Secrets of a Working Dog

Self-Promotion, Or When It’s OK to be a Hot Dog

Mmmmm, hot dogs. My favorite food group (the ones not made out of plastic, that is!).

Anyway, I digress. This is a post about effective communication…

Dogs don’t question their own instincts. If we believe in something, we go for it; we don’t need to drum up interest or support with what people call dog-and-pony shows (honestly, the terms they use!). And even though I believe in the “less is more” philosophy, I also know that the times they are a-changin’. Sometimes, you just have to put yourself out there and strut your stuff!

Why? Because a degree from puppy kindergarten, even if it’s Ivy League, is not enough to get you noticed anymore. As big companies slash jobs and all the “traditional” places of employment start to disappear, it doesn’t do you any good to be the strong and silent type. In the modern working world, you have to be your own best marketing machine. Nobody can, or will, promote you as well as you promote yourself (unless you are a Beverly Hills Chihuahua, with enough pocket change to hire your own agent).

Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about strutting around town and bragging about being the biggest or fastest dog at the dog park. Instead of talking about your own accomplishments, self-promotion is about letting people know that you love what you do and that you do it better than anyone else. It’s about sharing your ideas so others can learn from you and be inspired to take action.

For instance, animal behaviorist and veterinarian Dr. Ian Dunbar didn’t invent positive reinforcement training, but he was the first to popularize it for most people. His books, videos and training sessions have helped millions of humans turn away from dominance training and communicate with their dogs in a fun and positive way. Dr. Dunbar's dog-friendly methods have influenced many dog trainers—and, through them, people who live with dogs.

The bottom line? You can’t share your message or your ideas with the world if people don’t know who you are or if they take you for granted. People like to be around other talented, confident people because those are the people most likely to recognize and appreciate talent in others. So don’t be afraid to engage in self-promotion when it’s well deserved and appropriate. Just make sure that you have something to say and that you say it well. And follow Franklin D. Roosevelt’s advice and “be sincere; be brief; be seated.”

For Dog’s Sake, Play! What Your Sweetie Really Wants on Valentine’s Day

When I was a puppy, I couldn’t get enough of the rosebushes in our backyard. As soon as the blooms popped up in late spring, I’d munch them off and run crazy circles around the yard with my ears flopping in the wind and the soft, velvety rose petals flying out of my mouth. Eating roses was pure, unadulterated fun — and definitely worth the occasional thorn. 

I’ve outgrown my taste for rosebuds (though a nibble now and then can’t hurt). My greatest joy these days is spending a few hours with my humans playing in the park or at the beach. Judging from their grins, I’m sure they feel the same way, too.

So why don’t more people stop and smell (or taste) the roses?

Well, part of the problem is that humans are working more than ever. “Time-saving” gadgets are getting sleeker and smarter, but they’re also piling on the pressure to get more work done. A dog on a six-foot leash has a lot more room to wiggle than a human tied to the office via an invisible digital leash. (Which, if you ask me, is a lot like the retractable kind my humans use when we go hiking in the woods. One minute you’re free, and then —whammo! — you get reeled back in.)

So this Valentine’s Day, I’d like to encourage my four-legged friends to nudge their humans off the couch and out the door for a day of play. It’s better than a box of chocolates and might be the beginning of a happy and healthy habit.

Woofs, wags and wiggles,

Bella

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue…Have I Got a Valentine’s Contest for You!

A few days ago, I received the following compliment on my book:

“It really makes you appreciate the smaller things in life.”

I was over the moon! Comments like these are what keep me motivated. I even did my happy Boxer “kidney bean” dance (picture me wiggling my little stub tail while dancing sideways across the floor like a crab).

Now that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about the small, everyday things that make life so great.

For example, Mom never forgets to tucks me in at night. It doesn’t matter how late it is, how tired she is or whether I get up in the middle of the night for a drink of water (she gets up and tucks me in all over again). As for Dad, I can always count on him to sneak me a morsel (or three) of whatever he is cooking up in the kitchen.

I could go on and on and on…yet I'd rather hear from all of you.

What are the small, everyday gestures that you share with your four-legged friends that make life sweeter?

To keep things fun, I will randomly select two winners on February 1^st each of whom will receive a “pawtographed” copy of my book, Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success (makes a great gift for you or your Valentine).

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Contest Guidelines: To be considered, please write your comment in the “comments” section of this blog post. On February 1^st, I will use a random number generator to randomly select two winners (at 5 PM PST) and I will announce their names here (in the same comments section). Please check back on February 1st so that I may contact you for your mailing address!

Loosen the Digital Leash and Work Better, Live Better

I’m a lucky dog, and I know it. Why? Because my humans know that time away from e-mail, phones and the Internet is the best way to recharge and refocus. Happily, they almost always take me along on their adventures (well, except the time they left me behind to go to Antarctica. I'm still upset at missing my chance to conquer the last continent).

Still, they spend way too much time tethered to their computers which is why they’ve resolved to do a better job of “letting go of the digital leash” in the year ahead.

This means that I, too, get to spend some quality time outside of the office. Here's a video I made to encourage all my 2-legged and 4-legged friends to enjoy the great outdoors:

 

Remember, friends: Creating a life of passion and purpose is no small feat, but the lesson for humans is that jobs come and go, relationships strengthen and weaken, businesses boom and bust, and today’s emergencies are usually meaningless tomorrow (if not, then almost certainly by the end of the week, at least if you are a Boxer).

How will you take the time to refresh, reflect and refocus on what’s really important?

Unclutter and Unplug: A Dog’s Advice for Saving Money and Finding Sanity

First, let me acknowledge the obvious: I am a dog. I am a dog that enjoys helping humans work smarter and be happier—which, for most people, includes having a nice little nest egg to fall back upon (or, better yet, to draw upon when they wish to spoil their loyal four-legged friends!).

I am also a big believer that aside from dogs, the happiest creatures in the world are those that make it their business to be happy. These same people often live modest, moderate lives (does the name Warren Buffet ring a bell?). In other words, they don’t need to surround themselves with a lot of stuff.

Now, I admit that I like the finer things in life. Things like a fluffy dog bed and premium dog food to keep me fit and healthy. Unfortunately, too many of my human friends are drowning in their own junk. Could this explain why it’s easier to spot a self-storage facility than it is to find a fire hydrant? (I may be a dog, but I’m not making this up. The United States has more than 50,000 self-storage facilities with 2.3 billion square feet of storage space. That’s a lot of money going toward the storage of stuff…money that could surely be invested otherwise.)

Stuff doesn’t just take up physical space, it also occupies precious mindshare. Whether you want a lawn mower or a new living room sofa, humans have a dizzying number of options to choose from. Gas or electric? Leather or upholstered? Once you’ve figured that out, you have to bring the thing home, find space for it and take care of it. Then when it breaks, wears out or gets clogged with dog hair, you have to find a way to get rid of it. Just thinking about all the steps involved is exhausting—and expensive!

Do you know what else is exhausting and expensive? Negativity! The kind that newspapers, magazines, television and radio deliver into people’s lives on a daily basis (and for which they pay a premium).

Let me share a personal story. A few years ago, I started putting on the pounds. Much to my chagrin, my humans started rationing my food, and soon I slimmed back down to the svelte Boxer you see today. Similarly, when my dad discovered that his rich media diet was pumping him up with negativity, he vowed to cut back on his consumption. He stopped listening to the radio in the morning. He canceled his subscription to cable television and the local newspaper. He limited the amount of time he spent surfing the internet. As a result, he went from a self-described news junkie to a happier, more productive person with some extra change in his pocket and extra time to spend with the people (and dog) he loves.

Now, I’m all for being an informed, educated and involved citizen of the world. But too many humans like my dad gorge on a media diet that saps their time and makes it hard to maintain a positive outlook on life. An “if it bleeds, it leads” mentality guarantees that a good chunk of what you see, hear and read paints an unnecessarily grim, unbalanced view of the world. Since the media serves as one big echo chamber, we all end up hearing the same soul-sucking stories over and over again.

So what is a media-saturated human to do? Start by shaking off the salacious and sensational headlines like a dog in the bathtub shakes off water. You may not be able to avoid negativity entirely, but you don’t have to absorb it, either. It’s as easy to fill your head with positive things as it is to fill it with garbage, so focus on the positive.

My advice is this: Clean out your doghouse. Simplify, streamline and unclutter. Take a look at what you have and decide whether adding more is a wise investment of your hard-earned dollars. Cancel your subscriptions to negative news outlets.

By following these suggestions, you’ll not only save a lot of money but also gain back some time—which you can then use to spend with your happy, four-legged friend!

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By Bella the Boxer, adapted from her book Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success. 

 

Seven Secrets for Creating a Doggone Great Life

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‘Tis the Season: Staying Positive, Making a Difference

I haven't wanted to seem greedy by asking Santa for presents for myself. And yet, with Christmas just two days away I knew that this would be my last chance to capture the jolly fellow’s attention before he dashed off on his sleigh. So, here goes:

Why do I still feel guilty? Being the digital dog that I am, I spend way too much time online—which is both good and bad.

Good because I’ve made thousands of new friends around the country, including people who’ve dedicated themselves to making the world a better place for my fellow four-legged creatures. With their help, I’ve used my book to raise nearly $3,000 for dogs in need.

Bad because the stories of animal abandonment and cruelty are never-ending and heartbreaking (what is it about the holidays that brings out the worst in some people?). Reading these stories, I feel fortunate and blessed. I also feel overwhelmed and inadequate. After all, I’m just one dog, with one voice. How can I possibly make things better?

It’s enough to make a sensitive dog like me want to run to the backyard, dig a hole and bury her head.

So what’s the secret to staying motivated when things seem bleak? I call it the “kibble principle.” In other words, the key to tackling any complex issue or challenge without becoming overwhelmed is to take small, kibble-sized bites. It’s what Mimi Ausland of Bend, Oregon did when she created Freekibble.com to feed hungry shelter dogs when she was just 11 years old.

To date, Mimi and Freekibble.com (and its spinoff, Freekibblekat.com) have donated millions of good, healthy dog and cat kibble to shelters, rescue groups and food banks around the country—one piece of kibble at a time. Mimi demonstrates how a single, positive change can quickly set in motion a chain of events that make the world a better place.

The truth is that the problems of the animal world and the human world are gigantic. Sometimes, they make it difficult for anyone, dog or human, to feel like they can make a difference. My advice is to focus on the things that you can do yourself right here and right now, no matter how small. As for me, I’ll continue to search for creative ways to partner with rescue groups while spreading a message of happiness and hope to anyone willing to listen.

I also know how important it is to take good care of myself, which includes making time to unplug and unwind (so you see, Santa—that little pink ball is more than just a plaything. It’s an important form of therapy!).

Here’s to staying positive and making a difference in 2012 and beyond!

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You can read more about staying positive and motivated in my book, Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success.

 

How to Make It a Doggone Great New Year

Greetings! My name is Bella, and I’m a connoisseur of cheese, a chaser of squirrels, and an expert on helping humans work smarter and be happier. I’m also a dog, and one of the greatest things about being a dog is having a free pass to give people the kind of straightforward advice that they don’t often hear from each other. (I guess there’s just something about a dog’s soulful eyes and happy, wagging tail that gets humans to sit up and pay attention.)

Since it’s the time of the year when humans start think about New Year’s resolutions, I thought I’d share some of the wisdom that comes naturally to dogs of all shapes, sizes and pedigrees—and which everyone (even cat people!) can use to unleash their potential and create success:

Keep your eyes on the ball.

Stop multitasking and practice the art of concentration.  When I play with my little red rubber ball, I give it my full attention, energy and talent. Nothing else gives me the same sense of satisfaction!

Make happiness happen.

Focus on the positive and look for the humor in every situation. Aside from dogs, who are the happiest creatures on Earth? Those who make it their business to be happy!

Sit, stay and listen.

Talk less and listen more. When I wag my tail more than my tongue, people know that I’m listening. And after a while, I get to know something.

Shake off setbacks.

Don’t let the world “no” dissuade you. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. Dogs aren’t perfect. We take risks and we make mistakes, but we shake off setbacks and take off running again.

Build your pack.

Surround yourself with colleagues, coaches, mentors and friends. Humans like to say that it’s ‘every man for himself.’ That’s silly. We all need a pack of supporters to succeed.

Show genuine appreciation.

Don’t just be grateful—show it! Kick up your paws and celebrate. Appreciation is gratitude in action. It’s something you feel from the tip of your tongue to the end of your tail—and it makes everyone feel good.

Get out and play!

Put down the gadgets and gizmos, step away from the computer, and learn how to play. Play is a dog’s way of connecting with real people, real dogs and real tennis balls. You know—the things in life that are most important.

How Will YOU Tap Into Your Inner Dog in the New Year?!

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Adapted from Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success by Bella The Boxer with co-authors Ellen Galvin and Patrick Galvin (available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and www.BellaTheBoxer.com).

Take a Gratitude Walk: It Does a Body, Mind (and Dog) Good!

The month of November is winding down, but giving thanks is one of my favorite year-round topics (hey, I’m a dog—giving thanks is what we’re good at!) so let me ask you this:

Have you taken a gratitude walk lately?

Some humans keep daily “gratitude journals” to write down the things they are grateful for every day. This seems like a pretty good idea, because humans who are grateful for what they have are a lot like dogs: They are more alert, have higher levels of energy, exercise more and sleep better. They are also more likely to achieve their personal and professional goals than people who are less grateful in their daily lives.

Of course, if my own humans are any example, most gratitude journals probably end up in drawers and behind nightstands, where they collect dust bunnies. (Why are they called dust bunnies, anyway? They don’t have whiskers and they don’t put up a chase.)

I prefer to live my gratitude by dragging my own two-leggeds out for a daily “gratitude walk” around the neighborhood. While I sniff around bushes and stare down squirrels, they get some quality time to reflect on all the things they are grateful for. 

In fact, I suggest that all humans take their dogs out on daily gratitude walks. And, if you don’t live with a dog of your own, then volunteer as a dog walker at your local shelter, walk with a friend or walk yourself.

While you are walking, think about everything you are grateful for, even if you can’t think of anything beyond the basics like food and shelter. Nothing’s too small, or too elemental, to be taken for granted.

Drop me a line and tell me about YOUR latest gratitude walk!

Woofs, wags and walks -- 

Bella

Worth Fetching: A CyBELLA Treat For You!

What are people are barking about? My book, woof! woof! And now that the holiday season is officially upon us, you'll want to read the reviews to find out why Secrets of a Working Dog makes a fun and inexpensive gift for dog lovers, book worms and anyone looking for straighforward and simple advice on how to live a happy, successful and well-balanced life.

Best of all, beginning this Cyber Monday and continuing through December 15, you can get your very own pawtographed paperback copy of Secrets of a Working Dog for 35% off or just $12.95 (shipping is free in the U.S.). Just enter "bellaholiday" as the discount code when ordering directly from my website.

Have an eReader? Secrets of a Working Dog is available as an eBook at Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com (they carry the paperback version, too).

Woofs, wags and a happy CyBELLA Monday to you!