Ahimsa in Life--Lessons from the Tasha-Dog

Ahimsa—non-violence—is one of the most important concepts in yoga. In fact, the Yoga Sutras say it’s not just important; they say that ahimsa trumps all. In other words, when in doubt about what to do in any situation, act with ahimsa above all else. But ahimsa’s not as simple as choosing not to slug your neighbor when he annoys you. Ahimsa means non-harming at all levels: actions, communications, intentions—even thoughts.

I don’t always succeed, but I’ve tried to live this way since long before I took my first yoga class. One memorable incident happened around third or fourth grade. I tearfully convinced my grade school science teacher to cancel the planned grasshopper dissection so I could release the small, winged creatures back out into the field. I’m pretty sure the grasshoppers were happier about my success than the school groundskeeper.

Fast forward 30 years and enter one willful, stubborn, and impossible-to-potty-train puppy.



I fell in love with Tasha the moment I saw her, even though she was only three weeks old. I gushed as I told the breeder all of my plans for the “soon-to-be-mine” puppy. Holistic vets, positive dog trainers—I even asked if Tasha could be vegetarian. The breeder’s expression changed from interest, to concern, to outright disbelief.

When I finished, she said, “I can’t sell a puppy to you. You’re too nice to own a German shepherd. This dog will walk all over you, and you’ll return her to me, ruined.” I begged her to reconsider. She did, but only after handing me a list of requirements: specific training books, Western vets, and high-meat dog foods. Then she sent me home and told me to come back when I could prove my worthiness.

Five weeks later, I returned, carrying a dog crate and looking my toughest. I threw around terms like prong collars, leash pops, and human pack leaders. Convinced she’d converted me, she sold me my dog.

Unfortunately, Tasha never read those training books.

She was smart as a whip, but had no concept of bladder control. I followed all the rules in the books. I tethered her to me; I took her out every hour; I carefully watched for the circling and sniffing they promised would happen.

It never did.

Tasha was a trickster. Her favorite trick was to wait until I went to the bathroom. Then she’d immediately squat just out of reach and do the same. I’m not sure who spilled more urine on our bathroom floor—her as she squatted, or me as I tried to grab her.

I e-mailed the breeder and followed her advice. I threw toilet paper rolls at my puppy; I rattled coins in jars; I sternly scolded her each time she was “naughty.” My tactics weren't quite up there with shock collars, but they weren’t exactly ahimsa-like, either. The only thing that changed was Tasha. She had the same number of in-house accidents, but now she cringed, waiting to be punished, after each one.

This lasted a week; then I came to my senses. I tossed out the training books, stopped calling the breeder, and followed instead what I knew in my heart. Instead of punishing Tasha when she did wrong, I gushed with enthusiasm when she did right. The change was immediate. My puppy changed overnight from frightened and cringing to boisterous and happy. Perfecting her potty training took much longer, but I could live with that.

Over the years we’ve dealt with issues much more serious than soiled carpeting, but my training approach has stayed true. I treat Tasha with praise, love, and a complete lack of violence, in actions, words and vocal tone.

Tasha grew into a wonderful dog, but she wasn’t the only one changed. People noticed the shift in me, too. Since I’ve lived with my dog, people tell me I’m kinder; my interactions with others, more patient. Tasha taught me more about ahimsa than the sutras ever could.

Vets and trainers tell me that Tasha’s trust in me is impressive. Strangers walk by us, yelling at their own dogs while jerking their leashes. Then they stop and tell me they wish their dog was as well-behaved as mine. People even yell from the distance, “You two are so good together!” And they’re right. But only because I followed the yoga teachings instead of a well-meaning dog breeder.

My challenge to each of you is to examine your interactions with others—both human and animal. Notice your actions, communications, and thoughts. Try to act with more compassion—more ahimsa.

You may not change the behaviors of those around you, but you will definitely change yourself.

Namaste

Tracy Weber

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about her  yoga and dog-related mystery series, the Downward Dog Mysteries.

Music to Soothe the Stressed-out Yogi

 

Don’t let the cover art fool you.  This series of CDs is my favorite tool for deep relaxation—whether it be for my dog, my meditation practice, or my students’ Savasana.  For those of you who don’t know, one of my passions (besides yoga) is anything related to dogs, especially if it might help my reactive girl Tasha.  So a few years ago, I flew to Ohio and attended a dog training seminar on tools to help anxious and reactive dogs.

One tool they mentioned was music, specifically the CDs in the photo above. I was skeptical at first, but the trainer used a video to prove her point. It showed a dog literally climbing off the walls, as its exhausted owner tried not to cry.  When the trainer popped the CD in the stereo, the transformation in the animal was nothing short of astounding.  It stopped jumping, barking, and running in circles to lie on the floor and listen.   Proof enough for me.

I had my chance to try it a few days later. My girl was in major freak-out mode over the mailman who, according to Tasha, is an ax-murdering psychopath just waiting for an opportunity to break into her house.  I turned on the music and waited. Tasha stopped barking, walked up to the stereo speaker, lay down and sighed.

Intrigued, I did some research.  I won’t bore you with all of the details, but if you’re interested, you can read about it here. Turns out, canines and humans have something in common. We’re both soothed by music that is:

• Classical (as opposed to pop or heavy metal)
• Simple in arrangement
• Played by a single instrument (in this case piano)
• Slow in tempo (50 – 60 beats per minute)

I wondered if my yoga students would love it as much as Tasha did, so I snuck it into the studio’s CD collection.  After they got done snickering about the dog on the cover, my students started asking me where they could buy it.  I now carry it at the studio, and it outsells even the yoga mats.

There are several CD’s in this series, so you can experiment to find the one you like best.  My personal favorite is Volume 1.  Not surprisingly, it’s also the volume the researchers found to be the most profoundly relaxing for their canine test subjects.

I hope you try one of these CD’s and you find it as deeply peace-invoking as Tasha and I do.  Let me know what you think!

Namaste.

Tracy Weber

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Whole Life Yoga, and other retailers!

Working Dogs

The American Kennel Club identifies dog breeds by group. One is the Working Group. But that’s not what I’m blogging about today. No, I want to cheer on the actual working dogs, dogs who fulfill a function that helps people, which people can’t necessarily do for themselves.

Some working dogs are companion dogs. There is at least one organization that provides canine assistance to people with emotional issues, such as post-traumatic stress syndrome. I can easily believe that people in difficult emotional situations are helped at least a little by hugging a non-judgmental canine companion who’s always delighted to be with them. Other dogs visit hospitals or hospices to help cheer up the patients, if only temporarily. I’ve also saved articles about local senior citizen homes where the seniors aren’t the only residents. Sometimes they’re permitted to bring their own pets, and other times the pets are there thanks to the homes’ management who understand that older folks who may have lost friends and family can be cheered tremendously by a happy pup.

Then there are the dogs who use their noses for people’s sake. Just this week, the news reported that a cadaver dog located the remains of a woman who had been missing for eight years. It was definitely not a good situation, but at least her poor family might reach closure now. Authorities brought the well-trained dog to the Mojave Desert, where he indicated interest in a particular spot. Sure enough, when the people dug, they found what the dog had scented.

Especially poignant these days are stories I read of military dogs who bond with their handlers in overseas assignments. Sometimes the soldiers ask to be buried with their dogs should they be killed while on duty. I’ve read that the dogs are sometimes given military ranks higher than their handlers’, both as an honor to the dogs for their devoted duty, and to ensure there would be some consequence to the handler should he or she mistreat his comrade in paws. Sometimes, the soldiers even work out a way to bring their canine partners home to the U.S. with them when their tour is over.

I write occasionally about working dogs in my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series. Kendra’s pet-sitting assistant Rachel sometimes takes her dog Beggar to a senior citizens’ home to help cheer the residents. Others compete in reality shows. But I have more working canines in some of my upcoming Silhouette Nocturnes. ALPHA WOLF, the first one, which will be published in January 2009, includes military canines along with their human shapeshifting counterparts. The second one, to be published in June 2009, with the working title MORTAL OPTIONS, stars a lady cop who happens to have Valkyrie powers--and a K-9 partner.

Okay, so I love writing about dogs as much as I enjoy reading about them. But nothing compares with having them in the family!

What’s your favorite working dog story?

--Linda