Reset Your Mind Like a Maltipoo
Our dog Clyde can't talk himself down once he's locked in. Neither can we. Sit, reset, go.
By Eric Kasimov — Eric Kasimov is the founder of QuietLoud Studios.
Our Maltipoo, Clyde, is filled with energy, love, and a desire to protect us from Amazon drivers, neighbors that say hello, and that mean Bichon Frisé that’s scared of his own shadow. Lunging, barking, all with a face that if he wasn’t so small might actually scare you—doesn’t happen every time, but when it does happen, it’s a sign we need to go back to training. Not his training, our training. Dogs aren’t trained. Owners are. Then the trained owners can control their dog.
When Clyde goes in for the “kill”, it’s too late. That dog’s brain isn’t able to say, “you know what, this is ridiculous. I shouldn’t act like this. My owners are going to be disappointed in me. And besides, I’m not going to make friends trying to be Napoleon. I should go over there, introduce myself, and tell him about the cool guy that comes to my house twice a day delivering brown boxes. Yeah, I think that would be the better way to go about this….”
The only way to contain Clyde is the same way to contain Michael Jordan—don’t let him play the game (sorry kids, Lebron is amazing, but Jordan is the best ever).
Before the walk starts:
Sit
Reset
Go
And so the walk begins. Eventually, there’s that Bichon Frisé again. So what do we do?
Sit
Reset
Go
What a peaceful walk. And all it took was a mind reset. Pause, reset, go.
It works for Clyde. It works for me. I think it will work for you.