Denny’s top 3 lessons
There’s always hope
Every human I meet is a potential practice sibling and playmate. That’s why I’m always so hopeful.
Patience pays off
If I stare at a human politely and for long enough, there’s a good chance they’ll give me a treat (except Thor, who is now immune to my charms).
Always up for adventure
Whenever Thor puts my collar on, I know that it means we’re going to go outside. Even though I don’t know where we’re going, I get excited because I’m always up for an adventure.
When Thor set up The Helpful Clinic, Denny joined the team providing lessons to be shared with all those who come to the clinic. This page on the website has been one of the most popular on the website. And, her view, always shared at the end of the Helpful newsletter, got the most responses from readers. Denny died in May 2023 after a brief illness. May her views and her lessons make you smile and be helpful to you.
Denny’s views
“When I get anxious which happens even now that I’m so much older, I definitely need cuddles from people I trust. A lot more cuddles. And strokes. A lot more strokes. And, you know … a treat always helps.”
Newsletter link – Do you really know how to recognise anxiety? – 26/05/2023
“I’m getting older and according to my human, I’ve got a bit of an ‘old dog smell’. So, I’m now getting a monthly spa treatment which is kind of nice. I wonder if humans need something like that too”
Newsletter link – Self-care and health in a podcast and in your life – 31/03/2023
“Every morning I spend a lot of time giving each of my paws a really good clean. I make sure I get right in between every toe and I’m diligent and vigorous. Only when I’ve done my paws am I ready for my day”
Newsletter link – The love that matters the most – 10/02/2023
“If I could teach humans one thing it would be that there’s always hope. I have learnt that treats can be found in the most unlikely of places and that many humans want to give me treats if I just engage with them”
Newsletter link – A gentle start to the year 2023 – 13/01/2023
“I have a basket full of soft toys in the shape of all sorts of animals. I love playing with them, dragging each out of the basket and then scattering them all over the floor.
I wonder if humans do that too?”
Newsletter link – Fun is FUNdamental to your self-care and health – 26/08/2022
“Every morning I give every one of my paws a very thorough wash and make sure I get to absolutely everywhere. I then do a big sigh and rest for a while. I wonder if humans do that too with their paws?”
Newsletter link – 95% of health professionals say self-care is important. Do you agree? Find out why it matters so much – 23/07/2022
“I value the important things in life like sniffs, snuggles, walkies and of course treats. I wonder if humans value those things too?”
Newsletter link – Have you included your self-care in your holiday plans? – 24/06/2022
“I love going new places and giving myself extra time to sniff and snuffle all the new smells. I wonder if humans do that too?”
Newsletter link – Being your best self – 27/05/2022
“I love coming outside in the morning and giving the air a good sniff, that and of course checking all my ‘wee-mails’. Sniffing is so important.”
Newsletter link – Environmental stress and how it can affect you – 22/04/2022
“I love it when I get clean bedding. I take my time to really burrow into my duvet. Once I’m settled and snug I do a big sigh.”
Newsletter link – Self-care when you’re overwhelmed – 01/04/2022
“I don’t often get scared, but my human sometimes does, so I go and sit with them for a while.”
Newsletter link – Caring for fears in difficult times – 11/03/2022
“I love my food and my tummy clock lets me know when it’s dinner time. I always remind my human that it’s time, just in case they forget.”
Newsletter link – Do you know how to self-advocate? – 25/02/2022
“Every morning I give my paws a really good clean. It feels great and I always do a big sigh when I’m done.”
Newsletter link – Be your own Valentine – 11/02/2022
“I need is a thorough brush at least once a week. I don’t always like it but I love the attention and cuddles that I get and of course the special ‘just-been-brushed’ treat. I wonder if humans experience that too?”
Newsletter link – Everyday well-being and transformational shifts – 28/01/2022
“I can sometimes get so stuck in getting a treat from one person that I don’t realise that someone else is offering me a treat. I wonder if humans get stuck like that?”
Newsletter link – Aspirational living: self-care and success – 15/01/2022
“I quite like a few loud noises and fun but when it’s a lot I struggle and start barking. I wonder if humans do that too?”
Newsletter link – Aspirational living – ready for the discomfort? – 31/12/2021
“I don’t like it when my human doesn’t look after the playtime in our relationship. Having a good go at my squeaky toy gets their attention and brings them into the game. I wonder if humans do that with other humans…?”
Newsletter link – How to handle family situations this season? – 17/12/2021
“It’s 8 years ago today since I found my human. I had been abandoned and was afraid of pretty much everything including people and loud noises. I didn’t know that morning that my life would change so fundamentally and that I had such a great future ahead of me. I love my human and am so grateful they found me. I wonder if humans sometimes feel like that too about other humans… or dogs?”
Newsletter link – How to self care when you’re sick? – 26/11/2021
“If I don’t get a walk, cuddle, my two meals (+ pudding of course) and some play each day, I’m not happy. I wonder if humans are like that too?”
Newsletter link – Self care and better health come in three dimensions – 11/11/2021
“I love it when I get clean bedding. I really snuggle in and do a big sigh. I wonder if humans do that too”
Newsletter link – Where’s your Imposter Syndrome coming from? – 22/10/2021
“It helps me feel good when I can have time with my friends. I wonder if humans need that too.”
Newsletter link – Ready to Sherlock your feelings? – 08/10/2021
“When I’m hungry, I’m sometimes less friendly. I wonder if humans feel like that too…?”
Newsletter link – Negotiating what you need – the Helpful way – 24/09/2021
“Being around more humans is tiring and I need extra sleep. I wonder if humans feel like that too…?”
Newsletter link – Got return to the office anxiety? Could be social atrophy – 10/09/2021
“My favourite habit is in the morning where I get full body cuddle massage. I wonder if humans get that too…?”
Newsletter link – Why habits matter for your health – how to make them stick – 18/08/2021
“I love going to new places. My nose goes all wriggly with the new smells and we’re not in a rush so I can take my time. I wonder if humans feel like that too…?”
Newsletter link – Holidays help health – when is your holiday? – 04/08/2021
“When my human tries to take a toy from me, I won’t let it go. When they let me be, I drop it.
I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter link – ‘Let It Go’ or ‘Let It Be’ which is more helpful? – 20/07/2021
“I like my own company and solo time but then I need to hang out with my human. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter link – Relationships can increase or reduce your risks of health issues. Why? – 29/06/2021
“When we get to the river for the morning walk I start looking for my friends Tony and Chomsky, hoping I’ll meet them today.
I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter link – Why friendships are important for your health – 16/06/2021
“When I have to take tablets I need to have them coated in peanut butter. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter link – How to deal with pain the Helpful way – 04/06/2021
“When I’m in pain I feel very small and need a lot of cuddles. I wonder if humans feel like that too…?”
Newsletter link – Are painkillers making your pain worse? – 18/05/2021
“I don’t like it when I throw up. Why does my human give me a hard time for eating what I find under a bush? I don’t get it. What’s cause and effect? Do other humans get it…?”
Newsletter link – What is pain? How does it affect the body? – 04/05/2021
“I don’t like being brushed. My human tells me it’s good for me but I just do it for the treat afterwards. I wonder if that’s the same for humans…?”
Newsletter link – Do you know your stress? – 20/04/2021
“I get stressed and anxious when I’m hungry and my tummy clock is rumbling. I wonder if that’s the same for humans…?”
Newsletter link – Do you know your stress? – 06/04/2021
“The biggest risk for me when I go back into the Future Business Centre is indigestion because I’ll get too many treats. I wonder if that’s the same for humans…?”
Newsletter link – Managing social risk when returning to the workplace – 23/03/2021
“Sometimes I’m desperate to play but get tired so quickly that I retreat under the desk after just one throw of the ball. I wonder if humans feel that too…?”
Newsletter link – Think You Haven’t Got Social Atrophy? Think Again! – 09/03/2021
“Sometimes when I’ve been out for a walk and met lots of dogs, I need to retreat for a while and just be. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter link – Why A Wellness Retreat Is Important? The Power Of Pulling Over – 26/02/2021
“I’m missing all the other humans. When I’m in a funk, my human needs to make an extra effort to get me to play. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter link – Why Struggling Is The Healthy State To Feel Right Now – 31/01/2021
“It doesn’t matter if this human doesn’t lead to treats. The next one might. There’s always hope. I wonder if humans feel that too…?”
Newsletter link – The 2020 Isops – Making It Count – 31/12/2020
“Sometimes I need to snuggle up and have my ears stroked because I’m feeling sorry for myself. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter link – Most Complex Holidays Ever? – 18/12/2020
“If I just sit there long enough, all quiet and polite, and look at the person long enough, chances are they will give me a treat. I am very patient and hopeful. I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Celebrating 5 years of The Helpful Clinic – 01/12/2020
“Sometimes when I feel trapped I roll on my back and don’t move. I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Future Hasn’t Happened Yet – How To Deal With Uncertainty And Feeling Trapped – 15/11/2020
“Much as I love my suitcase, sometimes when I’m unsettled I need to snuggle up in my bed under the stairs. I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Self care = Care For Others – 01/11/2020
“Sometimes when I’m worried I go really quiet and withdraw. I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Healthy Worry or Health Anxiety? How Are You Thinking About Your Health? – 22/10/2020
“When I start pacing, my human knows that I need to go outside. I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Your Health – Fireprevention is Better Than Firefighting – 07/10/2020
“Sometimes I’ve got a lot to say and if no one is listening I get really anxious and unsettled. I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Listening Matters – 16/09/2020
“Sometimes when I’m anxious I need to be distracted, not comforted. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Feelings are Information – Get Curious – 02/09/2020
“Sometimes my human is late with my dinner. What if they just forget to feed me? I need to have my dinner when my tummy clock goes off. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Do you Fall Ill on Holiday? It Could be Stress – 19/08/2020
“If I don’t get my bedtime biscuit and my sleepy time chat with my human, I pace and can’t settle. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Get Your Sleep Sorted This Summer for a Better Autumn – 05/08/2020
“I need different spaces to rest and relax. Sometimes I need to hang out in my suitcase and sometimes the sofa. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Cracking the Code to Tiredness – 22/07/2020
“Sometimes I need just a little bit of touch, like my paw touching my human’s foot. That’s all. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Big Life Events in Lockdown – Loss and Gain – 08/07/2020
Sometimes I don’t want to play because I need to be on my own. I like to lick my paws, scratch my ears and snooze. I wonder if humans need that too…?
Newsletter Link – Suffering Social Atrophy? Finding Social Contact Challenging? – 24/06/2020
“Sometimes humans say that I’m aggressive because I am black. I don’t know what that means…”
Newsletter Link – Black Health Matters – The Social Component of Health: Yours and Mine – 10/06/2020
“Sometimes I’m too vigilant and bark because I think I hear a knock at the door and there’s no-one there. I wonder if humans do that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Managing Risks and Overwhelm With Animals and Triangulation – 27/05/2020
“Sometimes it takes me a while to learn a new skill and I need a lot of practice and encouragement. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter Link – The Difference That Makes a Difference: Your Self-Talk – 13/05/2020
“Sometimes I can get a treat like an apple core by sitting patiently next to a human. I am good at being patient and can get tasty treats by holding steady. I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – Building Stamina and Patience During Lockdown – 29/04/2020
“Sometimes I don’t realise that I’m overheating in the sun and need to be told to move into the shade. I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – Making This Unique and Challenging Time Meaningful – 15/04/2020
“If I don’t get the exercise I need, I start getting naughty and not doing what I’m told. I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – The Sense of Urgency and Help Needed is Compelling. Risk of Good Intentions Gone Bad – 01/04/2020
“I need my routine to feel ok. I can handle a few days of things being different but after that I struggle. I wonder if humans are like that…?”
Newsletter Link – Focusing on What is Within Your Sphere of Influence – 18/03/2020
“Humans sometimes expect themselves to be all clever and rational all the time. They forget that two thirds of their brain is like mine and if people around me are anxious, I’m anxious.”
Newsletter Link – Proportionate and Appropriate Response to Covid- 19 / Coronavirus – 13/03/2020
“Sometimes I don’t want to play or be fussed. Sometimes I need time and space to just be with myself so I go and snuggle up in my favourite chair. I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – It’s Ok to Not Be Ok – 04/03/2020
“If a dog I meet on a walk is aggressive I get anxious and that means I avoid the next dog I meet even if that dog is friendly. I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – The Cost of Not Talking About Feelings – 19/02/2020
“Sometimes when another dog growls at me I need to growl back even if there’s nothing going on. I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – Making and Savouring Tea – 05/02/2020
“Sometimes I am so focused on getting a crumb of food that I don’t realise that I’ve got myself stuck under a chair and then I need help to get out. I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – Feelings Activism – Impactathon – 15/01/2020
“Sometimes I need to be left alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing and snuggling up but sometimes I just need some time to be with me. I wonder if humans need that too…?”
Newsletter Link – Here Before There – 01/01/2020
“I love great smells. Sometimes I run so fast I miss a great smell and there isn’t always time to go back and enjoy it. I wonder if humans do that?”
Newsletter Link – The Gifts We Want You to Give Yourself This Christmas – 18/12/2019
“Food is important. Whenever I meet someone, I check if they’ve got food and whether they are likely to give me some. Sometimes, if I sit patiently and look at them for long enough, they do! I wonder if humans do something like that…?”
Newsletter Link – Nailing The Helpful Colours to the Mast – 18/12/2020
