The dog and the present moment show us how life truly unfolds here and now. A dog is not here to be “fixed,” nor to correct our behavior. It connects us with ourselves and with the world around us. Within that lies its strength and its role in our lives.
A Connection That Cannot Be Pretended
When you work with a dog, you are not learning what you should do, but what you are doing right now that leads the dog to behave exactly as it does. A dog responds to your presence, tension, absence, focus, or distraction. It does not read your promises, plans, or intentions. It reads you. Now.
The Dog and the Present Moment: The Body as the Only Voice
A dog does not think about how it looks or what others might say. It lives in the dog and the present moment, within a body that feels pain, discomfort, tension, or relief. Topics such as ear cropping are questions of projection—moments when a human stops listening to the dog and instead listens to their own need for control.
On the other hand, when we speak about health, the dog shows the way. Its body clearly signals when support is needed, especially in states of stress or joint strain. This is why the role of vitamin C in dogs is vital for maintaining connective tissue and immunity.
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One approach begins with the human need to shape the dog.
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The other begins with the dog’s need to be supported.
Why Dogs That Eat Dry Food Are Often Dehydrated
Why Dogs Should Not Eat at the Same Time Every Day
A dog brings us back to where life truly exists – the present moment.
Self-Discipline Through the Dog and the Present Moment
Through simple actions like walking or guiding on a leash, self-discipline develops. The dog and the present moment bring you back to your body, your breath, and your step. If you are absent, the dog shows it; if you are present, the dog settles. This is not training—it is a mirror.
Why Our Dogs Teach Us to Live in the Now
A dog does not try to change the world. It simply is. Through the dog, we learn to stop projecting fear and begin living where life truly happens: Here. Now.
At Sasha Riess, we honor the natural state of being. Embracing the dog and the present moment allows us to move away from control and toward pureloveandharmony. Connect with your dog’s true nature: Linktree Sasha Riess