Category: dogs

art, children, creativity, dogs, meditation, yoga

Beginning: 3 Way to Get Fresh Eyes

Christa Avampato

“To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.” ~ George Kneller

How many times have you caught yourself saying, aloud or to yourself, “well, that’s just the way it is”? It’s a dangerous phrase, though entirely understandable when we are in the throes of frustration or disappointment. I’ve made a career out of busting up that phrase and trying to help others banish it from their thought patterns. I’m all for getting inside a system and learning its inner workings, but once I learn a system the tinkering begins. I get a kick out of seeing how my re-arranging of the rules, no matter how long-standing those rules are, can improve a system.

If you’ve been in a system for a long-time, whether that system is a job, a relationship, the city where you live, it can be a challenge to find joy, to think creatively about any challenges, to make it feel new again. Here are 3 ways to take George Keller’s advice and freshen up your eyes and mind.

1.) Yoga and meditation. (You knew that was coming, right?) No yoga practice, class, or even posture is ever the same experience twice for teachers or students. There is always nuance. Our bodies are different every day – literally. Our rate of cell turnover is tremendous. Some scientific studies say that every month all of our cells – every single one – is entirely new. That means you’re physically a new person every month. And since a yoga and meditation practice often begins in the body, then those practices must be new every time. Embrace the change from your practice, and you’ll be able to embrace change in other areas of your life. That’s yoga’s whole purpose.

2.) Check out the world with a dog or a child. Their eyes are new every day, and their literal and figurative perspective, is very different from that of adults. They are open to the world in ways that we are entirely closed off. We have a lot to learn from them. My nieces, Lorelei and Aubree, and my dog, Phin, show me new ways of thinking whenever I’m with them.

3.) Take in some art. We’re blessed in New York City is have the most incredible art, music, and performance landscape in the world. There is art in some form for every taste. Artists are constantly reinvesting themselves. Their livelihood depends upon reinvention. Let them inspire you to do some reinvention of your own.

This blog is part of the 2011 WordPress Post Every Day Challenge.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

animals, dogs, guest blogger

Advice from Janet Casamento on Becoming a Responsible Dog Parent

Christa Avampato

Janet and I have been friends since our early years as students at the University of Pennsylvania. We were part of the theatre community at Penn and I have always admired Janet for her ability to always go her own way and be her own person with confidence. In the last year she has become my own personal dog whisperer, a skill she developed after adopting and raising her adorable pups, Bruno and Melody.

Her expert advice and guidance helped me to become a responsible and loving dog owner and I wanted to showcase her knowledge on this subject for anyone considering adopting a pet of their own. This is my small attempt at thanking her for all of her help and advice as I go through the process of raising my rescue pup, Phineas.


Christa – How did you know you were ready to adopt your dogs? Were there certain circusmtances in your life that made this time a particularly good one for you to get a pup? 

Janet – I’d wanted to adopt a dog for quite some time.  I adopted Bruno right after I graduated from business school because I knew I’d be settling into a regular schedule with my job at that point in time.  I knew that dogs need a schedule and structure, so it just seemed like the right time for me.

Christa – I know you are a huge advocate for pet rescue, as am I. How did you make the decision to adopt your dogs versus buying them from a breeder?

Janet – Just walking into an animal shelter makes you realize how many dogs are in desperate need of homes.  To me, it just seems unconscionable to get a puppy from a breeder when so many adult dogs are being euthanized daily in our nation’s shelters.  Before breeding new dogs, it is our responsibility to first care for the ones who already exist and are in need of homes.

Christa – What drove the decision to get your Melody after you adopted Bruno?

Janet – I think I started feeling a bit guilty that Bruno was home alone all day while I was at work, so I made the decision to foster for a local rescue group as a way to help animals in need while also providing Bruno with some companionship.  Dogs are very social, pack animals, and most dogs appreciate being in the company of other dogs.  Melody started out as a foster, but I after seeing how well she and Bruno got along and how nicely she fit into my household, I decided to make her a permanent part of the family. 

Christa – When adopting a dog, were there any specific traits that you were looking for?

Janet – When I adopted Bruno, I was looking for a sporty dog, since I’m a pretty active person.  I intended on adopting a 20-30 pound dog (I lived in an apartment at the time and there was a weight restriction for dogs there) that I could take with me running and on hikes.  I ended up taking home an adorable fluff ball who stole my heart at the shelter.

Christa – When you were starting out as a dog owners, were there resources or products that you turned to that were especially helpful?

Janet – I did a lot of research online.  Google was my friend for quite some time.  I also highly recommend any dog owner, experienced or new, when bringing a new dog into their household sign up for a basic training class.  The training class provides structure and is an opportunity for your dog to learn to socialize and behave in the presence of other dogs outside the home.  Furthermore, training helps you form a bond with your new pet. 

Christa – What’s been the thing that has surprised you the most about being a dog owner?

Janet – When I started out with Bruno, I never thought in a million years I’d have a dog sleeping in my bed with me.  I’d always intended for him to have his dog bed to sleep in every night.  Two years later, I couldn’t bear the thought of sleeping without him next to me.  I guess you could say I’m surprised at how deeply I love my dogs and how close our bond is!

Christa – Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of getting a new dog? Are there certain circumstances in their life that they need to develop before bringing a new pup into their lives?

Janet – Yes.  Always, always, always do your research before you adopt.  Understand yourself and your lifestyle before bringing a dog into your home.  Different dogs have different needs.  For instance, puppies especially require a lot of time, attention and training.  If you work 12 hours days, a puppy is not the right choice for you.  You might want to consider adopting an adult dog already past the puppy stage and be prepared to hire a dog walker or find a doggy day care facility for your dog if you do work long hours, or consider adopting a bonded pair of adult dogs so they have each other as company while you are gone all day.

Also consider your breed carefully. If you’ve always dreamed of owning a Vizsla, but you are a couch potato who lives in a studio apartment in Manhattan, you should probably reconsider your choice, as Vizslas need lots of exercise or else they will likely become bored and destructive.  Concentrate on finding the right dog(s) for you and your lifestyle.  I believe just about anyone can have a dog if they want one, but it does often mean making some sacrifices and compromises to accommodate your dog’s needs.

Please understand adopting a dog is a commitment to the care of that animal for its entire lifetime, which can be up to 15-20 years. Some other things to consider are if you are financially capable of caring for your dog should it become ill and require medical treatment, daily upkeep costs such as food and grooming, your willingness to tolerate damage to your home and possessions as I guarantee no matter how well behaved and trained your dog is, there will inevitably be accidents and destruction of some sort at some point, your willingness and ability to deal with training and behavior issues, who will care for your dog while you are at work and/or on vacation, and any other changes to your lifestyle/schedule you can anticipate happening during the course of your dog’s lifetime such as job demands, moving, marriage/divorce, having children, or retirement.  Are you prepared to make sacrifices for your pet, from the perspective of both time and money?

Adopting a pet should never be an “impulse buy”. Dogs look to humans for leadership, care and affection.  If you can’t adequately provide these things to your dog, you shouldn’t have one.  Please do not contribute to the overcrowding problem in our nation’s shelters and carefully consider your ability to fully care for your pet for its entire life.  Pet ownership is a highly rewarding experience, but it is not a decision that should be taken lightly!

Janet is the proud owner of 2 rescue dogs, Bruno, a Pekingese/Cocker
Spaniel mix and Melody, a Lhasa Apso. Janet, an animal rescue
volunteer, lives and works in sunny Los Angeles, CA. She maintains
her own snarky blog about the little things in life at
http://miniletters.wordpress.com. To keep up with Bruno and Melody,
please “like” them on Facebook.

change, dogs, nature, Spring

Beginning: Take Spring Where You Can Get It

Christa Avampato

This post is available as a podcast on Cinch.

My pup, Phineas, is finally back to his usual energetic, curious self. He has an allergy to the salt that’s heavily used on the pavements in New York City. The salt, or some chemical in it, gave him sores on his little legs, cut up the pads on his feet, and made him sick after he licked some of it from his paws. He was sluggish and didn’t eat much, all of the same signs Sebastian (the pup my sister owned) showed shortly before his passing. I rushed Phin to the ER on the morning on New Year’s Eve. As I was taking him downtown to the hospital, I sat on the subway train, head down on his carrier, tearing up. I knew I loved him, but I didn’t realize how much He’s come to mean to me in 4 short months until I started to worry that I might lose him.

After allowing the salt to pass through his system, learning how to carefully clean his paws, getting him a warm wool sweater, and discovering the miracle balm Musher’s Secret (great protection for dogs who won’t wear booties), Phineas is out in the world frolicking with the best of them. [I must insert an endorsement here for the PetHealthStore, a local shop in my neighborhood where I got the sweater and learned about Musher’s.] He likes the snow well enough, though I can tell that the novelty of it has worn off. He wants the spring – the grass, the leaves, and the warmth. Last weekend we hopped around Central Park, clamoring over snow banks many times taller than Phin, to get to the few grassy areas that the melted snow had exposed. Phin rolled around in them, thinking warm Spring thoughts. He saw some fall leaves around a tree trunk and he got so excited to run through them that you’d thought he’d just seen a long lost friend.

We sat on a rock for a few minutes and basked in the warmth of the afternoon winter sun on our faces. Spring is a long way off, but Phin and I are already dreaming of daffodils and butterflies and the re-birth of a bright, green world. For now, we’ll take whatever bit of grass and dried leaves we can get. Spring is where you find it.

The image above reminds me that resilience can be attained in any environment. The image can be found here.

This blog is part of the 2011 WordPress Post Every Day Challenge.

animals, dogs, love

Beginning: Loving an Animal

Christa Avampato

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France

I’m a new dog owner. I adopted Phin almost 4 months ago and he is the first pup I’ve had whom I’m solely responsible for. By some great good fortune, I have a team of dog whisperers. My brother-in-law, Kyle, my friends Trish, Janet, Amanda, Col, Courtney, Kerry, Blair, and Ashley (who thankfully have talked me down off the ledge several times as I puzzle my way through how to best care for my favorite furry friend.) And my newest animal-loving friend – Gregg.

I met Gregg and his lovely wife, Linda, at the semi-annual dachshund festival held each Fall and Spring at Washington Square Park. Gregg was easy to pick out because he proudly wore a Godfather themed t-shirt that very simply said, “The Dogfather”, and that he is. He and Linda are the owners of two amazing full-sized dachshunds, both therapy dogs. Gregg is a professional dog trainer and has provided me with an enormous amount of advice and counsel, and has cheered Phin and I on as we helped transition Phin from a rescue to part of the pack. I highly, highly recommend Gregg if you need a trainer.

Right around Christmas Gregg sent me an incredible slide show with a simple note that said “This is why I thank God that I’m able to do what I do…” It’s a collection of fantastic dog photos that show just how much humor and love is wrapped up in these remarkable beings. And it makes me burst with happiness to know that one of those lovely souls found his way to my home.

Click here to view the slide show.

I snapped the photo of Phin above over the Christmas holiday. Deep in thought perched high on the couch.

This blog is part of the 2011 WordPress Post Every Day Challenge.

choices, dogs, experience

Beginning: A Lesson Along the Snowy Path

Christa Avampato

Listen to a podcast of this post on Cinch.

Phineas and I took our first walk in the snow last week. He’s pretty psyched about snow and not at all psyched about slush and wet pavement. For some reason, the snow really agrees with him and because he’s only 6 inches at the shoulder, it wears him out, too. (Imagine how tired we’d be if we always had to walk in snow up to our waists!)

Over at Riverside Park, you can frequently find us frolicking in the meadows, hanging out with other dogs and dog owners, and taking in the view. We love that park, maybe even more than we love Central Park. Its slow pace, river-facing views, and arching trees make us happy in every season.

On our first snowy walk together, I chose the safe path, the one shoveled and cleared by others because I thought it would be easier for Phin. He, however, chose the snowy path because it was more fun. He dove right into that snow with wild abandon, made little snow angels (more appropriately snow dachshunds), and tossed the snow up in the air with his ample nose. It was glorious to watch him living so fully. And inspired me to do the same.

The heck with the well-traveled path. Like Phin in the snow, I want to carve my own. (And then after all that work, a nap is in order!)

The photos in this post are, respectively, Phin dashing around in the snow (tough to catch on camera – he’s a fast little guy!) and then coming home and promptly finding his blanket to settle in for his afternoon nap.

This blog is part of the 2011 WordPress Post Every Day Challenge.

animals, dogs, love, luck, pets

Step 300: A Tribute to Animal Rescuers

Christa Avampato

When I seriously began looking for a dog to adopt, I went to an event in my hometown with my mom. I had missed the only dachshund they had by just a few minutes. I wished I had gotten there earlier – of course there was no way I could have known how close I was to finding Phin, the pup I later adopted from the Humane Society. I just knew that my dog was out there somewhere. My animal loving and rescuing friends kept reassuring me that my dog would find me. I just had to keep looking. I had my list of what I wanted and needed in a dog, and I refused to give up. It’s a process very similar to dating. (My canine love took only a few months to find. My other love is taking a bit longer to find his way!)

At the adoption event, I took the organizer’s card and emailed him to keep an eye out for me should another dachshund come his way. When I got home, I turned his card over and read a beautiful poem about animal rescuers by Annette King-Tucker. In that moment, I knew I was on the right path toward adoption. I put the card on my meditation alter in my apartment, hoping it would help the process along.

Now a month into dog ownership, I couldn’t be happier with Phin. As my friend Col so beautifully says, loving a dog is the honeymoon that never ends. So this poem is for my friends Col, Janet, Amanda, Trish, Blair, Alex, Kelly, Ashley, Kerry, my mom and the millions of others out there who open up their hearts and homes to these amazing creatures who offer us far more than we could ever offer them. They are our greatest teachers.

“I Am an Animal Rescuer
My job is to assist God’s creatures
I was born with the need to fulfill their needs
I take in new family members without plan, thought, or selection
I have bought dog food with my last dime
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid
I have fallen in love a thousand times
and I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body

I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done,
My home is never quiet
My wallet is always empty
But my heart is always full”

~ Annette King-Tucker, Wild Heart Ranch Wildlife Rescue

The photo above is Phin posing for his close-up. It was taken by photographer James Riordan

dogs, faith, loss, love, pets

Step 299: Letting Go Helps Us Find the Path We’re Meant For

Christa Avampato

“On my yoga mat, I ask myself what I can let go of & what I can let in to be more connected to the essence of yoga.” ~ Planet Yoga via Twitter

Dogs are resilient. They leave the past where it should be – in the past. They take the learnings they need from their experience and move forward. I’m not sure how they figured that out and left us to the task of reliving our pasts over and over again. I do know that we have a lot to learn from our canine pals.

When I read Planet Yoga’s tweet on letting go, I was reminded of how much we have to gain from release. We think of letting go as just loss, but there’s a flip side to it, too. When we release and empty out, we make room for new chances for happiness and fulfillment. We give ourselves permission to move onward and upward.

Hanging on to the past doesn’t serve us. I think about what Phineas’s life would now be like if he couldn’t let go of the heartbreak he must have felt when his first family mistreated him. What if instead of being his loving, friendly self, he had let the mistreatment make him bitter and cold? He may have never found his way to me, and might never have been able to enjoy the truly charmed life he lives now. What’s more, he ran away from his abusive home without knowing if things would be better. I think he just knew that his conditions were bad, unacceptable even, and somewhere in his tiny dachshund heart he knew that there had to be a better life waiting for him someplace else. He went it alone, and in a way based on nothing but faith.

On Sunday morning, the sun was shining and Phin and I were making our way up West End Avenue under the brightly colored leaves that line the street. I could smell hot apple cider from the street fair underway and there was a saxophone player entertaining us with a song that could have set up the opening credits to a feel-good movie. We passed by the beautiful brownstones of the Upper West Side, and in that instant life felt absolutely perfect. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude at the simplicity and happiness of that moment, and carried it with me for the rest of the day.

In order to have that moment with Phin, I needed to let go of the pain I felt when Sebastian passed away a year ago and Phin needed to let go of the family that had abandoned him. We both had to learn how to love again. I may have rescued Phin from the Humane Society, but he rescued me right back. Right then, I made a vow to let go of sadness more often in favor of letting in more light.

The photo above shows Phin and I at the 8th Annual My Dog Loves Central Park Country Fair. It was taken by photographer James Riordan.

animals, dogs, nature

Step 285: Talk to the Animals with Trish Scott’s Help

Christa Avampato

When I first adopted Phineas, he had some separation anxiety. He cried when I left for work, and those little cries broke my heart. One of the first calls I made was to Trish Scott, a brilliant animal behaviorist, loyal reader of this blog, and talented writer. Trish responded immediately with top-notch advice. I also read a copy of her e-book, An Introduction to Animal & Nature Communication. Phineas is now well-adjusted to his new surroundings and barely blinks when I leave for work in the morning.

One of Trish’s key pieces of advice that really helped me and Phin, and appealed to my yoga philosophies, is that dogs can feel our energy whether we’re in the same room or many miles apart. When I’m at work and Phinny is home, we’re still linked. Intuitively I have known about this link between animals and humans for many years. When I was in college, I had several dreams about saying good-bye to my black lab, Cosby. Sure enough, my mom called a few days later to say that he had passed. He and I said good-bye in our own way, separated by hundreds of miles. Cosby’s spirit found his way to me to let me know it was time for him to go. I had a chance to hug him one more time and thank him for being so faithful for so many years.

Trish suggested that while I’m at work I imagine giving Phin a hug, patting him on the head, and telling him I’ll be home soon. I do this several times a day, and remarkably I can feel that it helps Phineas. Trish also gave me a few other tips like getting a kong toy for him and carving out a little space in my apartment for him to have as his own. Combined, all of these tips made a huge difference, though I truly believe recognizing and honoring our energy connection helped the most. As soon as I started practicing our long distance communication, I noticed a difference in his demeanor. He calmed down, relaxed, and trusted me more. Trish gave me such a precious gift – she gave me my pup in his very best form.

If you’ve ever wanted to have a closer relationship with animals, or you’re curious about the lessons they have to teach us (and yes, animals are some of our very best teachers!), I highly recommend Trish’s book. The happiness and peace you’ll find by taking her advice to heart will richly improve your life. It’s certainly improved mine by leaps and bounds.

animals, dogs, health, nature, teaching

Step 281: The World is Awake at 6:00am

Christa Avampato

I woke up early this morning to walk Phineas. We strolled along the river inside Riverside Park, smelling the Fall flower arrangements, admiring the sailboats, and listening for the acorns falling from the great oak trees scattered all over the park. It was warm with a little breeze, and around 6:00am the sun was just stretching up over the horizon. A perfect morning, albeit a little early.

I’ve always loved the morning, though liked to view it from the comfort and warmth of my own bed with a delicious cup of coffee. I try to walk Phin for an hour every morning so I’m waking up earlier these days. At first I thought it would be such a chore and now almost 3 weeks in to owning a pup, I see our early morning walks as a real gift. I have time to think, and be, and just relax. There are a lot of people awake at 6:00am walking around New York City; I’m a little late to the party.

I was yawning wide this morning when up over a small hill I saw an older man slowly coming toward me via a walker, oxygen tank in tow. He was up at 6:00am, getting his exercise despite the extraordinary effort it obviously took him, and here I am thinking about my bed. I know I’m not a lazy person (my greatest fear in the world is to wake up one day and realize I’ve become lazy), but in that moment I felt a little embarrassed. At 34 and in perfect health, I’m thinking about sleep and this older man was content, probably even very happy, to be making progress one short step at a time.

I get why we walk into Borders or Barnes & Noble to find countless books filled with the lessons that animals teach us. I know Phinny arrived in my life as a teacher because in this moment, there is a lesson I need that he can provide. To date, the greatest lesson he’s given me is getting me up out of bed early to exercise, enjoy the morning sun, and continuously be reminded that I am one lucky lady to be blessed with this life.

choices, dogs, future, pets, priorities

Step 265: Living in the Moment

Christa Avampato

I’m working my way through Cesar Milan’s book as Phin and I get to know each other. So much of the advice is counter-intuitive, though I can already see how helpful it is to see a dog as a dog, not as a person with fur. I’m so guilty of not learning that lesson sooner. I have always seen my dogs as people, and now I know why so many of them had issues of possession and anxiety. By letting dogs be dogs, they have so much to teach us about being human. By making them human, we miss out on their distinct sense of wisdom.

Dogs do not dwell on their pasts. They truly are creatures of the moment. Their existence is in the here and now. Certainly they develop habits and associations, but 99.9% of the time those habits and associations can be undone and replaced with others. Their degree resilience is enviable.

As a I read the section of Cesar Milan’s book about how dogs appreciate the persent, I thought about how much time people spend living in the past, incurring anxiety by situations that are long gone and will never be repeated. We relive disappointments, insecurities, and sadness of our past ad nauseam. We can’t let it go. Dogs let it all go. They care about what’s happening now, in this and every moment.

Imagine if we could do that as a way of life? Get up every day with a renewed sense of hope and happy anticipation. What if we could really leave our past behind us? Would our life experience be richer or poorer if we could set aside our past and our future and just love where we are right now?