Philosophy and Approach
Here at Simba Ranch we believe that every dog is special and view caring for your dog as a spiritual practice and a sacred trust, which is why we have spent the last five years working hard to learn as much as possible about how to be healthy humans and maintain healthy relationships with our dogs. Since Simba Ranch was founded we have been journaling our dogs’ stays, observing them and recording their habits and personalities as we train, play and interact. Accordingly, we honor your dogs’ unique personalities through careful attention, interaction, and even by giving them “jobs.” We promote your dog’s health by providing ample daily exercise and feeding only all-natural dog food and treats, and we ensure a happy, peaceful environment for everyone here at Simba Ranch by providing strong, consistent leadership and following our own Precepts for Pack Leaders.
Precepts for a Pack
Leader
1. Be Peaceful and Loving
Knowing that aggression and neurotic behaviors arise from an imbalance, we cultivate a calm and assertive energy personally in order to create the space for calm and submissive dog followers. This dynamic is the key to a peaceful environment for all. To this end, we consistently use the general practices we have agreed upon as a group. A balanced dog needs to know that its pack leader is clearly setting the rules, boundaries and limitations for its life under all conditions, and this is especially true with our large packs.
The rules, boundaries and limitations that we adhere to as a group at Simba Ranch are not limited to but consist of the following:
- The pack-leader ALWAYS goes through doorways and gates first. If this doesn’t happen, we repeat the exercise because this is a great opportunity for learning.
- Dogs sit and wait prior to receiving food.
- We consistently practice the following drills throughout our daily routine with the dogs – “Come”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Go lie Down”, “Leave It”, “Wait” and “Release”
Correcting ourselves and the dogs in order to reach and maintain a peaceful and calm energy as a group is a constant practice to cleanse and let go of any toxic emotions. Knowing that fear and violence tend to escalate, we are attentive to and correct fearful and aggressive behaviors when they first arise. At the same time, we practice releasing our own anger and fear in order to be the calm and assertive leader. Then we are able to defuse tense situations with Tenderfoot Training Drills, calm verbal commands and gentle leash corrections.
2. Follow The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
We practice living by the following agreements:
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
3. Recognize that all Dogs are created Equal
Knowing that we have an equal responsibility to each dog in our care and that paying special attention to particular dogs can encourage competitive behaviors and be unfair, we provide the same quality care and loving attention for each dog by enforcing the same general practices throughout the pack without exception (Exercise, Discipline & Affection).
4. Give appropriate Affection
Knowing that treats, praise and physical affection will reinforce a dog’s current state of mind, we are careful to only reward desired behavior. When a dog shows excessive excitement or attempts to assert dominance, we patiently wait for a calm demeanor before giving affection or we will aid the pup in becoming calm through walks or “drills”.
5. Open Team Communication
Since all the pack leaders at Simba Ranch share the common goal of providing excellent care and service to our dogs and their human companions, clear communication is paramount. The daily communication written in the Dog blog is an important way to keep in touch. It describes the interactions of the dogs visiting the Ranch as well as describing my own personal adventures at Simba Ranch. It is important to read previous blogs in order to best understand the pack of dogs that we will be working with that day.
6. Provide optimum Health
Knowing the benefits of exercise, discipline and affection to a dog’s physical, mental and emotional well-being, we honor all these aspects. A key aspect of taking care of the dog’s physical well-being is through mastering the walk. We walk each dog, using the appropriate techniques, for a minimum of 30-45 minutes per shift unless a dog is unable to walk for medical or physical reasons. In addition, we use Tenderfoot’s training drills when needed to help calm a dog or in order to re-assert leadership and to re-establish balance in the pack.
Also, knowing that the food our dogs eat comes at the cost of other animals’ lives and the consumption of lots of packaging and energy, we will not to waste food. Each dog will get an appropriate amount of food at the proper time. To the extent possible, we choose organic, natural and healthy foods to feed our dogs and will serve them in a hygienic fashion. We always ensure that each dog has access to enough clean water for hydration.
In addition, we continue to learn new ways to maintain or aid in improving the health and well-being of the dogs in our care and will share that knowledge with teammates. We all continue to learn and grow as human beings in order to live our own fullest potential wherever that may lead because the best way to be a balanced pack-leader is to take care of our own emotional, physical and mental health and by following our hearts.
7. Maintain Environmental Sustainability
We at Simba Ranch understand that we are all connected in the circle of life to each other and to Mother Earth. In this way we do our best to leave the smallest environmental “footprint” possible. We continue to learn and implement sustainable procedures for living with dogs in the