I am amazed when I watch dogs interacting at how hard they try to avoid conflict. You can see it in multiple-pack households and dog parks. It makes sense as their wild counterparts need their energy to survive, not squabble.
I encountered a situation lately where false assumptions and even lies were told about me. A couple of years ago, this would have devastated me. I would have felt victimized, hurt, defensive, and just gone down that dark road that takes days, sometimes weeks and years, to get back up from. And I probably would have confronted the situation leading to more conflicts.
But I decided to learn from our canine friends and at the very moment that I received this information, I made the conscious choice to choose Peace and simply let the matter go. The incredible plus in this is that I am actually feeling gratitude because the end result actually saved me a lot of hassle. Sometimes what seems like a negative situation is certainly a blessing a disguise, or maybe they always are and we just don’t see them as such?
I have to say that it was so much easier to make that choice than to go down the path of conflict I would normally have taken. Now, I wonder why it’s taken me so long to get there when our canine friends seem to be born with this gift. But I will thankful for this test and for the ability to make that choice.
I would urge anyone who is faced with a difficult situation to just say to yourself: I choose Peace and see where it takes you. Choosing Peace does not always mean avoiding conflicts. Sometimes choosing Peace may very well mean finally standing up for yourself and establishing boundaries. We have seen our confident, calm leader dogs suddenly correct another dog that has crossed the line, but it is quick and when done, they move on.
Keep casually observing your dog and learn from their simple ways. They are amazing species.
