On our walk today we saw a puppy. This puppy was SO cute! He was full of energy, tail was wagging, and Jackson was intrigued. He pulled on the leash to try and get to the side of the street to where the puppy was. His tail was wagging and Jackson was excited. As soon as we got over there, his tail stopped. He started his low growl and smelled the puppy. The puppy was excited, bouncing up and down and trying to engage with Jack. Jackson growled and then... started barking. UGH.
I scolded Jackson with the tone of my voice, pulled him away from the puppy and apologized to the owner. Jackson has "short dog" syndrome. I guess I can't blame him. His legs ARE only 6 inches long. However, it frustrates me that he doesn't have confidence around other dogs and comes of as the BULLY.
His sister Lily, IS a bully. She has been the Alpha dog in our family since the beginning. She is 10 weeks older than Jackson and was first in our family. She noses him out of the way when she wants the lap he is sitting on. She gets to eat first because he has learned to patiently wait. She hogs the bed. She attacks him after he comes in from his walk and starts smelling him. She is smelling all the things she is missing. I am guessing she is probably wondering where he has been. The walk, the squirrel chase, the wetness of his fur, THIS is the one place where Jackson is the Alpha in our home. Lily has extreme anxiety, and even with the help of medication, she can't handle going on a walk. She will wiggle around in her harness so much she will free herself. She is like Houdini. HONESTLY. Even with it tight, she can break free. She wants to be at home.
At first, I had a hard time leaving her alone, and then I thought "why?". Why should I deprive my other dog of life experiences just because Lily can't do it. It is not fair.
So, this is how we do it. Jackson and I walk, and Lily waits impatiently at home. It is on our walks with other dogs I get to see Jackson try on the Alpha hat. Is it good? Is it bad? I don't know the answer. I just know that going on these daily walks mean freedom in expression and personality for my dog. There is no one telling him what to do. No one biting him if he is getting in the way.
It makes me think of life, being a leader, and my own role in both of those. I am not a bully. My role in my leadership is to include everyone. I don't care if people are in my commissionable downline, meaning I don't care if I am making a % off their performance. I want my team to feel included. Even the most recent of consultants on my team. I want them to feel like they belong. I don't want to exclude anyone. I want them to know I will go to bat for them. I will help them find the way to fulfilling what they want, but I WILL not do it for them. This was a big thing for me to learn. I want my team to know who I am, respect me, love me, and appreciate me. I want my team to do kind things for others because I am modeling kindness to them. I want to lead a team of GOOD people. Kind, thoughtful, and self sacrificing. I want to lead a team of true PEOPLE CHANGERS. Not just people who are helping get rid of harmful chemicals in home and making environments safer. YES, that is a big part in what we all do in my organization. I want my team to want to genuinely HELP people. NOT for the money, but because it matters.
Even though I am the leader of this team, I do not want to be seen as the Alpha. I want to be seen as STRONG, CONFIDENT, HELPFUL, and KIND.
I scolded Jackson with the tone of my voice, pulled him away from the puppy and apologized to the owner. Jackson has "short dog" syndrome. I guess I can't blame him. His legs ARE only 6 inches long. However, it frustrates me that he doesn't have confidence around other dogs and comes of as the BULLY.
His sister Lily, IS a bully. She has been the Alpha dog in our family since the beginning. She is 10 weeks older than Jackson and was first in our family. She noses him out of the way when she wants the lap he is sitting on. She gets to eat first because he has learned to patiently wait. She hogs the bed. She attacks him after he comes in from his walk and starts smelling him. She is smelling all the things she is missing. I am guessing she is probably wondering where he has been. The walk, the squirrel chase, the wetness of his fur, THIS is the one place where Jackson is the Alpha in our home. Lily has extreme anxiety, and even with the help of medication, she can't handle going on a walk. She will wiggle around in her harness so much she will free herself. She is like Houdini. HONESTLY. Even with it tight, she can break free. She wants to be at home.
At first, I had a hard time leaving her alone, and then I thought "why?". Why should I deprive my other dog of life experiences just because Lily can't do it. It is not fair.
So, this is how we do it. Jackson and I walk, and Lily waits impatiently at home. It is on our walks with other dogs I get to see Jackson try on the Alpha hat. Is it good? Is it bad? I don't know the answer. I just know that going on these daily walks mean freedom in expression and personality for my dog. There is no one telling him what to do. No one biting him if he is getting in the way.
It makes me think of life, being a leader, and my own role in both of those. I am not a bully. My role in my leadership is to include everyone. I don't care if people are in my commissionable downline, meaning I don't care if I am making a % off their performance. I want my team to feel included. Even the most recent of consultants on my team. I want them to feel like they belong. I don't want to exclude anyone. I want them to know I will go to bat for them. I will help them find the way to fulfilling what they want, but I WILL not do it for them. This was a big thing for me to learn. I want my team to know who I am, respect me, love me, and appreciate me. I want my team to do kind things for others because I am modeling kindness to them. I want to lead a team of GOOD people. Kind, thoughtful, and self sacrificing. I want to lead a team of true PEOPLE CHANGERS. Not just people who are helping get rid of harmful chemicals in home and making environments safer. YES, that is a big part in what we all do in my organization. I want my team to want to genuinely HELP people. NOT for the money, but because it matters.
Even though I am the leader of this team, I do not want to be seen as the Alpha. I want to be seen as STRONG, CONFIDENT, HELPFUL, and KIND.
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