Leadership lessons from a Pandemic Puppy

Gorgeous Apricot Cavapoo dog hanging out of a car window feeling the wind in his ears. Loving Life !

This post is personal and I hope has professional transference to leadership

My beloved dog Benny collapsed and died when we were out walking at the weekend. He was having a lovely time, on one of his favourite walks – well we did it every day, rain or shine. He had just been chasing crows, which always thought he could outsmart and outrun, except he couldn’t fly! The shock and the heartbreak is profound. He was a Pandemic Puppy and in the 3 short years we had him in our lives he taught us so much about being in the world.

I have been thinking reflecting on lots of happy memories and the fun we had together, and the parallels of learning in leadership.

Before I became a dog owner, I was very clear that the world divided into 2 distinct camps. My thinking was rigid and had been fixed from formative experiences. Cat OR Dog. Not both, and in my mind it was very clear I was Cat, being the feeder – not owner - of 3 independent, strong-willed moggies.

My youngest daughter wanted a dog, and made a very convincing case, including an excellent powerpoint presentation, outlining the mental health benefits of pets and especially dogs, her accountability and responsibility of owning a dog, and the slide that swayed the day was photoshopping dogs’ heads onto a family photo!

Having successfully made the case, the hunt began. This was during Covid and it appeared that everyone else had also decided that lockdown gave the opportunity to be at home finally have a dog. In the end, it was networks and word of mouth, talking to a friend which led us to the right breeder. Puppies and especially lockdown puppies had become a huge industry and so due diligence was done, and our hearts were melted when we met the litter and a cheeky male puppy (we wanted a girl ideally) kept paying us attention.

Lesson #1: flexibility, networks and persuasion were already being shared.

Once home, the terrible responsibility of owning and training a puppy began. Lots of fun, lots of cleaning up and having spoken to a dog behaviouralist a regime of positive reinforcement started. Consistency, tone of voice, body language and eye contact are vital, as is positive reinforcement with reward – rather than threat. The training was more for us than Benny, but he humoured us and mostly did as asked.

Lesson #2: consistency and positive behaviours

The first walk, letting him off the lead for the first time and testing recall were all milestones for us, and he with huge enthusiasm bounced his was into his new social networks of all the other dogs in our local community. He was a member of the Village Cavapoo club with a number of friends who he would always expectantly look out for, knowing their homes, owners and most importantly – who had treats in their pockets.

Lesson #3: develop supportive networks

We walked for miles together, exploring new paths, creating our own. I loved walking the same routes through the changing seasons. It provided a sense of continuity and change. He always sniffed out what was new, as well as revisiting and reacquainting with old territory.

Lesson #4: take time to notice

He was super friendly and fearless, always approaching people and dogs with a wagging tail and spirit of positive intent. He was surprised when some dogs did not reciprocate and always gave me a quizzical glance, as if to say ‘what’s their problem?’. My social network and friendships expanded through him, and as he was a double for CBBC Waffle the wonder dog made friends with lots of young children.

Lesson #5: extend trust

What else did he teach me about life and leadership?

Benny was always in the moment. He lived life exactly then. He enjoyed (except having a bath) exactly what he was doing at that precise moment. And although he anticipated and knew his and our routines, he was present with whatever he was engaged in.

He was positive and energetic, fully committed to everything he did.

Lesson #6: be in the moment and committed

He was unconditional in his love and licks, and always the first to greet anyone coming through the front door with his special brand of overexcited welcome. His energy was contagious.

He used his energy as he needed, with bursts of supersonic activity, but mostly pottering and trotting around, and otherwise conserving energy sleeping. He enjoyed his afternoon naps which often coincided with online calls, when he would lie on his back and snore like a trooper. Apologies again to anyone who experienced it.

Lesson #7: use your energy wisely

The daily routine of walking creating habits and commitments certainly helped my fitness and wellbeing.Starting and ending the day with a walk in nature helped calm, prepare and process the day for me, and I am working out how I maintain the habit.

Lesson #8: create habits for your own health and wellbeing

We miss him terribly.

Small fluffy Cavapoo dog on top on trig point on Malvern Hills with Owner in running kit, both smiling

Benny’s 8 Leadership Lessons

Lesson #1: flexibility, networks and persuasion