I started my 50th year on this planet writing and publishing every day. I was able to maintain this practice for a few months, and burned out and faded. Morning practices, daily practices, gratitude practices, meditation, working out, to do lists, and the general grind of modern daily life can be… overwhelming.

My wife recently broke her arm walking the dog. James Bond, our border collie, saw a rabbit, attempted to chase it, and down went the wife. Mr. Bond has become leash reactive over the past couple years, freaking out when he sees certain other dogs and nipping at us. It can be a bit scary.

For training the dog, I’ve found some resources that have been valuable.

1. Dog Trainers on YouTube
   Robert Cabral’s Dog Training channel is amazing. He goes into animal behavior and the psychology and purpose behind certain commands. I didn’t understand the meaning of sit, until he taught me.

   Tom Davis’s Upstate Canine Academy also resonates with me. He demonstrated the proper use of a prong collar for me to train with. Also, the progress that he shows with reactive dogs that are much scarier than Mr. Bond gives me hope and inspires me that I can master the art of dog training.

2. Dog Gear:
   The Herm Sprenger prong collar has been a game changer. I also got a leather leash, a Baskerville muzzle, a treat bag, and high value treats to fill it with. The prong collar is a controversial tool, but I’m using it carefully to properly train Bond to heel and stop reacting to rabbits.

An untrained dog reflects an untrained mind, and chasing rabbits can hurt those around us and ourselves. This brings me back to this newsletter. It is time to return to the Practice, and Writing is Medicine. I may not publish every day, but I will be writing every day, training the subconscious mind.