World Is My Oyster

By Gary Vaughn

 When you have been in the “wild” for a number of days without a bath or a shave, how do you feel? Pretty raunchy, right? You’re totally ready to wash all that gunk off of you and start to resemble a normal human being again. Well, the same is true for your dog, up to a certain point.

Yes, it’s true that dogs don’t have a system of logic going on in their brains that tells them that they smell bad. Neither do you. Yours is a learned behavior. Early man stunk, folks. He was ripe all the time and everyone just accepted this. It was a part of the daily routine. Just like your dog. Man is the only species that does not react simply out of instinct or habit alone. He can reason. That’s what makes us the highest species. Believe it or not, dogs can reason too, especially after a grooming.

Tony Roettger, of Spaniel Journal, says that if a thing can be trained, such as a dog, it can reason. Maybe the reasoning is on a lower level than humans but it can reason and the more it is forced to reason, the better it gets and the more frequently it uses reasoning to make decisions, the more evident it becomes. Reasoning is a form of conditioning, is it not and vice versa. Conditioning is a form of reasoning.

With that said, let us do some reasoning of our own. When a person takes their dog to the groomer’s shop and the dog is given the full treatment, including bath,haircut, nails trimmed appropriately, nails polished, ribbons in the hair (in some cases) and a doggie perfume or cologne placed on them, they probably hate the entire affair because they don’t have the capability to reason the reason for what they’re going through; however, what is your reaction when you pick them up from the groomers? You’re usually very excited, you talk to the dog and tell them how good they look, your voice conveys approval and happiness. So, what do you think the dog may be reasoning here?

Our guess is that the animal, after being groomed and receiving your obvious gratuities and love begins to understand that this grooming process, which he hates, brings accolades and love from his owner so how bad can it really be? He knows that he’s not going to be harmed so he begins to associate the grooming process with your love and attention. Hey, even men do this type of reasoning, right?

So, the question is not so much, “do they know they’re being groomed,” but rather, “do they associate the grooming with good feelings and do they feel good about themselves once they are groomed?”

The truth is, your dog may not actually “like” the grooming process but they accept it. They probably associate your attention with the process although they don’t have any idea why you’re happy. They just know you are and if you’re happy, that’s ok with them because they love you, unconditionally.

So, don’t hesitate to get your dog groomed frequently from a reputable and highly touted groomer. They make you feel good about your dog and the dog can feel that because…he reasons it out. And you want him to feel good because you love him, right?

Gary Vaughn is a Master RN with many valuable years of experience. Marketing health care and dieting products is one of his specialties. He also has an interest in pets and dog training. His website is located at

Dog Groom-Room.com,a power information resource for dog grooming information.

Thoughts

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By Melody Biggar

 Every thought you have about your weight and health has made you the way you are today. Your career, your relationships, your health…are all a direct result of your past thinking. If you look in the mirror and think “I’m fat,” then you are sending this message directly to your subconscious and thus you will be fat. If you are constantly thinking, “I need to lose weight,” then you will constantly be in the state of needing to lose more weight.

Affirmations can help you jump-start your weight-loss goals. Affirmations are your own words or phrases of encouragement to yourself. You can use these anytime you feel low energy, negativity, the urge to overeat, or skip your workout etc.

Your affirmations or mantras must be in the present tense. Instead of saying “I will lose weight and be fit in one month,” say “I am losing more weight every day.” Always say your mantras as if they are in the present, not in the future or you will be constantly trying to get thin rather than just be thin.

Here are some positive affirmations you can give yourself during your weight loss journey. Repeat them every day.

“I am thin, healthy and beautiful.”

“I am beautiful exactly as I am.”

“I am thin and fit.”

“I am healthy and in shape.”

“I look and feel lighter everyday.”

“I enjoy being healthy.”

“I love the food that makes me thin.”

“My body is getting stronger, slimmer, and healthier every day.”

“My clothes fit perfectly on my thin new body.”

“I love my body.”

“It is easy to be healthy.”

Repeat your affirmations throughout the day. Even if it seems untrue at the time, keep repeating them. Be patient. Work on your mind. Your body will follow.

The secret of Successful People:

Do you know what the secret to every success is? Positive Thinking and Visualization. It is true that “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Ask any successful businessperson, actor or millionaire. They will tell you that this is the key to all their success.

The law of attraction is constantly in action. Whatever you think about you bring about. As long as you think you’re fat you will be fat. Think thin! Visualize yourself as the person you want to be and act as if you are that person. Write it out. Sing it. Photoshop your face on the body of a super model if you have to. But don’t stick it in a drawer. Look at it everyday. Hold that image in your mind. Your mind will tell your body to make it a reality!

Melody Biggar is author of “Natural Sexy Skinny: An organic, All-Natural Weight-Loss System.” To learn more weight-loss secrets and get your free weight-loss e-course visit http://www.naturalsexyskinny.com.

Thoughts

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