Leaf

Our dog Leaf has an interesting new behavior. The trainer in his classes has been trying to help us with it. When we first brought Leaf home from the animal shelter about one year ago, he was overjoyed to greet visitors. If anyone came over, he wagged his tail and looked happy to see the guest.

Now that he has been with us for awhile, it's obvious that he thinks of this as HIS home. After whatever he went through due to being abandoned, he's feeling secure. When we have a visitor, he gets frightened and protective. It's almost as if his fears overtake his reason.

Has this stranger come to take him away? Will this person do something to mess up the good thing he has going now? Are the people and animals here in danger from someone he doesn't' know? These all might be questions going on in that brilliant brain of his.

Today, we tried the technique the trainer suggested. We kept Leaf in Allen's office before the visitor arrived. Allen talked with the dog and explained that it is very important to us for visitors to feel welcome in our home and for him to be nice and friendly.

Then we brought Leaf out on his leash to meet the visitor. We had him sit and lie down and stay. We praised him profusely for being polite and gave him LOTS of treats. Gradually we let him off leash, so he could sniff oue guest's hand and get to know her.

Before he could approach her, though, our cat Cuddles, whom we call "The Enforcer," took a swipe at Leaf, just in case he might forget his manners and jump on the guest. Very calmly he approached her. Again, lots of treats.

The trainer says that Leaf will begin to associate invited guests to our home with treats and good times. So far, it's working. He was friendly and sociable and satiated with treats.

Isn't Leaf a lot like all of us? Who wants to lose a good thing when good things haven't come your way all that often?

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ASKING THE ANGELS
By Louise Roworth

I notice the difference between requesting something of our cats and commanding them.

We have a longhaired, marmalade colored cat, Missy, whom we suspect may be a Norwegian Forest cat. Her original servant apparently paid a very large amount of money for her.

Missy is very independent and strong-willed. We adopted her eighteen months after her person decided to move from Sydney to London. She was sent to another foster house while a suitable home was found for her in the interim. Unfortunately this home was filled with four other moggies who took Missy's presence as a gross insult to them and apparently gave her a very hard time.

By the time Missy came to us she was missing huge clumps of fur. She was extremely thin and hid in a cupboard for the first month. We had to keep the door of the spare room shut, where she hid, so she would venture out and have a little water and food.

Our red Persian, Aslan, who was ten months old at the time, is more like a dog than a cat in personality. He wanted to make friends with his new sister, but Missy would hide and hiss if Aslan came near. Aslan couldn't understand this and was frustrated. He would meow good naturedly to try to convince Missy to be his friend. Eventually Missy relaxed enough to sit with us in the house and go outside on her own.

When Aslan was about eighteen months, my now husband Peter and I got engaged. We went to show the person from whom we got Aslan the amazing pictures of our beautiful big boy.  She was delighted at his good condition. We went down to the cathouse on her property and she proceeded to place a gorgeous little gray Persian in the palm of my hand. Our hearts melted at the sight of her.

So we then had a third cat. Fuchsia is an amazingly placid, gentle, and comical creature. She has made our cat family complete. We are not going to be having human children, but these three are incredible and just as complex as human children. Their personalities couldn't be more different. Even though Fuchsia and Aslan are half-brother and sister, apart from their at times '2 peas in a pod' characteristics and mannerisms, their personalities couldn't be more different.

Missy puts up with these two. She clearly thinks she is superior and lets the others know it. Fuchsia is fascinated by Missy and follows her around as if she is her paparazzo. Aslan is the typical younger brother and teases and taunts Missy but he also knows that she is boss. If she has had enough, he will be made to know it.

The author Doreen Virtue talks about animals having spirit guides i.e. elementals and fairies as their guardian angels. In her book HEALING WITH THE FAIRIES, she says to ask your cat's angels to get your animal to do what you need.

When Missy is outside sometimes and I am preparing to leave, there is only one sure-fire way I know of to get her inside. On numerous occasions when I have had no chance of getting Missy to cooperate, I have said a silent prayer to Missy's guides and angels. Within the next five minutes Missy has miraculously entered the house for a snack or a drink or just because she wants to.

Try it. It is amazing. As your pet's angels only have their best interests at heart, you can't ask them to do anything that would hinder the animal. If it is in keeping with the animal's safety and happiness, asking the pet's angels for help is a wonderful tool for all animal lovers.

BIO:
Louise Roworth is a kinesiologist. Visit her website Wings of Change at www.wingsofchange.com.au/. Louise's family is complete and there is never a dull moment. From Missy's high maintenance princess ways, Aslan's robust clumsy nature, and Fuchsia's sweet, gentle, and funny character, life is a wonderful kaleidoscope.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Are their invisible wings fluttering nearby who could assist you with your animal companions?