Wednesday, December 3, 2008

L'Aubergale Vs the Car Seat

Our new dog L'Aubergale (Pronounced Low-ber-gale) was so frustrated with being left in the car earlier today that he chewed a bit of car seat to pacify his frustration.
I returned to the car this morning with L'Aubergale excited to see me, happy that I was back... and ready for the next adventure...

My response to this meeting, however, was with anger and frustration.

I was mad at him for being a puppy...

the damage is done... no catching him in the act, etc (the way to curb bad behavior in dogs is the 'redirect').

I felt a new kind of fear of the unknown... questions like will L'Aubergale tear up the whole car, given the chance? or was this a one time thing...

I had two meetings this afternoon that made it necessary for me to leave L'Aubergale unattended in the vehicle... needless to say, it was very difficult to concentrate on the discussion with the images of naugahyde, foam, and bare metal seat frames running through my head...

Guess what? I bought him a huge bone (which he ignored) just to give him other chewing options than the car... I gave him that more to pacify my fear than to give him a gift...

When I returned both times after my meetings he was fast asleep... no chewed up vehicle... no other destruction... all my fears unwarranted...

I am so motivated out of fear that I think it's chronic... but it's not working anymore... fear isn't a real motivation... it's an emotion that I react out of, but not a motivation...

Maybe, perfect love drives out all fear (I John 4)? I'd rather be motivated out of love than reacting out of fear... even at the expense of buying new car seats...

1 comment:

*c said...

well said my friend.