What Is an Everyday Adventure?
Across the internet you can follow the escapades of adventurers, canines and humans. They often have great gear, professional camera setups, perhaps breathtaking locations. We follow them too. We enjoy them too. We are not them. Not to say that you’ll never see a shot here that will make your eyes water with wonder – though we’re usually too busy taking that picture with our eyes rather than our camera phone – that’s not our focus.
We’re here to share the adventures of the every day and the everyday adventures. What kind of circular gibberish is that?
We consider an everyday adventure to be one of two things:
Putting an adventure where it wouldn’t normally exist
Stepping away from your desk, screen, stove (turn it off first, please), complex thoughts, and making a conscious decision to be in that exact moment…and the next one, and the one after that.
Doing something that you wouldn’t normally do at a moment that you wouldn’t normally do it.
2. Creating an adventure in an everyday task or event
The girls and I have to eat, and we have to train. Sometimes we turn the first few minutes of a mealtime into a game of hide-and-seek-the-food. They reinforce their patience and get to stretch their sniff muscles (see today’s Training Tidbit). I don’t hide my own food…but maybe I should try my own game!
The most important part is the on-purpose nature of it all. Sometimes we might accidentally adventure (we’ve been practicing for a few years, so it happens) and we always acknowledge the adventure when we identify it. Why? It helps us be intentional in future adventures, and gives us a certain sense of accomplishment in the moment.
Did we adventure today? Yes, accidentally, but yes!
Breed Notes: Adventure Preferences
Ruthie appreciates adventure at a steady pace (and preferably when it’s not raining). She’s the girl that chooses to stay on the trail, on the patio, at my right side and in her favorite spot behind the driver’s seat in the car. You’ve likely heard that Great Pyrenees like to wander, wander off, and can’t be trained as they do everything on their own terms and in their own time. This is true. But for every truth there is a level of nuance. Ruthie would prefer to be with her family than anywhere else and adjusts her ‘Pyr’ tendencies accordingly. She likes new things but in a routine kind of way. She also likes naps between adventures – long ones, upside down.
Liesl is a natural adventurer, if her trusted human (me!) is by her side. She believes in guidelines as a suggestion but also has a need to please. This means that she runs through the woods with her crazy-pants on (technical term) but also zooms back and into a “sit” when she hears a “ZOOP”. “ZOOP” is the indicator sound that calls the girls back from adventure. They always know it’s me and they always know it’s for them and they better hustle. She takes her adventures as they come, no questions asked. But she must know exactly where I am at all times. All times!
Training Tidbit: We build and promote both relationship and calm with food training. We sometimes use part of a meal (not just between-meal treats that increase daily calorie intake) to hand feed, fill a slow feeder or puzzle feeder, or scatter feed (dry foods only). These promote calming sniffing behavior and can be joyful and productive ways to expand your dog’s everyday world. We’re working on some training resources to release in the coming weeks that will support your everyday adventures with everyday training opportunities. We’re a full-service kind of crew.
Real Life Reminder: Dogs, like people, feel different ways about their food! Provide the food, in whatever format you choose and they love, and let them enjoy it and the associated experience. They don’t want to feel that you might interfere or take it away at any time. I also don’t like people to touch my food after I’ve started eating!
Adventure prompt: Put an everyday adventure in an unexpected place
Step away during today – away from whatever makes up your routine. Start with five minutes and three deep breathes. Take a walk. Walk in place. Gaze out a window. Bend in half and stare at your feet. It really doesn’t matter how we start – just start by starting. If you have a dog, invite them to join you. Stretch in their presence. Breathe with them. Make this separate and distinct from their normal walk time. They might be confused if this is the first time you’ve exhibited this behavior. Don’t worry, they will catch on. The more you practice this behavior the more they will expect it and help you to stay on a schedule. The beginning of an everyday adventure schedule.
We’re going to play a midday game of tug (me and Liesl) and race each other up and down the driveway (me and Ruthie). See you out there!