The Importance of Being Dog-like: Being Faithful and Trusting Others

by – kire

The Importance of Being Dog-like: Being Faithful and Trusting Others

Article by Deborah Hill

Being faithful and trusting others is not always a human trait, but is certainly the domain of dogs. As an intuitive coach, I know that being present and staying in the moment is a key for many to personal success. I’ve done my best to stay present, but was humbled by someone during a personal coaching session one day – a dog I’ll call Sparky.

My client asked for information about Sparky who was ill and was going to be “put to sleep” soon. She was concerned about the feelings of the dog concerning the procedure. Would this emotionally hurt the dog? Would he understand their decision? Would the euthanasia interfere with Sparky’s karma? During the session I was able to connect with Sparky and learned some remarkable lessons about life as a dog.

First of all, I looked at Sparky and saw a lovely, sweet and caring being. His mission in life (which may be similar to all dogs with human masters) was loving, being faithful and trusting others, particularly his masters. And Sparky was a master at this. He loved my client unconditionally and completely. His happiness was replete when she was happy. His world revolved around her.

I saw that dogs respond to people in the moment. When we are upset, your dog picks up these vibrations and is also upset. Your dog doesn’t take it personally. He doesn’t think, “I should be less selfish/controlling/argumentative . . . “Your dog just knows you’re upset and this is terribly troubling. Your dog will do its best to help you to be happy, and won’t take responsibility for your unhappiness. It will even back off if it senses that you need space.

Dogs do not hold grudges. If you hurt your dog physically it will shy away from you out of fear for its survival. But, it won’t dislike you. Dogs don’t think, “He needs to work through those anger issues.” Dogs don’t judge you at all. You can be angry and your dog will continue to love you. Your dog doesn’t want to change you (OK, maybe it dreams about walks or drives with the top down.) Trusting others is its ethos, and loving its master is its life.

Our dogs accept us for whom and what we are. You can tell your deepest secret to your dog and feel safe. Not only will your dog not tell anyone, it will forget it as soon as you change the subject. Dogs live in present time. When you talk to your dog it listens. It might not understand, but rest assured, your dog is not daydreaming about eating a steak. Your dog is there with you totally and is faithful to others: the ‘others’ in his or her eyes being you and your family.

Sparky was very ill, and though he wanted to please and love, he felt a great deal of pain. Sparky didn’t know why or how this was happening. The pain just existed and it was difficult for him to be totally focused on anything else. The pain was distracting and his life was a misery because of it. He loved his masters and wanted to please, but was unable to respond because of the pain and dysfunction in his body. He didn’t blame them or anyone for the pain. It was just there – a part of his reality.

Sparky had no more karma to complete. The pain didn’t make him a better dog. He wasn’t paying for some past sin he’d committed by being ill. No, his body was just falling apart, and this hurt. Sparky had one mission in life: to love, support and be faithful in trusting others – his masters. And he’d done that from the moment he was born. He had no choice. It was his way as a dog. He’d completed his karma from the time of birth.

Sparky wasn’t afraid of death. He didn’t know what death meant. For Sparky life and death was one continuum. He didn’t think about death – didn’t worry about it – didn’t know about it. The pain and dysfunction did not mean that he was going to die, because he didn’t know what death meant. Death didn’t exist for Sparky in present time because he had no perception of it. He had no concept of the future and not being here or anywhere. So his pain didn’t mean that he was dying. It meant pain. More pain was just that. Less pain was a day where he could play.

I fell in love with Sparky that day. He was a sweet, playful, joyful and light being, with a loving perkiness and caring nature. My new guru became a dog named Sparky. I vowed from that day on to act more like him – present, being faithful, trusting others, loving, non-judgmental, forgiving and happy to serve. Loving others and a joy to be with. I know he’s happy and painless now, spreading his light from another plane.

About the Author

Deborah Hill is an intuitive coach and a personal life coach, helping clients through her company The Awareness Initiative online at TheAwarenessInitiative.com.