Mentor Dogs - A Blueprint

Their roles were instantly defined. Dirt was in charge, and Mud wanted to be just like him. Conversation over.

As I look back on the photos of Mud's first week in our lives, I’m reminded of how I could feel a noticeable shift in Dirt's personality. Dirt enjoyed his new role. He loved showing Mud the ropes, and Mud enjoyed not having to question how to navigate the new world unfolding before him. Mud had a blueprint.

Tricks were easy. I would make Mud watch Dirt, and then Mud would replicate. He didn’t have to work to figure out what I was asking of him like Dirt did.

Having older siblings, present parents, or invested role models is one of the most valuable resources on earth, if not the most valuable.

We perceive the world as a culmination of what we experienced as children. When we’re forced to use our precious developmental years without a path to reference, we’re unaware of the future consequences waiting for us as adults due to the absence of a blueprint.

Without a mentor, we listen and react to our feelings, and as a young dog or young adult, following our feelings typically leads to all sorts of problems. A young dog might tear up the couch where a lost teenager experiments with drugs.

No, Mud’s not biologically Dirt’s little brother or son. These are all just narratives we create to form a sweeter story, making life more playful and orderly. Nonetheless, Mud instinctively knew Dirt would mentor him on how to be a dog in our family.

Mud doesn’t have more personality than Dirt, but I could argue he’s a tad more authentic. Mentors, role models, or leaders seem necessary to develop or manifest our “authentic self.”

The more of a blueprint we can reference as a child, the more space our true personalities have to thrive. Less survival mode equates to a more authentic personality.

Let’s say it like this: Dirt had to learn from scratch things like comprehending what I was trying to tell him – what he could jump on and what he couldn’t. When to chill. Where to use the bathroom, etc… – the fundamental things.

Mud certainly had to learn these things, too, the difference is, when Mud ponders his decision, he looks to Dirt for reference. That’s the luxury Dirt didn’t have.

Mud had a blueprint.