pets

How Pets Mirror Our Lives

Posted by Barbara Techel


The semi-retired life of celebrity, Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog

I liked this recent post by Jon Katz, “Animals Mirror Our Lives.”  He talks about since losing his dog Rose, how his relationships with his other three dogs has changed. He now calls his Lab, Lenore, his Ride-A-Long Dog because she goes many places with him- though she didn’t before. Izzy now hangs out with his wife Maria in her studio and Freida protect the farm (which had been Rose’s job).

It made me realize how my relationships have changed with both my dogs since I made the decision to semi-retire Frankie this year.

I find myself talking to Frankie even more now that I am in my studio more. I am taking more brief little breaks to just sit and be with Frankie—holding her or petting her—telling her how much she means to me. I sometimes just sit in my desk chair and watch her sleep. It brings me such deep contentment to see her so peaceful. I think about how I love my work with her and how I didn’t want to slow down in it—but how I felt she wanted to slow down. So I felt strongly I had to honor that for her and in turn realized I too was honoring myself because I too had been wanting to slow down. Subconsciously I was wanting to write a new book, but not finding time—and here Frankie was mirroring to me what it is I wanted. What a smart dog.

My relationship with Kylie is growing deeper once again. With not as many appearances with Frankie, I am home more now, which means more walks with Kylie. And with her recent knee surgery her walks are essential to her healing. We’ve got a good six weeks to go yet with her therapy walking.  Kylie and I had just started to develop a bond as we worked together in her puppy and obedience training when she was a pup. But as many of you know that was all put on hold when Frankie was diagnosed with IVDD and an unexpected, but welcome journey was ahead of me in sharing Frankie with thousands of children. Even though it it winter here in Wisconsin, it has been mild, and now as move closer to spring, I soak in the sunshine and my time with Kylie.

I was also yearning this past year for a simpler life in 2012, more time one on one with my dogs—and how interesting that is all falling into place. If only I had gotten out of my own way sooner to see that yes, indeed, my dogs were mirroring for me all along what I was yearning for.


Kylie out for a walk today

Celebrating our connection with animals who teach us to live joyfully

Posted by Barbara Techel


I am so happy to finally have a tag line for my new website, as you’ll see above in the top portion: Celebrating our connection with animals who teach us to live joyfully. Thank you, Mary Shafer for helping me to brainstorm this!

I’ve accepted the design, so now it is in the development stage. My blog, and Frankie’s will be incorporated right into my site, which I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I also like the cleaner, more simplified look… thanks to my website mistress, Caryn Newton of Lantern Glow Design.

I wanted my new site to reflect more of who I am and the vision I have for myself as I continue to move forward with my new book… and who knows where else I shall go… I am a constant work in progress… just like we all are.  If I had to describe the website in terms of how it makes me feel one word, of course is, joyful, but also nostalgic, vintage-y, happy, content, animal love, and authentic.

I want to also take a moment to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who offered their thoughts on an image for the cover of my new book, Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way.

Hands down, the photo below is what well over 150 of you chose. I, too, adore this photo. I will be giving some thought though to getting a shot that may show more of our faces, as this was a suggestion from some of you in the publishing and graphic design fields.  The fact is that it is winter here in Wisconsin and Frankie and I would freeze our little hiney’s off on the dock, so we will have to wait for warmer weather—so we will see about a new photo early summer.  I’ll then post photo below and new one for a new vote. Again, thank you everyone for taking the time to let me know which one you liked. I so appreciate it!!

Being In Tune with Our Pets

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

My heart instantly melted and tears sprang to my eyes when I saw this photo on Facebook today.  In part, because I’m working hard on deepening my relationship with my English lab, Kylie. She has been such a good dog these past few years as my focus was on Frankie and my work with her. As that focus shifts a bit now, I’m finding more time to give to Kylie and enjoying it immensely.

I have felt some guilt with Kylie because it was my intent for her to be my therapy dog when I got her as a pup. We were working hard towards that goal for about three months before Frankie became paralyzed. As many of you know, my life took on a new path and a big goal with Frankie then. I didn’t realize at the time, but something shifted in Kylie. Though I can’t say for sure, I had felt like my focus being on Frankie, that it broke down the bond Kylie and I had established early on when she was a pup.

As it turned out, Kylie was not meant to be a therapy dog. For the past five years being so involved in my Frankie work, Kylie was such a good dog, being there, quietly standing by. As my shift changes, allowing for Frankie to enjoy her senior years, I’ve found myself able to spend more time with Kylie. WIth my new Reiki training, I’ve also been able to practice it on her as she is healing from knee surgery. It has been so very rewarding. I feel a new and deeper bond happening between us, and just writing those words now, has tears blurring my vision.

These new experiences have reminded me once again how vitally important it is to be in tune with our pets. I truly believe they take on alot of our “stuff” and we need to remind them they needn’t do that- and that we love them no matter what.

As I did a Reiki treatment for Kylie today she rested her head in my hands and went into deep breathing. It brought my heart such joy to see her trust in me and that I am able to help her heal…. and it is a magical and trans-formative place to be where human and animal connect on a level where no words are spoken.

 

I’m thankful for the new collars they now have, instead of the plastic “lamp shade” ones of the past. Kylie can actually use it as a pillow to rest her head when sleeping. Good dog, Kylie. Good dog.