Mirror Mirror: The Surprising Link Between Your Dog's Traits and Your Own

When I train dogs I see so much about how people want to be different. It's sort of like the saying goes, when you point the finger at someone else about anything, there's 3 pointing back at you. I find it to be true in many cases when someone is dealing a dog that is unruly, has anxiety, is reactive or just plain doesn't listen to anyone.

As a dog trainer, I've noticed that people often desire to change themselves but are in denial about either what they want to change or actually doing the work to change. Often the behavior they want changed about their dog is exactly what they'd like for themselves. They have a dog with anxiety, or reactivity, or one that just plain doesn't listen to anyone, goes off the rails and then wishes they had chosen another route. It's akin to the popular saying that goes, "When you point a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you."

Canine companions have an innate ability to pick up on the energy we emit, even beyond what we communicate verbally. They challenge us in ways that are ultimately beneficial, using their instincts to respond to the information we unconsciously provide.

Ask yourself these questions and then see what your dog may be mirroring: