Change in Environment

Standing alone, sharing nervous glances and “Good Mornings!” with the other vendors, I was feeling out of my league. What am I doing at a market? Let alone a market where people are selling their handmade goods and I’m launching my dog training business. I mean, I handmade dog biscuits as a freebie for people to take but that wasn’t what I was hawking. What do I say to people as they approach my booth? I’m shaky and weird, waiting for the doors to open and the sea of people to flood the floor space; I make sure the brochures are evenly fanned for the 400th time. If my pitch isn’t perfect, my table will be, dammit!

Chatting about dogs comes easy to me. There’s a little dog nerd in all of us and if I can get someone talking about their dog, and how great they are, oh the pride that shines through. I’ll share stories relating to theirs, really take in their tales because it truly does interest me. I LOVE hearing about peoples dogs.

So why at this trade show am I about to barf?

The environment changed.

I went from standing on the street bullshitting with someone about their dog to inside a building with a table separating us. Sure there’s the added “pressure” of making that great first impression for my business but really, I’m showing up to both places being very much me. Same brain, same body, same words but in a different environment.

And I was stressed.

I see Change in Environment effect dogs alot. We have behaviours and training totally nailed in the house or the backyard then we take them camping and it’s like their brain leaked out their ears. They’re zig zagging on the walk having to sniff every patch of grass. They think every person who walks by should be growled at or jumped on and if that dog in the other campsite looks their way again, it’s on!

So what do we do when our dog is displaying behaviours they don’t typically do at home and we’re taken by surprise? We address it and simply remind them what is expected. We help them out because most dogs will take the lead and handle it how they see fit.

Have patience throughout this reminder lesson because all it is a change in environment and they haven’t had any practice in that specific environment.

Just like I struggled to speak to strangers at an event, your dog is struggling to have that perfect loose leash walking at a new place.

When we can relate to our dog in this regard, it helps us have a empathy towards them. Sure our psychology is different but energy is universal so if we can understand that our dog just needs practice with this skill in this environment, we can shift our energy from anger/frustration/embarrassment to calm and patient.

If you think about it, that energy is what we all need when we’re unsure.