Kimberly Artley - My Dog, My Buddha: A Spiritual and Empowering Approach to Dog Training

All rights reserved. No reproduction, even in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2019 by Kimberly Artley

Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.

Photography on Cover by: Jason Hornby, The Pet and Animal Photographer. Based in the UK, but available to photograph dogs all over the world.

Layout Design: Jermaine Lau

Mango is an active supporter of authors rights to free speech and artistic expression in their books. The purpose of copyright is to encourage authors to produce exceptional works that enrich our culture and our open society. Uploading or distributing photos, scans or any content from this book without prior permission is theft of the authors intellectual property. Please honor the authors work as you would your own. Thank you in advance for respecting our authors rights.

For permission requests, please contact the publisher at:

Mango Publishing Group
2850 Douglas Road, 2nd Floor
Coral Gables, FL 33134 USA

For special orders, quantity sales, course adoptions and corporate sales, please email the publisher at or +1.800.509.4887.

My Dog, My Buddha. A Spiritual and Empowering Approach to Dog Training.

Library of Congress Cataloging
ISBN: (p) 978-1-64250-002-8 (e) 978-1-64250-003-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019938539

BISAC category code: PETS / Essays & Narratives / PETS / Dogs / Training / SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Ethology (Animal Behavior)

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to my precious Lobo, one of my greatest teachers, and the one who set me on a path I least expected. His lessons live on through every dog and every human Im blessed enough to assist; his teachings lying at the heart and core of all I do.

I also dedicate this book to all the dogs who get bounced around, are given up on, and whose quality of life significantly decreaseseven cut short due to our inability to read, see beyond, and understand behavior, and the varying ingredients that factor into, influence, and impact it all. May we all learn to be more open, compassionate, and aware.

And I dedicate this book to my clients and their dogs. Thank you for seeking me, thank you for finding me, thank you for trusting me with the privilege of guiding you all to clarity, understanding, trust, respect, quality of life, and peace of mind. Its all very much a process, journey, and personal adventure.

My Dog, My Buddha is a game changer for anyone intent on changing the direction of their life, and regaining their dogs trust and respect.

FOREWORD

For the past 16 years, Ive dealt with hundreds of dogs with a myriad of issues. Each of these cases has had its share of challenges, rewards, disappointments and victories. No two cases have ever been alike, nor has the strategy Ive created to resolve each issue. Only one thing has been consistent: fixing the human remains the most difficult part of the equation.

Dog behaviorist and life-coach, Kimberly Artley, has created the ultimate guide to building a life of balance and purpose. She cuts through the nonsense and arrives at the critical conclusion that our dogs are a mirror of exactly who we are. Straightforward and honest, Kimberly leads us to the truth about the impact our energy has on our dogs behavior and emotional health.

Never before has there been a book that not only identifies our weaknesses, but tells us how to empower ourselves right back to strength. Although brutally honest, Kimberlys approach is compassionate often citing her own failed experiences as the catalyst for change.

My Dog, My Buddha is a game changer for anyone intent on changing the direction of their life, and regaining their dogs trust and respect. Open your heart and mind and see where the jewels of wisdom in this beautiful book will take you. I promise, you wont be sorry.

Cheri Lucas
Founder, Second Chance at Love Humane Society
Dog Trainer & Behaviorist

PREFACE

When Im coaching an individual whos struggling to figure out what their purpose in life is, I always suggest they think back to their childhood and try to remember what it was they did where theyd lose all sense of time. When they were in their ultimate bliss. What filled them with so much joy, satisfaction, and incomparable fulfillment. For me, it was animals. Animals were my comfort, joy, and passion. I surrounded myself with them. If I was at a party, I was that girl that hung out with the resident pet. Id do neighborhood rounds with my World Wildlife Fund magazine, knocking on doors, educating my neighbors, and collecting donations for their cause. When my envelopes got full of change, I taped them up, covered them in stamps, and mailed them off with lots of heart, big love, and full of pride (I still, to this day, wonder if those coin-filled envelopes ever made it).

Skippy

At 9 years of age, I was blessed with the best Christmas present ever. A Springer Spaniel puppy. I named him Skippy. Skippy was white with reddish-brown spots all over, freckles on his face, and a spot on his side that was shaped like a heart. He was my pride and joy. Although Skippy had the sweetest disposition, he was a total nightmare; and it wasnt his fault. We werent meeting his needs as a dog, and certainly didnt put in the time, effort, and energy to guide, teach, and way-show. Skippy was unfairly labeled a holy terror, and was sent away by my mother because of it. I came home from school one day, and Skippy was nowhere to be found. He was gone. To say I was absolutely crushed is a total understatement.

Table of Lessons

The importance of
moving forward.

Its all a
conversation.

Clarity fosters
understanding.

We tell our story through our responses, reactions,
and behaviors.

Pick and choose
your battles.

Just say no to helicopter
dog parenting.

Take care of me, when Im here and should the
unforeseen happen.

Become the calm you wish
to see in your dog.

The importance of
following
through.

One of the greatest gifts we can give is our undivided
attention.

Deal with frustration in a
constructive way.

The difference between
cant and wont.

Stay curious. Question
everything.

See yourself the
way I see you.

Tucker and Lobo

Fast forward 18 years and enter a new teacher, my first sole responsibility dog, Lobo. Did I know what I was doing? Not really, but I was eager to learn. Lobo went everywhere with me, and was a favorite at our local haunts. I made it a point to expose him to various environments and scenarios, teach him commands and tricks, and did my best to help him become as well-rounded as he could be.

A few years after his arrival, a new pup entered our pack, Tucker. Lobo was an amazing big brother to Tuck, and took him right under his paw; but not soon after, my marriage went sour and a switch in my Lobo flicked. Once a very social, happy-go-lucky dog, he became protective and aggressive. What was happening?! I spent every last dollar on trainers, moving through 6 of them. The 6th one was a Board and Train program, where he would live with the trainer for 2 weeks. While Lobo responded well to his training and new surroundings, he quickly reverted back to his protective tendencies and aggressive behaviors as soon as he returned to me ( *big clue* ).