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Newbie - Anyone up for a chat about animals?

Good_Vibes365

Hello everyone, how are you doing?

I am new to the community, and this is my first post. As a huge dog-lover and avid National Geographic fan, I would love to have a conversation about animals, particularly dogs and the recent Reality TV show Dog Impossible.

In this show, dog trainer Matt Beisner spots hyper-anxious dogs who may have endured trauma during puppyhood and come with many unmet needs.

He takes them to his super Zen Zen Dog Centre. With his mates, he introduces them to new canine companions, and interacts with them through love, patience, trust, and respect to help them enjoy life with their loved ones again, including other dogs around the neighbourhood. He also gives people new tips and exercises to help them meet their dogs needs better and enjoy safer, more trusting and rewarding interactions with them (e.g., petting your dog when they are calm, to motivate more calm behaviour, and not touching them when your dog turns away, to allow them enjoy some barking 'me time' that they have asked for). 

I found both seasons super inspiring, watching the dogs improve their confidence, coping skills, and openness to different situations. I also loved seeing the families coming to understand their dogs better and develop stronger relationships with them (and each other) Slight smile

Have any of you guys watched Dog Impossible or any similar cool animal shows? If not no worries. Do you have any funny memories featuring any animals in your own life? 

  • in reply to Jenni123

    Hi Jenni123,

    Great to hear from another animal lover Slight smile

    I really recommend it. You would have to register for the Disney Plus streaming service to watch all the documentaries and films in the National Geographic channel, including Dog Impossible. 

    What animal would you like to adopt as your dream pet?

    For me personally, it would probs be a puppy, as my heart melts watching these pups showering love and affection onto people through hugs, tail-ear wags, paw pumps, nuzzles etc.

  • I’ve never seen this but will look it up now. I don’t have any pets currently but love animals. 

  • in reply to orangutan

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Your post actually reminds me of the stray cats I have encountered in my travels to Istanbul and Italy's Amalfi Coast - although polite, and never proactively aggressive, they did seem to enjoy their own company more, and did not seem to interact too much with passers-by.

    It is cool to hear that more people going to the gym these days, lifting weights, playing sport and getting more exercise in general - great fresh start for the new year. As for myself, I am more inclined towards less intense exercises - long walks, yoga and cycling.

    I like watching documentaries (particularly history/animal/nature inspired ones on National Geographic), films (e.g., Disney), listening to podcasts, creative writing and embroidery.

    Thanks again for contributing, and I would love to have more conversations on nature, animals and the other hobbies/interests you have mentioned with you and other people :)

  • in reply to Good_Vibes365

    You're right there, there are certainly cats who are much friendlier and more active. Perhaps it's just where I'm from, but I tend to notice the majority of cats I see are difficult to approach, but if you just ignore them for a while they get used to your presence and before you know it they've come up to you, and as long as things stay on their terms you can make a new feline friend.

    Recently I've been spending a lot more time at the gym - I lift weights and/or swim on a morning before work, then I often return on an evening to play tennis or do a yoga/pilates class.

    I also enjoy reading. I'm into history, nature, and philosophy. Do you have any other hobbies or interests?

  • in reply to orangutan

    Cats are great animals too. The 'observation you made' is interesting to hear as I hear my friends' cats are surprisingly active and social, leaping onto sleeping people in the morning like living alarm clocks, popping up at virtual meetings, nuzzling up to visitors catching mice, frogs, birds, and leaving them as gifts for their owners :)

    But all cats are different, and as you said, I am sure there are many who are more reserved and only engage with people when they are in the right mood, as with dogs. Both cats and dogs are different species of course, but I am quite confident many cats and dogs do share many similar traits and tendencies (e.g., need for more alone time, wariness around certain people, hyper-sensitivity to certain stimuli like high pitched noises etc.).

    Out of curiosity, may I ask what you like to do in your spare time (that does not involve time consuming TV watching)? 

  • That sounds like a great show, unfortunately I don't get much time to watch TV. I've always made the observation that cats like to have strong boundaries, and you can befriend a cat with a lot more ease if you respect this and give them alone time and only give them attention on their terms. I've not really thought about applying this same logic to dogs, but I'm going to make a mental note of this and try to apply it.

  • in reply to TwiJack

    Hello TwiJack 

    Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with dogs and horses. I especially like your point about the importance of '2 way communication' where you really 'listen to your animal, rather than telling them what to do'. This is exactly Mat Beisner's main principle he shows in all his episodes Slight smile

    For instance, in one season 2 episode, he worked with a couple who were fearful of their own hyper-anxious pug, because they could not read his signals. However, with Matt's guidance, they learnt to be more patient, and observe the 'smallest of details' and start to glean what they might mean. For example, finally learnt that when their pug slightly lifts their left leg in response to their extended hand, it is a sign that they want to be left alone, and will BITE or SCRATCH when they get the unwanted petting. Before the training, they MISSED these small signals, and got punished with the dog's aggression, hence really appreciated how Matt gave the dog a 'voice' to express his needs (and them a 'manual' to interpret his signals). As a result of Matt's training, they felt braver living with their pug, and safer to invite people to their house, without fear for everyone's safety Slight smile

    Unfortunately, dogs can become anxious, because they can be hyper-vigilant towards environmental stressors including sounds and strangers, so Matt likes to schedule regular walking and play sessions in different environments so they can feel more confident and comfortable with different people and dogs. I never get dog-worn, seeing dogs make new friends, reconnect with old friends, and rebound through life with newfound hope, resilience, energy and enthusiasm Slight smile

  • Welcome here from another newbie. I haven't seen Dog Impossible but being the child of a canine behavioural expert, it's safe to say I grew up with dogs. Over the years I got more involved with anything equine though, especially the sort of "natural horsemanship" where it's about a two-way communication and where you listen to the horse rather than to tell them what you want them to do. I came to notice some similarities between my character and the hyper vigilance that prey animals like horses need to stay alive. Just think of the typical autistic (at least, with me) noticing of the smallest of details, like the other day a balloon floating in the rehearsal room of my orchestra.   

  • in reply to Eunice Mod

    Thank you so much for your kind welcome. 

    Can I please ask you a quick question: If you edit posts after publishing them, would they be visibly marked as EDITED on the public chat, or not? would other readers be able to tell it has been edited or not?

  • Dear Good_Vibes365,

    Thank you for sharing this with our community. Sincere welcome from the NAS Community Moderation Team.

    With all good wishes,

    Eunice Mod