$(latestItemTitle): Packs and Paws |
| 6 child upbringing lessons I have learned from my dogs Posted: 24 Jul 2009 07:18 AM PDT I am 25 years old, with a brand-new-20-day-old daughter named Catalina, and I really do not know how I am going to make of her the wonderful girl I want her to be. I've read quite a bit on child education, but no experience yet. However, I have one asset that I think will be invaluable: the lessons I have learned with my dogs. Dog and toddler educations has many similarities, and there are some powerful concepts that I have learned with my dogs that really are part of any animal/pack/family interaction, including humans. As I wrote the points below, I find that I am really grateful to be have learned so much from my beagles Valentina and Camila before being a father. I think many parents only understand these lessons after a couple of years with their kids, and sometimes, never. 1. First fulfillment, then discipline - Many parents correct their children constantly without making an effort to get their energy out or to fulfill their needs for stimulation. As a dog owner, I've learned that you can only expect your dog to be obedient and well-behaved if her energy is stable. I know the same goes for children, if they do not have a stable energy and healthy ways of getting extra energy out, their boredom and curiosity will canalize itself to destruction and mischief. 2. Play towards their strengths - to make my beagles the best they can be I have to develop them on their biggest skill, their excellent sense of smell. I could never ask them to be as obedient as a Labrador, even though they have learned to be obedient enough. It's just in their blood to be independent and curious and we would only become frustrated dogs and owner. I'll have to find my daughter's strengths and make sure she excels in those, instead of asking her to be a person that she is not. I know she's going to be gifted, now I need to find what's her gift and nurture it obsessively. 3. You can have a conversation without talking - I've learned a lot about non-verbal communication with dogs, and it is going to be very useful with babies. Unlike most new parents, to me, positive reinforcement is not something I read in books, it's what I've practiced every day for years. Thanks to my dogs, I have the skills to provide very early stimulation to her. 4. Be consistent in your rules - dogs can learn house rules very quickly, as long as you are really consistent. If you're not consistent they will get confused and not understand what they can and cannot do. I have seen parents only enforce rules when they remember them, or find constant exceptions to these rules. I know that's why their kids do not follow their house rules well, they look more like suggestions. 5. It's not what you say, it's what you promote with your actions - If you want to achieve specific behaviours, you need to make sure they are the ones you're promoting with every action. If you say sit and your dog doesn't sit, do not give her the treat anyways. If you say shower and your child doesn't want to shower, do not let her play video games anyways. 6. You need to spend the time to create those bonds - dogs are honest in that they love the person that becomes their natural leader regardless of who's their owner, and I have learned that if I want to be that person, I need to walk them. Children don't automatically follow whomever pays for their food and education, instead, Catalina will need to see me be her father and leader through dedicated time spent directly with her. Related Articles: 14 leadership skills my dogs have taught me 6 tips to not forget your dog when life comes at you 6 reasons to walk your dog Share your feedback! Email me at jorge@packsandpaws.com 
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from packs and paws To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment