Life and times of Nicodemus

03/22/2026

This is at another time with dogs and their humans. I have a loose grip with my left hand then holding with my right the rest of lead. Nicodemus is on outside because his lead is longer. In case I have to remind for collection of attention I have both hands ready. With left hand I can twist my wrist up to tighten the pinch collar just a bit for attention. If I need greater attention I can give QUICK pull and release. I am using low tone and voice for calmness. I'm not raising my tone or volume. When I reward I use greater tone and alot of smile 😃 after.

You don’t see either group of dogs lunging, growling or pulling their humans. If this in a behavior your dog is still doing, DO NOT PUT YOUR DOG OR OTHERS IN RISK! Keep practicing and teach your dog this is not tolerated; stay home until this is under control.

03/22/2026

What a beautiful day 🌞 Here is a video we made of the progress we are having while walking. What you don’t see is a child and dog to the left.

03/20/2026

Yes they do!

03/20/2026

1st accomplishment Salt Creek K9 Training

03/07/2026

Today was one of those beautiful days that simply calls you outside. So I took Nicodemus and Susannah for a walk along the cemetery trail at Atwood Lake Park. Walking that trail has become a regular routine for us, and as you might imagine, when you walk a trail like that you’re bound to run into other people… and their dogs.

Those moments used to be a challenge for us.

Over the past three or four months I’ve been teaching Nicodemus and Susannah a simple instruction: “walk through.”

When I say walk through, it tells them a few things all at once.
First, it tells them that I see what’s happening. If another dog is coming toward us or someone is approaching on the trail, I’m aware of it.

Second, it tells them I’ve got it under control. They don’t need to react, defend, or investigate.

And third, it gives them their assignment:
Stay with me and keep walking.

Now Nicodemus has struggled with this more than Susannah. Susannah’s challenge is different. She loves people. If it were up to her, she would greet everyone we pass. But when you have a 140-pound dog, not everybody is excited about receiving that much affection. So she has had to learn that she only greets people when I give permission.

Another thing we run into on the trail is dogs that are… a little less calm.

Often someone will say, “Oh, he’s friendly,” while their dog is barking, lunging, jumping, or even growling. Meanwhile, I’m asking Nicodemus and Susannah to walk through and stay focused.

That’s not always easy for them.

Sometimes they become unsettled by the noise. Sometimes they shift into protection mode. Sometimes they just get distracted and forget their assignment.

But today something finally clicked.

Today was the first day we passed several people and a dog, and both Nicodemus and Susannah walked through every single encounter without reacting. No barking. No lunging. They simply stayed with me and kept walking.

After months of working on this, today was the first time it happened from beginning to end.

So yes… I celebrated a little.

But as we finished our walk, I realized something else. There’s a bit of a life lesson in this.

Sometimes the hardest part of staying steady isn’t our own behavior — it’s the behavior of the people around us. Other people may be loud, reactive, upset, or completely lacking self-control.

And in those moments we have a choice.

We can react to their reaction…
or we can walk through.

We can stay focused on where we’re going and keep moving forward without letting someone else’s lack of self-control pull us off course.

As I thought about it later, it reminded me of something Scripture teaches about self-control. Self-control isn’t just about behaving well when everything around us is calm. It’s about remaining steady even when the people around us are not.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is simply stay focused on the path God has placed before us and keep walking — trusting that He sees the situation, He has it under control, and we don’t have to react to everything around us.

Sometimes the right response is simply this:

Walk through.

And today, on a beautiful walk through Atwood Lake Park, that lesson came through loud and clear.

03/04/2026

My reflection of God's gift of D.O.G.

Sometimes God’s blessings come with four legs and a wagging tail.

Dogs aren’t just pets. They’re companions, comforters, walking partners, and daily reminders that we are needed and loved. And while we may think we’re the ones taking care of them, often they are quietly taking care of us.

Life can feel heavy. Between responsibilities, family needs, and the stress we carry, it doesn’t take much for discouragement or loneliness to sneak in. God created us for connection—and when we don’t feel it, our hearts notice.

A dog has a beautiful way of filling that gap.

There’s something deeply calming about sitting on the couch, absentmindedly petting your dog while the day winds down. Stress softens. Breathing slows. The tension you didn’t even realize you were holding begins to ease. Science tells us that interacting with a dog lowers stress hormones and boosts those “feel-good” chemicals in our brains—but as believers, we can also recognize it as God’s design at work.

He knew we would need comfort in simple, steady forms.

Dogs love without conditions. They don’t care what kind of day you had. They don’t measure your productivity. They are just happy you’re there. And sometimes that uncomplicated love is exactly what our hearts need.

Let’s be honest—there are days when exercise is the last thing we want to do. But a dog doesn’t forget about their walk.

That leash hanging by the door becomes a gentle nudge: Let’s go. And out you go—around the block, down the road, maybe just to the end of the driveway and back. But you move.

And movement matters.

Walking boosts our mood, clears our minds, strengthens our bodies, and gives us space to pray, think, and breathe. Sometimes those quiet walks with a dog trotting beside us become holy moments—little pockets of gratitude and reflection woven into an ordinary day.

God often helps us through simple routines. A daily walk with a dog might not feel spiritual, but it can restore your energy, lift your mood, and create margin in your mind.

Dogs remind us to pause. To step outside. To notice the sky. To smile at a neighbor. To laugh when they do something silly.

They draw us out of isolation and into connection—with others and with the world around us.

In a season when mental health struggles are common and many feel overwhelmed, maybe one of God’s quieter mercies is the faithful presence of a dog waiting by the door.

Sometimes better mental health starts with a wagging tail, a grateful heart, time for prayer and a simple walk around the block.

03/04/2026

If you didn't already know...

Understanding how animals contribute to good health

03/03/2026

Don't forget!

02/28/2026

Good day for a walk

02/17/2026

Who knew

Happy President’s Day! Did you know that several have owned Newfoundlands?

FYI, John F. Kennedy did not personally own a Newfoundland dog, but his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, owned a well-known Newfoundland named Brumus. Brumus was a frequent visitor to the White House and the Kennedy compounds during JFK's presidency.