to calm down.

The young man had his gorgeous year old son on the dirt bike, strapped in with a helmet on. They were so happy. The young dad introduced his boy to the big dogs. It felt so good to see him happy. The old man said how the son reminded him of his own grandchild. The old man’s worries and frustrations seemed to evaporate.

"Yesterday was rainy, not a good day for a dirt bike excursion," the young man said with a laugh. "Today is perfect ... a great sunny day." We all smiled.

Dog therapy. That's how it works. It's spontaneous … anywhere and everywhere.

People are really having a tough time, even the ones who have enough financial resources to live through it. I lost my job six months ago, yet I have a great fortune: five loving dogs that make many people’s day a little brighter and their hearts a bit lighter.

1772 Reads

Posted by linnaeab
Mar 28, 2012
Comments (6)

Readers Comments

trionafaye wrote: Love your story, hugs to you and your wonderful dogs! All of you, natural healers!

Bluebell wrote: You have a big heart full of loving kindness and unconditional Love and so do your dogs. Dogs are masters in unconditional love. Thank you for reaching for those men in need of loads of loving kindness. May all your days be filled with endless Love, Light and Blessings, Bluebell

annjav wrote: You and you dogs have quite a "ministry" with your listening ear and their patience. Lots of people need a few moments of patient listening to get a perspective on their situation. Thanks for being there for them.

linnaeab wrote: Hi Blubell and annjav,
thank you for sharing your thoughts after reading this experience. this is one instance of how being kind rather than doing kind is natural and thus even more powerful. It comes straight from the heart, by passing the brain.

When I wanted to help otheres with my naturally calm dogs, I was told that we first had to do obedience training, then dog therapy training, get ceritfied and insured!

I asked my self why? these dogs know better than we humans how to just "be" love.

Just being kind without thought allows us to respond naturally and authentically. Dogs show us the way.

enjoy,
linnaea

bluxess wrote: Linnaea, yep, you are right ... What happened was an instant dog therapy ... Its so beautiful to see how all of you converged at the same point, received a lot of love ... I am sure they all had a smile on their face for a long time ... Thanks for being benevolent to all ... Immense Blessings, Bluxess.

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: Bless you for your patience and kind ear. That makes all the difference! :)

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