Day 1486

Five wet babies! When you have five Goldens, morning rain is not your friend! All of them braved the downpour with their Mama following close behind. The back entry was equipped with fluffy towels to “Rooba Rooba” the wetness away. We have avoided heavy morning rain this year, so the puppies watched their older brothers and followed their lead. It was fascinating to observe this learning experience.

Being an educator for my entire working life, I am attuned to observation and the resulting conclusions. In one of my doctoral statistics courses, our professor handed us the “daily” published research paper” to read and pick apart regarding poor practices and conclusions. After we gleefully destroyed the entire study, he calmly told us it was one of his! Yikes! The following discussion led us all to be more accepting and open to what we can learn from our readings. We also came to the conclusion that learning can take many forms. That classroom lesson has remained with me for decades. I learned from the experience itself…not what was in the research paper.

Children (and adults), dogs and other living things often learn from the experience of observation, modeling and imitating the behavior they see. My own children were keenly observant of my actions and words while my classroom students took it up a notch with the building blocks of academic learning. Adults are watching our every move as well…I know I am! Whether we are aware or not, each of us is a teacher and model to those in our lives.

If I had any doubt, or needed a gentle reminder, it certainly came through with my Golden Halo this rainy morning. The big guys lowered their heads and slowly went through the doggy door. The pups watched them, hesitated and followed them out the door. Of course the “helicopter puppy mama” went out her own door in rain gear to make sure they were safe. I got to see, first hand, the modeling, observing and success of the “morning ritual.” We met in the back entry for warm, dry towels to rub away the rain.

Watching them parade into the kitchen, I concluded that learning happens best when you observe. That can be good or bad! Trying a little harder to model the “good lessons” is on my radar!