​“Anxious dog? anxious mind? maybe you’re both doing too much”

Lots of babies and lots of humans have passed through our household in the last 6 months and even more in the last 5 years ..
Now we will take a small brake and reflect about what we have learnt, take a step back, draw some conclusions and return a bit to some basics.
One of the things I desperately want to address are to points I am trying to get across you all of you, and it does seem to often fall on deaf ears :
“ Nothing is something “
“ Less is more “
And if you don’t believe me, listen to Jane - the founder of Puppy culture :
https://madcapuniversity.com/.../attention-monster...
As a plus, I’ve had a ton of interesting discussions on different related topics with different people and asked on of these people, a person that I admire, to write you a few words on the subject.
The bond between Family and Aussie is super tight, they read us like an open book.
Aussies are a rustic breed, a breed made to work closely with their personal whom they trust and admire.

​Like for kids, you need to be strong, confident and put down limits and rules. Be kind but firm !
You can not control them if you do not control yourself !
Diana is the new owner of a Lighthouse baby, and ai admire they way she is handling her now 2 Aussie girls, let’s listen :
“
The power of STILLNESS
(Even when everything in you wants to keep doing more)
As a psychologist and as someone who shares a home with two working dogs (Australian Shepherds), I often think about how hard it is, for both humans and animals, to simply do nothing.
These dogs are smart, fast and eager. They were bred to work, to think, to anticipate and to move. And if you can’t handle or you don’t guide that energy, it can take over. You’ll find yourself constantly trying to keep up, entertain, redirect, fix.
But here’s the thing I’ve learned, both in therapy and in daily life with them:
Doing nothing is a skill. And sometimes, it’s the most important one.
I know it’s tempting, especially when you’re young, ambitious or naturally driven, to try and do everything. You feel like you should always be learning, producing, improving, chasing the next version of yourself. The world gives you constant access to information and possibility and it’s hard not to feel like you’re falling behind if you slow down.
I see this mindset all the time in my clients. And sometimes I recognize it in myself, too.
And interestingly, now I can see it in many anxious dog owners as well.
Out of a lot of care, love and sometimes fear or overprotection, they overdo enrichment. They read every blog, follow every trainer, rotate toys daily, offer endless puzzle feeders, plan complex training routines etc.
The intention is beautiful: they want to be good, responsible, attentive. That’s great. But when it’s driven by anxiety, it can quickly become too much both for the dog and then for the owner.
What’s often really happening is this:
Their own nervous system is dysregulated and they project that onto the dog.
They can’t relax, so neither can the dog.
They overanalyze every behavior, every reaction, every bark and constantly question, “Am I doing enough?”
But here’s the truth and it applies to people and dogs alike: More stimulation doesn’t always mean more safety.
Sometimes, what a dog really needs is not more to do, but permission to rest.
Not another job, but a calm environment.
Not your full attention 24/7, but your calm, grounded presence.
Sometimes, dogs “steal” things like socks, paper, whatever they can get but not because they want the object, but because they want your attention. They want you to follow, to chase, to engage.
The suggestion?
Stop. Don’t give in. Pause everything.
In the house, only calm behavior is accepted: lying down, chewing, resting.
And here’s where it connects with humans:
Your mind also tries to “steal” your attention constantly.
You chase thoughts. You chase productivity. You chase comparison. You chase the idea that if you’re not doing more, you’re not doing enough.
But you are.
Sometimes, the most proactive thing you can do with your dog, or with your own mind is to STOP.
Set up your environment for success. Remove distractions. Say no. Be firm. Be kind.
In therapy, we talk a lot about mindfulness - not as a trendy buzzword, but as a practice of being in the present moment without needing to escape it.
And guess what? One of the most effective mindfulness tools is allowing boredom.
Letting your mind settle. Letting your nervous system slow down. Not fixing, not scrolling, not performing, just being.
For my working dogs, part of their “job” is learning to do nothing.
And for us? That’s part of the work too.
So the next time you feel like you should be doing more - for your dog, your job, your future, just ask yourself:
Is this a moment for action, or is this a moment for stillness?
Because sometimes, nothing is something.
And your mind, just like your dog, deserves the chance to rest.” - Diana Les

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