The Bark Side Chronicles (Chapter 4) Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

Jedi Wisdom From My Dog

Leave It! Lessons on Letting Go and Moving On

The puppy Jedi Master wielding his tennis ball lightsaber.

🐾 Leave It! Lessons on Letting Go and Moving On

The Bark Side Chronicles, Episode 4

There’s nothing like feeding time with two dogs to show you just how far you’ve come... or how far you’ve got to go.

In one corner, we’ve got Mila, my Chihuahua—queen of calm, unbothered by anything short of an actual apocalypse. She eats when she’s ready. Sometimes that’s right away. Other times it’s... never. I swear she once stared at her bowl for three hours like it was a suspicious Craigslist transaction.

And in the other corner, Milo—my lovable, high-octane Vizsla. Built like a sprinter, fueled like a linebacker, and apparently convinced that if he doesn’t eat everything in the room within 30 seconds, he’ll vanish into thin air.

It’s a daily routine: I put down two bowls. Milo inhales his food in record time—much like his pops. 😉 Mila? She sniffs, shrugs, and trots off like she has more important things to do. That’s when Milo makes the move. He cranes his neck, tiptoes toward her untouched bowl like a four-legged ninja... and I have to cut in:

“Leave it.”

At first, that phrase meant absolutely nothing to him. It might as well have been Latin. I’d say it—he’d blink, wag his tail, and inch closer like maybe I meant “Take it slower this time, buddy.”

But over time, repetition did its thing. He started to pause. Then sit. Then—miracle of miracles—walk away.

And in that moment, something clicked. He wasn’t just learning self-control. I was learning something too.

A mischievous dog tries to sneak a paw into another's food bowl while its friend looks on in disbelief.

🧠 Letting Go Isn’t Easy (Especially When It Smells Like Chicken)

Watching Milo try to resist Mila’s food is like watching a guy try to walk past hot wings during a Super Bowl party. He knows he shouldn’t. But oh man, he wants to.

And honestly? Same.

We’re not that different from our dogs. We chase things that look good but aren’t meant for us. We push boundaries, ignore warning signs, and convince ourselves that if we don’t grab something right now, we’ll lose out.

But “Leave it” isn’t about missing out—it’s about knowing your lane. It’s about recognizing that some things, no matter how tempting, just aren’t yours.

Whether it’s a relationship that’s run its course, a job that drains your soul, or that urge to jump into someone else’s drama—it takes strength to step back and say, “That’s not for me.”

And when you do? You’re not giving up. You’re leveling up.

A patient dog eagerly waits for permission to eat, its eyes anxiously focused on the tempting meal.

🍖 Trusting There’s Something Better Ahead - The Bark Side Chronicles (positive reinforcement dog training)

What is positive reinforcement dog training at its core?.....

Here’s the real kicker: Milo doesn’t know I’ve got a treat in my hand when I say “Leave it.” All he sees is the bowl he can’t have.

But what he’s starting to trust is that something better usually follows. Sometimes it’s a treat. Sometimes it’s me clapping like a proud dad. Sometimes it’s nothing at all except the feeling that he did the right thing—and that’s enough.

It got me thinking: How many times have I fixated on something I thought I needed, only to realize later that letting go was the best decision I could’ve made?

Sometimes life makes you wait. Sometimes it shuts a door you really wanted open. And sometimes it hands you a Chihuahua who refuses to eat on schedule just to teach you a little patience.

But if you can back off, if you can pause, if you can trust that what’s for you will come in its own time—you’re already ahead of the game.

🧘 Daily Practice: The Art of Letting Go (Or at Least Backing Away Slowly)

Let’s be real: letting go isn’t a one-and-done kind of thing. It’s a daily rep. Some days I feel like a Zen master. Other days I’m right there with Milo, metaphorically drooling over something I should’ve walked away from five red flags ago.

The discipline to "leave it" shows up in unexpected places:

• Not texting back when someone ghosts you for the third time.

• Resisting the urge to argue with strangers on the internet (still working on this one).

• Saying no to overcommitting, even if FOMO (fear of missing out) is knocking at the door.

• Letting someone else win, even if your ego kicks and screams.

Milo still gets that look in his eyes sometimes—you know, that "But what if I just sneak one bite?" look. And hey, same. We’re human (and canine). We’re not wired for perfect discipline. But we are wired to learn, to grow, and to improve with time.

And every time Milo hears “Leave it” and actually listens, I see it: the progress, the patience, the shift. Every time I do the same, I feel it too.

A wise dog Jedi master exhibits patience and restraint as a shower of treats descends around him.

🐕 Final Thought: What You Walk Away From Says a Lot About You

“Leave it” isn’t just a dog command. It’s a philosophy.

It’s about knowing when to hold on and when to walk away. It’s about trusting that the world won’t end just because you didn’t chase every shiny thing. It’s about having the strength to not react—and the peace that follows when you don’t.

So here’s to letting go of what’s not meant for you.

To stepping back instead of charging in.

To trusting that sometimes, the best move is no move at all.

And if that feels hard—don’t worry.

Milo and his pops are still working on it too. 😉

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