[nagdu] Calming down?

Daryl Lang crazymusician at shaw.ca
Wed Jun 17 19:49:05 UTC 2015


Leaving, I wish I had seen this before I left the house this morning. Jenny was an absolute mess today, stressed out, walking too slow, then too fst, even barking... I just want to go home.

On June 17, 2015 11:48:28 AM MDT, Raven Tolliver via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>Daryl,
>The quickest way to calm down on the spot is pause. Inhale deeply.
>Hold it for 3 seconds. Then release slowly. Do this three times.
>when you pause, have Jenny sit or lay down, providing her with an
>opportunity to relax. For 10-15 seconds, massage the back of her neck
>halfway between the base of her skull and her shoulders. Just do slow
>circles, roughly 1 circle per second. You can speak praise or calming
>words if you choose, or just meditate on a blank, clear state of mind
>in the brief moment. Concentrate on your movements--slow, even
>breathing and slow, gentle circles.
>This can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. It just depends
>on how much time you have, how stressed out you are, and how long it
>takes you to feel a release of tension in yourself and your dog. You
>will know your dog is relaxed by their slowed breathing, even heart
>rate, and the lack of muscle tension in their shoulders and back.
>
>We've all experienced high stress situations with our dogs. Usually,
>they can keep it together when we're not so comfortable or confident,
>and we can calm them down when they're stressed or excited. But there
>are those times that our stress deeply affects them and they just shut
>down or don't perform their duties as well because they are alerted to
>our stress, and now feel that there is something to be alarmed about.
>The above technique I've described is something I have used with me
>and my dog, and other dogs I have worked with. I taught this to many
>adopting families at the shelter I used to work at as well. I always
>encourage people to do things like massage, yoga, and tTouch with
>their dogs. But we also need techniques that we can use on the spot
>when you don't have half an hour to wind down or chill out.
>It's nice because this is something people can do when their out
>walking or training, and need to take a quick breather to refocus,
>relax, and regroup.
>Hth.
>-- 
>Raven
>Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
>www.1am-editing.com
>
>You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
>have or what you do.
>
>Naturally-reared guide dogs
>https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs
>
>On 6/17/15, GARY STEEVES via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi Daryl:
>>
>> I'm so sorry to hear about you losing your job. If you need to blow
>off
>> steam feel free to email me off list.
>>
>> It is hard in a particular situation where you are reacting
>emotionally for
>> your dog not to get it. Yes, I've learned when I'm lost wandering
>around not
>> to get all stressed because then Bogart does and becomes almost
>useless.
>> However, if I was to get news that was a shock it is doubtbul I could
>be
>> mindful enough to not allow Bogart to sense my feelings.
>>
>> Really, you don't need to worry about Jennie but just work on keeping
>> yourself calm now that the shock is over. This is an unfortunate turn
>of
>> events but, from your emails, I sense you are a strong grounded
>person. Take
>> a step back, take a breath, and then start the searching process. We
>all
>> know that being blind makes it harder to find employment but a lot of
>it
>> depends on us demonstrating our skills, knowledge and ability while
>taking a
>> bit of time at the end of an interview to educate about how one gets
>around
>> the obvious obstacles a sighted employer may be worried about. For me
>I
>> found that a lot will still depend on the attitudes of the potential
>> employer as well but that part we can't control.
>>
>> Again, so sorry you were let go but I'm sure that you will find
>success
>> elsewhere.
>>
>> Gary
>>  ----- Original Message ----- From: Daryl Marie via nagdu
><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org Cc: Daryl Marie <crazymusician at shaw.ca> Sent:
>Tue, 16
>> Jun 2015 16:47:02 -0600 (MDT) Subject: [nagdu] Calming down? Hi,
>guys, While
>> I am in the inevitably stressful process of finding a new job
>(COMPLETELY
>> unrelated to what I wrote about here this weekend), does anyone have
>any
>> advice on keeping myself calm enough to not alarm Jenny? When leaving
>my
>> office yesterday, she all but ran me out of the building, but
>admittedly I
>> was freaking out myself. What do you use for inevitably stressful
>situations
>> where you will work your dog? Thanks! Daryl
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-- 
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.


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