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Unhurried International

Life at the animal's pace
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Mia is a Trust Technique Practitioner for all animals, a Holistic Dog Coach, an Animal Hospice Care Educator & Mentor as well as an author.

15/01/2025

I am finding myself in the shoes of my animal hospice care clients: my dog Lenny is approaching the end of his life.

In the past month he has been declining rapidly. It has become clear that the partial laryngeal paralysis he was diagnosed recently with is not a stand-alone condition but an effect of cancer in the area.

Because he still eats his meals and likes to splash into the dam - albeit in a geriatric version of his former self - he's on a homeopathic cancer protocol rather than solely palliative care. And now we'll wait and see. It's great to see one symptom diminished for now. And his moments of struggle soothed effectively.

He's always been a tough nut. Can he harness his great perseverance (aka pigheadedness) to go on living a little longer? We are taking it one moment at a time. ❤

I forgot how taxing this time can be! I am grateful for all I know but that doesn't eliminate the intense nature of dying. It does, however, help me to more effectively navigate it. 🙏

Please, do not leave any pitying comments - Lenny is highly allergic to pity. He does, however, appreciate cheering, kindness and warmth. 🐶

08/01/2025

This is Kaiba. He's a rescue who has come a looooong way, however, he is reactive towards other dogs. His life is going to change as his human is getting married and the new human has a dog companion too. Luckily, there is no rush and their setup allows safe, separate areas for both dogs to live happy lives. 🙏

I've helped Kaiba's human with their horse, Rocky. You might have seen my posts. We've also started a little while ago to help Kaiba with his many anxieties.

Here's an update I received this morning from Kaiba's human:

"Hi Mia,
Just a little update on Kaiba. I feel he is making such good progress.
I am currently dosing the h**p oil at 5 drops 2x day.
I think he is less stiff and gets up better.
I have also seen such improvement in his behaviour. When we see dogs on our walks at a distance he doesn't react at all (where he would previously have started to look at it and focus on it and grown bigger in size and started to get defensive). Of course, there are still instances where he barks at them when they are too close for his liking, but so so much better.
The crate training has come along even more. I get the impression that he really understands it as his safe and calm place now. I put him in there a few times when he was barking at something outside. Not as a punishment but to help him settle. It worked. I even have seen him opting to go in it when he felt stressed. Winning."

How good is that? 🥰

Next week, Kaiba will meet his new fur brother for the first time. Their humans have a plan and know how to proceed no matter how the dogs will behave during their first meeting. - Which will be being in the same room, each in their crate, and their humans supporting them to let go fear and anxiety, and perhaps even already find some peace in each other's presence.

Instead of "good luck", I wish them patience and persistence. ❤

02/01/2025

Time flies! Happy Pawsday, Marvel! 🎂 7 years old today. Here she is snoozing in the sun this morning. 🐶

She has a very strong but also a very soft side. She can be fierce and direct, and also cuddly and snuggly. She makes me smile often, and sometimes she exasperates me. She loves food, dislikes getting wet - unless she feels hot. She has a knack for befriending the grumpy. She is persistent - but gentle - when she wants something. I love her to the moon and back. ❤

31/12/2024

Goodbye, 2024! 👋

Looking back - this year was a slow one. 🐌

I know I am great at what I am doing but not so great at promoting my business. Yet all I found was marketing that drains the soul with its insincere and pushy strategies. 😒🙄

The heart of my business (how I guide people) is about leaving behind coercion and pressure. So why would I want to use these methods to reach people who need and want what I have to offer?

Imagine my joy when I recently found an approach to marketing that is effective (it works), ethical (it feels genuinely good to all involved) and beautiful (it touches the soul and feeds life). 🙏🎉💛

So, in 2025 I will learn and apply this way that so resonates with me personally and professionally! Where? ➡ Marketing for Hippies

Picture of Marvel, her bestie Pali and I this morning at the beach. 🌞🐾👣🌊

28/12/2024

Happy 10. birthday, Russell!!! 🎂

It was so much fun to host your Pawsday Party. 🐾💙 Marvel, Lenny, Henry and Pali loved sharing your special day with you. 🐶 I think it's the best doggy birthday cake I have ever created. 🤗

I love your quirky nature, you've got a special space in my heart. You neither look nor act your age. I hope we'll be celebrating many more of your pawsdays. ⭐

25/12/2024

Following is some Earthworm wisdom. Read it with openness. Where does it land in you?

Earthworm's Transmission on HUmility:

Sentience takes care of itself.
You are not needed.
You are not needed.
You are not needed,
in the way you think you are.

Breathe this in.

Do you feel a dance of resistance to this Truth -
the HUmbling, freeing Truth
that you are not needed,
that Sentience takes care of All perfectly, brilliantly
with Supreme Intelligence...

Now
rest your weary head
on this soft compost pillow
of Truth.

- with Limitless Love,
Earthworm,
Sabina and Herd of Light

(Original post as a link in comments below.)

When reading Earthworm's message was there a, “Yes, but …”?

Yes, but that doesn’t apply to the animals we care for? They depend on us for certain things, for sure. But what about the rest? When does doing / helping become interfering? Overcaring?

“Overcare is when our initial feelings of care about something or someone turn into obsessive worry, anxiety, or projecting the worst—this usually escalates into emotional depletion and the obvious stress load that follows. Our care is one of our highest assets, but when our care turns into overcare, it drains our energy and our health bears the consequences. Managing our care nurtures us and others, while overcare hinders our effectiveness with energy-draining mind loops even when our intentions are well-meaning.”

This last paragraph is from a HeartMath article, its link in a comment below.

Where can we let go? Can we rest our weary head on this soft compost pillow of truth?

25/12/2024

⭐ Be merry & bright! ⭐

24/12/2024

Marvel & I got some Vitamin Sea today! 🌞😀

20/12/2024

On those days when you miss someone the most, as though your memories are sharp enough to slice through skin and bone, remember how they loved you.

Remember how they loved you and do that, for yourself.

In their name, in their honour.

Love yourself, as they loved you.

They would like that.

On those days when you miss someone the most,

love yourself harder.
❤️

~Donna Ashworth

It's going to be the 5th Christmas without Louie. 🐶 Whom are you missing this Christmas?

19/12/2024

Among the staff of his agistment Doyly is known as a horse that's difficult to put the halter on. Of course, they already bring that expectation to every interaction with him. And, of course, they work with/under pressure.

We have shown Doyly another way: relaxation. When the nervous system can switch from sympathetic (fight/flight) to parasympathetic (connection, safety, trust) communication and cooperation are easy! ✨

Yes, but this takes too long, you might think. Well, yes, the first time - a few months ago - it took about 30 minutes until Doyly relaxed and was good with having the halter put on. Today it all happened in less than 3 minutes. 🐎 The beauty is that everyone feels at ease.

The staff do their thing and continue to struggle with him. I feel glad that Doyly's person can have a different experience with him. Which allows her to think of him differently ... not as naughty, stubborn, bad-mannered. As sensitive, deserving of consideration and kindness. When we know better, we can do better. 💖

Today we earmarked for shaft cleaning. Yes, some horse wi***es need to be cleaned from time to time. Doyly's person felt a bit anxious, having never done that before. Once again we worked with relaxation instead of pressure and the job got done with ease.

Then Doyly got hosed down which he loves on hot days like today. It's a special treat for him to drink the water straight from the hose. 😊

You can see it in all our faces how enjoyable a time together we had. ❤

18/12/2024

Hello from Rocky who lives in Western Australia. 🐎 I work with him and his human via Zoom. Technology is amazing that way. You can find help and support you resonate with regardless of geographical distance. 🤗✨

14/12/2024

The big reveal of Mr Elf's creation. I give you

❄ FROZEN SANTA PAWS ⛄

for all doggies (and their humans!) who live in the Southern hemisphere and therefore have Christmas in summer. 😊

Henry, Marvel and Lenny found them gobblety-yum-scrumptastic. - Their words not mine. 😀

13/12/2024

Mr Elf's workshop in our kitchen. 🎄🍧🍪🍦✨

What is he up to???

Can you guess? 🤔

Henry really wants to know! 🐾

10/12/2024

“Words can't describe our gratitude to you, Mia. That phone call with you was the difference between allowing Bella to recuperate and rushing her back to emergency. You are a rockstar! Seriously, the strength you gave us yesterday made us comfortable to trust Bella to guide us and tell us how she's feeling.”

What happened? Bella had been unwell for a few days. Her humans were very concerned when there was bloody diarrhoea and took her to a vet emergency hospital at 4 am. The diagnosis was colitis - an acute inflammation of the colon. Two days later she was sent home. By then, she hadn’t eaten in 3 days and the vet told her humans that if she still wouldn’t eat that night to bring her back for more infusions.

Bella’s humans phoned me and asked for my thoughts on the situation.

Bella is an anxious dog. She has come a long way but when she feels distressed, she loses her appetite. Considering what she had just been through it was no real surprise that she didn’t want to eat.

Not eating is a huge trigger for many people, conjuring up the worst scenarios. It makes us very worried. It has been forgotten that fasting is part of the body’s wisdom, a healing response. There is another underrated aspect of healing: allowing time in stillness. Modern medicine offers ever escalating interventions, no time to rest & digest - physically, emotionally and mentally.

Home from the hospital, Bella seemed tired and quiet, and stayed on her bed. However, her tail wagged happily when her human came home and she still tilted her head in response to her name.

Our conversation helped to slow down their anxious and racing minds and consider the big picture, to take the foot off the accelerator, become unhurried and able to think clearly again. Knowing their dog and assessing her current condition in the light of it, helped them to come to a decision that felt right: to give Bella another night’s rest before taking any further measures.

Bella also had a cone on her head. The vet wanted to make sure she’d leave her red and raw backend alone. When supervised, many dogs will leave the areas alone they are not supposed to lick or bite. I suggested to try and see what Bella would do with the cone off. As expected, she left it alone. I also suggested to get a donut-shaped pillow instead of the traditional cone for when Bella would be unsupervised. They are much less vexing and work well in most cases.

The next morning I received this message,

"Bella was resting all day yesterday. Close to midnight she started whimpering loudly. I first thought it could be some pain but then we took her for a walk maybe she wanted to do her business. She had a big wee and surprisingly a little p**p which was not liquid, a little jelly like. Then came home and had a big drink of water herself, slept 8 hours without any incident. She woke up just now, we had a short 5 min walk for her to wee. As soon as we came back I offered her some chicken which she ate quite quickly!"

HOORAY! ❤

I am not sure what to call this service I am providing for my clients. I do know that it is invaluable. ✨ I don’t have vet training, so I do not give medical advice. What I do is support people to have agency with regards to their animal’s health and well-being. Agency is the sense of control we feel in our life, our capacity to influence our own thoughts and behaviour. It’s trusting our ability to handle a situation. Agency helps us to be psychologically stable, allowing us to be flexible in the face of adversity. We take back responsibility for our animal and consider expert advice in our decision making. Being able to do that helps feeling satisfied when looking back (no matter the outcome) instead of being filled with regrets.

If anyone has a suggestion what I could call this type of support, let’s hear it, please! 😊

07/12/2024

The art of gift giving. 🎁 🎅 🎄

😊😀😂😀😊😀😂😀😊😀😂

05/12/2024

I have shared the positive impact of full-spectrum h**p oil (CBD) products on Henry's and Marvel's health, today I'm gonna tell you about Lenny's.

Lenny is about 11 years old. His physical development may have been stunted by malnourishment and lack of exercise before he ended up in the pound as an adolescent. He was labeled "beyond help" by two rescues - because he was scared sh*tless of everything. A third rescue took him on, fostered him and then he came into our lives. ✨🐶✨ All this to say that although he overcame his many fears, his physical body has always been scrawny.

He's had one diagnosed mastcell tumour and another hardish one for several years. Unlike with Henry's and Marvel's tumours - which disappeared due to the CBD supplements - Lenny's growths have not changed. However, about 3 months ago he started to breathe like a mix between Darth Vader, a dentist's suction tube and snoring. 😳 It's called a stridor. As it turns out, Lenny has partial laryngeal paralysis. It's a condition not uncommon in older dogs. There are 2 flaps on top of the voicebox. They close every time we eat or drink to make sure no food or liquid enters the lungs. If they are partially paralyzed they cause abnormal breathing sounds and other problems.

Using quite a high dose of the CBD products helps soothe Lenny's symptoms. He's a much happier chap since then and his breathing sounds normal unless he pants, but even then the stridor is less than it was. ❤

In the photo Lenny is sporting his new (and first ever) harness. No more collar on him because his throat area is extremely sensitive.

The full-spectrum h**p oil products I use are from an Aussie company called Artaban. I can highly recommend them. 🌱

05/12/2024

When you wanna cool off after mowing and the dogs don't seem to know it's 35 degrees ... 😳😝

02/12/2024

Falling in love. ✨❤✨

I have shared about Doyly and his caregiver before. Ex-racehorse, his human unable to look after him. His new caregiver inexperienced and daunted, unconvinced and overwhelmed by conventional horsemanship advice.

Curious about the Trust Technique, she got in touch with me. Over the last few months Doyly and his caregiver have started to build trust in each other.

Doyly is learning he won't be forced into anything and his feelings and opinions are listened too, his pace is respected, he is met with patience and gentleness. 🐎

His caregiver is learning that Doyly will not harm her and is willing to listen and consider requests and cooperate happily. Replacing pressure and impatience with regard and unhurriedness. ❤

And look at them now ... utterly in love with each other. 🤗

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Always lots of fun with Cedar and his human. 🐾💖 Connecting, learning together, enjoying life. 🐶😊 #vizsla #pawrenting #doggofun #lifewithdogs

Happy Heidi, happy family! 🐶 I love receiving updates from my clients. Here is one I found in my inbox this morning, "Hi Mia, We realised it’s been just on a year since you worked with us and Heidi and I thought I’d send a little update. We’re now seeing a dog who expresses joy in her life. The attached video is a snippet of where she’s at. Inside - we closed off her dog door and haven’t reopened it. There’s been no need and she’s started to let us know when she wants to go outside to pee. We can sit with her when she’s on her bed, I brush her (semi) regularly (she doesn’t love it but puts up with it.). We walk her on and off lead, her recall is pretty good. She loves a run across the oval and occasionally with another dog. We often take her in the car and I’ve taken her camping a couple of times with half a dozen other dogs there. She seeks us out for a pat, occasionally rolls over for a belly rub, loves an ear scratch. She's still anxious at times, ever watchful, but every time a friend visits they remark on how far Heidi has come (after the initial barking, then sneaking up to sniff their bottom). We can’t thank you enough as the catalyst to getting Heidi to where she is. If you’re ever in the area you’re very welcome to visit. One of us is usually around. Thank you, Mia!" Just to help you fully appreciate Heidi's progress. When I first met her and her family, she had been with them for a year but nobody could touch her or even put on a lead. Therefore also no walks. Vet visits could only happen when she was sedated at home and once in the parking lot of the vet clinic, the vet would anaesthetize her in the boot of the car and once unconscious, she was carried inside. You get the picture. Hooray for Heidi! 🥰🫶🪷✨ #trusttechnique #belgianshepherd #anxiousdog #rescuedog

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Our Story

Louie, Fiorenzo, Lenny & Marvel - four rescue dogs and their human - Mia - are sharing their ways of improving canine-human relationships. From struggle to appreciation and fun. Too many dogs find an untimely end because of behavioural issues. This is our small way of making the world a better place.

Four years ago Mia adopted Louie (Kelpie X) who had been found as a stray. He is now at least 11 years old (that’s based on the best of 3 vet’s guesses of how old he is) and the spokesman of The Dependable Companion.

Three years ago Lenny (Blue Heeler X) joined the pack. He is four years old. His expertise lies in the athletic division. He specializes in frisbees. He also enjoys trick training and other fun activities. This has not always been so. When we first met him he was pretty much scared of everything. He’s apprenticing to one day become spokesman.

A year and a half ago Fiorenzo (Cane Corso) found his furever home with Mia. He’s almost four years old. His stunning looks draws attention to him wherever we go. He’s a big boofhead and a great success in his role as therapy dog.

15/01/2025

08/01/2025

02/01/2025

31/12/2024

28/12/2024

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25/12/2024

24/12/2024

20/12/2024

19/12/2024

18/12/2024

14/12/2024

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