by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: July 08, 2009

Perhaps one of the most amazing features of a dog's personality is the fact that they do not live in the past and they do not live in the future. Rather, they only live in the present. As humans, we could derive a lot of wisdom from such a way of thinking. That would translate into no longer having past childhood traumas worrying us and no longer having thoughts about the future tormenting our days. Perhaps this is the ultimate secret as to why dogs lead such happy lives and perhaps that is the key to the solution to all our problems.

While as humans, we may have a lot to learn from dogs and their appreciation of each day as it unfolds, dogs still however, may have some problems when they face their fears in the present.

For instance, one of the most common fears in dogs are fears of loud noises such as thunder. Dogs fortunately are advantaged in this case: because they do not live in the future, they do not have to worry about that big thunderstorm coming on next Fridays as the weather forecast has pronounced. However, when the first rumble arrives they will surely make sure they get their spot under the be to hide.

While dogs do not live in the past, for instance they cannot remember past puppy hood memories, they are however, able to recollect some past experiences and deduct how they will behave in the future. This is because the past experience was in some way made remarkable.

Normally, a dog in nature, will go out hunting all day. He may have heard his first rumble of thunder when he was a puppy. The noise may have frightened him at first, but because he noticed that the remaining dogs that are part of his pack, go along with their lives as nothing happened, he learns that thunder is not a big deal and therefore goes along with his life.

Indeed in nature, there is really no such thing as a dog fearful of rain, thunder or lightening. If this was the case, dogs would have not survived. They would have had to call it quits to go hunting just because of the chances of inclement weather. This could have meant the difference between life and death.

With domestication however, something in the dynamic of how dogs deal with their fear has shifted, that is :human intervention.

I personally have seen this unfold right in front of my eyes.

The Story of Chico and his fear

Chico, was a little Chihuahua that was terrified of thunder storms. His owner (which as a human lives in the future) was already worried about summer being around the corner, as she came

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