Remembering Paddy Piddock

28/02/2024

Can anyone help please? All of a sudden this is what's happened to my laptop screen. It looks like the taskbar has expanded to fill half the screen and I can't do anything about it. Tried restarting but it didn't help.

19/07/2023

Finally, Paddy has the burial at sea I intended for him. It was a beautiful experience, which I wrote about here.

Almost four and a half years ago, in March 2019, my husband killed my dog Paddy in front of me. It’s mentioned briefly here, and you can read more about that, and the challenges I have worked through, with the help of Spirit, in my book, The Soul Cave.Due to ongoing investigations, it was another ...

25/06/2023

This is a wonderful article from a dog's point of view. So much wisdom. Some of us forget that dogs are sentient beings, just as we are. They deserve our respect.

Do dogs love unconditionally?
I often hear people say that they love dogs because dogs love unconditionally, are unwaveringly loyal, and don't hold grudges like humans.
I do believe that dogs are more forgiving than humans. Less judgemental. They don't care what clothes we wear, or what political party we support, they don't love us due to the way we look or respect us more if we're famous, have loads of money, or are poor. They don't even care if we haven't bothered to have a shower for a few days. They couldn't care less if we are fat or thin, clean toilets for a living, or are a Neurosurgeon. These are wonderful attributes of dogs that we should learn from.

But, I also feel that our culture of believing they love us no matter what does them a disservice. That the belief that dogs should just do as we ask, be biddable and loyal no matter what puts them in danger of abuse, creates unhealthy expectations, and doesn't show them the respect they deserve as individual, sentient beings.

Why should dogs just do as they are told? Why should they just love us unconditionally? Sadly I feel this belief comes from the idea that man (And woman) have dominion over all other living things. The belief that we are somehow better than other animals.

I know dogs that have lost all trust in humans. That are suffering due to past experiences. I also meet dogs that are not biddable by nature, are fiercely independent, that take time to trust. Just like humans, they are all independent characters, motivated by different things, and affected by their past experiences.

I hate that people compare their dog's behaviour to others. That the comparisons are on how obedient a dog is. It's a ridiculous comparison. I know people that are clueless about how to teach their dogs and yet have very easygoing dogs. I know amazing behaviour practitioners and trainers with some of the most difficult to live with dogs. It's not always the person's fault!! Dogs are individuals! They are all different.

Yes, many dogs will do as they are told or behave as if they love their owner after being shouted at hit, or abused. They will often do what is expected of them even if the only reason we have given them is the idea that we are in control and to be feared.

When I see relationships between dogs and humans like this it makes me think of domestic abuse. Where a human will continue to love and be loyal to their abuser.
In my opinion, we have a duty to earn a dog's trust, earn their love, earn their respect, and give them a good reason to do the things we ask of them.

Any relationship can be built on insecurity, fear, and uncertainty, one individual being more dominant or more in charge than the other. But a relationship to be proud of is one built on communication, mutual respect, kindness and an understanding of each other.

I am not my dog's owner, we belong to each other, we are family and they deserve to be treated as such.

17/03/2023

It's 9 years today since Paddy came to us, and 4 years since he passed. This is one of his first photos. We were visiting friends, and he came with us, so it was his first social outing. He could fit on a single tile at 8 weeks old, but it was clear from the paws he would be a big, beautiful boy. I still miss him a lot, and think of him often.

23/06/2022

My good friend Carolynn Barclay has suffered the pain of losing a beloved pet, and it shows in this poem. Share it with a friend who needs to know their four legged friend is always close by, and like her page so you never miss any of her wonderful poems.