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Last weekend I stepped in dog poo while playing with my nephew. Despite the fact that I constantly have dogs at my house, am out walking trails or visiting dog parks, I rarely step in their little presents. And although the full saying suggests it, my shoe did NOT come up smelling like roses.

But the superstition just might have merit. I had a terrific week!

Monday I signed my final divorce papers and it went smoothly. My ex and I even chatted amiably for a bit. I finally got my website running and blogs posted. I even know how to post without asking for help!

My social media manager successfully took a couple of decent pictures of me and the dogs at a terrific 14-acre dog park in CT that I have wanted to visit for awhile. And then near the end of the week, I received a call letting me know my application was accepted to an apartment I was waiting to hear about.

And it didn’t stop there. I received a mug I had been waiting for — a prize for being a finisher in that month-long challenge I mentioned in a recent blog. I got a welcomed last-minute request to host one of my pup clients overnight, which was a sweet surprise.

Then my sister stayed for the weekend so we could celebrate new beginnings and say thank-you to the house and yard for some wonderful memories. We had a fire, s’mores, a bit of spirits, and some good music. And the weather was beautiful.

Although it didn’t seem like good luck to find a smelly blob of doggie-doo on my shoe last weekend, I am now convinced that’s exactly what it was. And if I didn’t have dogs around me constantly, I would never have stepped in that sh*t. Perhaps all of the wonderful moments I experienced the following week would never have happened.

I suppose I will never know for certain, but I choose to believe that it is because of dogs that I am finding good luck all around me.

How has a seemingly bad, gross, or even sad situation with a dog (or any animal) actually turned into something wonderful for you?

 

We all have our insecurities. Some people hide them while others put them out there for all to see. And many people quietly fight those inner battles by doing things every day to confront their insecurities, becoming a bit more comfortable and confident each time.⁠

⁠I have too many insecurities to list. But this picture illustrates two of them. First, I used to cringe at the idea of posting photos of myself. I’m no supermodel and the word “photogenic” will never be used to describe me. Just look at any birthday post my sister has posted to my Facebook timeline!⁠
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But the last couple of years, I’ve worked on posting more or being okay with others’ posts. I focus on the idea that it’s about the memory, not how I look. And I have so many awesome memories. Usually they include time with dogs — either mine, or with others.⁠

⁠Imposter Syndrome

The other insecurity is that damn imposter syndrome. It says that one of these days I’m going to be called out as a fraud. I’ll be exposed for having no idea what I’m doing with these pups.⁠
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Is this true? No. Not at all. In general I’m very confident in my abilities. But occasionally — especially now with this brand new venture — that little voice whispers, “You’re a fake. All these dogs are in danger in your care. You’ll never succeed and everyone will hate you for pretending.”⁠
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Holy cow! That’s also my wonderful anxiety creeping through to boot. But I keep going. I keep playing with my pups. I keep learning from and sharing stories and questions with other caretakers and experts. I keep telling that devil of an inner voice that she is a liar.

And I keep posting pictures. It reminds me that I DO know what I am doing, it gives me confidence, and it makes me smile on the days that I feel extra insecure.⁠

Even Dogs Have Insecurities

Even dogs have their insecurities. Have you ever been at a dog park and watched a new dog arrive? Some bound in ready to play and explore, just assuming they will be surrounded by friends and a great time.

Others arrive at the party more timid. Tail tucked, stuck like glue to their caregiver. It takes them a bit more time to feel safe. They need a slow introduction to this new environment and possible playmates. Often, they find that one other dog who makes them feel safe, play and explore with just them for a bit, and then they come out of their shell and start running and wrestling, ready to meet the rest of the gang.

Maybe that’s why we feel so understood around our canine companions. They instinctively become our safe space, the one companion who will stay by our side until we feel ready to take a step into the unknown.

They celebrate our achievements, no matter how small, and accept us when we fail. They don’t judge. They don’t care what we look like. They only care that we show up for them. That we love them.

How Would Dogs Speak to Themselves?

If dogs could speak our language, I have no doubt they would never speak to themselves the way we speak to ourselves. It wouldn’t even occur to them. And they would be confused as heck if they knew what our inner voices were saying to us. They’d cock their heads in that adorable questioning way and wonder aloud, “Why would you even THINK that? Don’t you know how amazing you are?”

Most of us have had too many people in our lives either intentionally or unintentionally cut us down. Say and do things that make us question our own worth. So much so that recognizing one tiny thing of value within ourselves feels wrong. Egotistical. Fraudulent.

During those times, go sit with your dog. If you don’t have one, visit a park, a shelter, or borrow a friend’s dog. The activity doesn’t matter. Snuggle, play ball, hike, swim; no matter what you do, your companion is going to enjoy the moment. She’s going to look at you with adoration because you are the one sharing in this joy.

Just soak in the love and affection. For just that moment, understand that to this animal, you are everything. You are worthy. Don’t fight it. Let it wash over you.

Hang on to this bit of time during which insecurity vanishes. Take it with you and hold it in your heart for the next time you need a reminder that you have so much more to offer than you think you do, and remember that how you look has nothing to do with any of it.

I’ve never had a dog turn away from me because I felt fat, ugly, unworthy, or even cranky. They couldn’t care less about any of that. And guess what — most humans don’t really care about any of that either. Both dogs and humans are just excited to have someone join them in the fun.

Dogs have given me an avenue and excuse to keep doing what I love while I work through that inner dialogue and build my confidence.⁠
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How have dogs helped you fight your own insecurities?

Look at this girl. She’s focused. She almost never misses that ball.

Petruska will fly and twist her body into all sorts of contortions — I swear that girl has wings — to get that ball. She never takes her eyes off of it.

If her brother, a sweet, big baby of a lab mix, is also chasing it, Petruska steps it up. She’s getting there first.

It doesn’t matter if she’s all the way across the yard and he’s only four feet from the ball. She’ll scramble and yell — and he backs off every time.

Once she’s made up her mind, that girl always gets her prize.

She has become my mentor. Without knowing it, Petruska has given me a much needed and very timely lesson on focus and determination. On not giving up even when it seems the ball is unreachable.

I worked with an amazing group of people on a month-long challenge recently. Though we each have our own business ventures, whether brand spanking new like mine or established, we all have goals and aspirations to push further. We all have that “ball” in front of us. And we’re all just a little bit scared — or a LOT bit scared.

Most Successful People Still Have Doubts

It has been incredibly eye-opening to me to learn that even the most successful among us still have doubts, and still have a lot to learn. That they, too, need encouragement and reminders to keep pushing forward. Each one of them is chasing that metaphorical ball, and sometimes (probably most of the time) it’s our own minds that try to get in the way.

What’s great is that I’m now surrounded by an entire group of Petruskas. What’s even better is that we’re all after a different ball, so everyone is cheering each other on to stay focused, scramble, and even contort ourselves occasionally, because we are all going to catch it.

Sometimes — many times — we even get an assist from fellow group members. One of us mentions that we just can’t figure out how to get past this one obstacle, and another chimes in saying, “Oh, I’ve tackled that already. Here’s how you do it.”

Perhaps this is one of the many reasons I have come to love and value this group of people so much.
To me, they’re just like dogs — which is the ultimate compliment.

What I mean is, they possess all of the qualities I most appreciate in my canine companions. When they see what they want, they are laser focused — like a dog with a ball, or one that’s chasing a squirrel or eyeing that piece of pizza on the counter. Yet they also are the most accepting group I’ve ever been a part of. If I need help, they offer it or show me where to find it.

Does one of us need encouragement, or just an ‘Atta girl or boy? They are the first to freely hand those out. It’s like coming home to my boy Jackson and seeing his wagging tail and smile.

Which brings me back to Miss Petruska. Because of her, I appreciate this group even more. Because of her, I see what determination and laser focus can accomplish.

Hey everybody!

Have you heard that pet adoptions have soared since the pandemic started? Many shelters were actually cleaned out. What a wonderful sight to see — rows of empty kennels because all of the animals found their ‘furever’ homes. Maybe you were in that mix, adding to your family during these last crazy months.

The pandemic has given many of us a lot of extra time at home. While it might feel almost claustrophobic by now, thank goodness for our furry friends.

For those of us living alone, that companionship has been nothing short of a lifesaver. For those of us “stuck” with family 24/7, our dogs have still been a lifesaver — perhaps thwarting any homicidal tendencies. (Let’s face it, no matter how much we love someone, there is such a thing as too much time together without a break.)

Our dogs have given us a reason to get out of the house. We’ve walked around the neighborhood and checked on our neighbors from a safe distance. We found new trails to explore.

Because of our dogs, we found ways to continue exercising our bodies and minds rather than remaining shut inside bingeing Netflix all day. Yet we also caught up on all those great shows and snuggled up with our best friends on our couches — her with a favorite bone, us with our popcorn.

It’s all about balance, after all.

Maybe you even decided it was time to finally train your dog in basic obedience. I am the first one to admit, despite knowing better, I totally enjoy a little “naughty” in a dog — but most visitors prefer not getting jumped on the moment they come through the door.

It’s never too early or too late to start teaching manners. Whether 10 weeks old or 10 years old, dogs can always learn. Have you been consistently working on these: ​SIT, STAY, DOWN, COME, OFF, HEEL, and NO​. Be honest — I’m a professional sitter and walker, so I already know the answer for most of us.

And as more and more of us return to a regular routine that includes school or work, your dog’s transition to doggie daycare or their time with a midday walker will be so much smoother if they have these basic commands down. Plus your sitter will talk about you to the rest of the pet sitter community and sing your praises. Trust me. We talk.

If you haven’t adopted a dog yet but are thinking of it, let me be the first to tell you there is no better companion. As I already mentioned, you will be mentally and physically energized. But you will also receive unconditional love beyond anything you’ve previously experienced.

You will need a few supplies. Even with an older dog, you’ll need to puppy proof until she is used to your house and understands what is off limits. That means ​everything that shouldn’t be in a dog’s mouth and tummy needs to be put away. If you think something is out of reach, put it higher or behind closed doors. Gates and a crate are invaluable here, especially when a dog is unattended.

I have several tips and recommendations to offer both the brand new and the experienced pup parent, but more importantly I have stories to share about the importance of their companionship.

In ​Rescue a Dog and Rescue Yourself​ ,​ you’ll learn more about the ways dogs enrich our lives, plus receive tidbits about some supplies you’ll need, tips about basic training, and why adoption is the best choice.

I can’t wait to start this journey with you, and to read about your adventures with your new companion!