I first met Dylan when his mummy contacted me to speak with her very fearful rescued Bernese Mountain Dog.

I’ve been speaking with Dylan for nearly 3 years now and he is my friend. His mummy Geraldine suggested I share the story of my conversations with Dylan. Dylan agrees that it’s an excellent idea, so here is his story.

 

 

4th September 2014

I was asked to speak with Dylan who was 9 years old, to check on his health and to find out what happened to him in his past to make him so afraid. He appeared to be afraid of men in particular. Here is the part of our conversation about that:

Your mummy wants to know what happened to you as a puppy to make you so afraid. Can you tell me? – “Yes”

In your own time… – “Well, I was very young. It was a visitor (he shows me an image of him being picked up by his ears). I was in pain, screaming. He laughed. He threw me (Dylan shows me this). He came after me again. I tried to run. He didn’t care that I was frightened. He picked me up (I saw him being lifted by the skin on his back) and kicked me like a football. I crawled away. He left me then. I didn’t know what to do or what to think. I know that not everybody is like that but I thought he was nice. How could I have been so wrong? I don’t trust myself. I can’t tell the difference between good and bad, so I can’t risk it. He had been nice. I liked him. If he could change so much maybe they can all change.”

I’m so sorry. You know that your mummy would never hurt you? – “Yes. She loves me truly. He pretended to like me. But I can’t tell so I can’t trust.”

From this we realised that Dylan isn’t afraid of men, he’s afraid that he can’t tell the difference between good and bad people. He blames himself for being unable to see that this man was a bad man.

He said “I shouldn’t have been like this. My world fell apart that day. Everything changed. I was afraid every single day . What if someone comes to the door? I don’t know them. I don’t know what they might do”

But mummy would protect you – “What if they attacked mummy? I’d be too afraid to help her. They could beat us both and there’s nothing I could do to stop them”

So poor Dylan not only blamed himself for his lack of judgement but was afraid that he couldn’t help his mummy if a bad person attacked her.

That day, Dylan had a beautiful message for Geraldine: “I’ve waited a long time to tell her this. You are my saviour, my guardian angel. I don’t know what would have happened to me without you. You gave me a life and gave me hope. I do feel safe with you mostly. I don’t think I could have endured life if I was anywhere else. You brought love back to me and gave me a person who I can love without fear. That is a great gift for which I thank you. You see a tortured soul but this is nothing to what would have been if you hadn’t found me. I love you with all my heart and soul – beyond life and beyond reason. Thank you”

6th September 2014

With Geraldine’s and Dylan’s agreement I connected with Dylan to do some EFT (tapping) therapy. We worked on how he feels when he meets someone new. Also on the fact that he doesn’t trust his own judgement. I let Dylan know that he needed to realise that he was just a puppy when this happened. That he couldn’t blame himself when he had no real experience to help him to judge this person. We discussed how different the situation would have been if he’d been older and more experienced.

13th September 2014

I connected with Dylan and he felt brighter. His mummy said that she had seen a change in him.

I took this opportunity to let him know that if his life had been different he would never have found his way into his mummy’s life. We talked about how the incident would be about life lessons for both Dylan and the man involved and that even though this had been a terrible thing for Dylan to experience it had led him straight into Geraldine’s loving arms.

Dylan said – “It’s almost worth it, though I don’t know how I bore it”

We also discussed that not all dog’s roles are to be defenders of their families and that his role is to be the object of his family’s love. Dylan said “I like that”

We did some more EFT on how he feels about strange men and again on his feelings about not being able to trust his own judgement, which weren’t as severe as on the previous occasion. The first time he said he felt disgusted with himself. This time he said he didn’t feel that any more but still felt afraid and unhappy.

Dylan had a message for his daddy – “Thank you daddy. You are my rock. You stop the ground from shaking beneath my paws and make me feel secure. I love you with all my heart. I’m a lucky boy to have such a loving family”

5th October 2014

Dylan’s mummy had told me he was seeming a bit more confident. When I connected with Dylan he said that he didn’t know if confident was the right word “Less cautious maybe”

He also said he was feeling less afraid so we tapped on his confidence. Overall Dylan’s energy felt much better than when we first spoke.

14th March 2015

It was some months before I spoke with Dylan again. His mummy was worried about his health. 9 years old is a good age for a Bernese and Dylan was becoming clingy. He gave me no sense that he might be passing over soon but simply an awareness that he’s getting older so wants to be close to Geraldine as much as he can.

During our chat I told Dylan his mummy said he seemed happier. He said “Oh, I am, much. I understand things better now” It was so nice to hear him sounding and feeling calmer and more settled.

9th December 2016

It had been a long time since I had spoken with Dylan and I was so surprised at how he sounded! I noted on the reading “Dylan sounds so different today. He’s speaking slowly and sounds very laid back and relaxed. There is a softness to his voice and a gentle, easy manner that I’ve not heard from him before”

Dylan told me he’s getting old and a little slow. He said that he’s been thinking about his life, all that he’s been through and all that he’s become. He said his mind wanders a bit but that it doesn’t worry him, that he feels good.

Dylan shared that he knows he is coming towards the end of his life but that he didn’t think it would be very soon and he just wants to be himself and relax. He let Geraldine know he would like some pie to eat.

Geraldine had some questions for Dylan and I will share some of them and his replies

Mummy wants to know if you’ve been with them before? – “I have, but not here this time. We’ve been better friends in many ways but it wasn’t enough, the memory of it, for me to overcome my difficulties. You’ve been great you know. I can’t help thinking I haven’t shown my love or my gratitude enough. I’m sorry for that but I think in your hearts you know”.  He was giving me such strong feelings of love that he was making me cry.

Mummy says she’s sure Luca will be there for you, that he was your saviour when you went to them – “Luca is already waiting for me, him and others who I know but they have to wait a little longer”  Dylan was trying to be cheeky.

Have you a message for anyone in particular? – “I have a message for you both. I am a deeply thinking soul and I don’t always express myself well. I know I have odd behaviours but they are part of me for now. I won’t always be like this and that’s a blessing. I’ll have a fresh start sometime in the future. If I haven’t told you before I need to say it now. I love you with all my heart and I hope that you will always hold that love deep inside you. It’s from me to you – a gift. I know you’ve always been very patient with me and without you I don’t think I would have survived for very long. Thank you for being you and for being my family, and long may it continue”

Mummy wants you to know that whatever is to be is your choice. You mustn’t worry that you’ll upset them, whatever your choice is they are there for you. Mummy wants to give you the opportunity to say anything you need to – “I thank you for that. As things stand I’m not in terrible pain and I think I may slip away quietly when the time is right. I’m not keen on vets and don’t want my last moments to be full of fear. Just love me and hold me and if I’m in pain get me strong pain killers. That would be better for me. I don’t need anyone else to say goodbye to me. I thank you, you’ve always been here for me. I appreciate that more than you know. I have nothing more to say that I haven’t already said except thank you again and I love you”

Why won’t you let mummy give you anything to help? – “I don’t need any help. If I need help enough I will allow you to help. I promise. Until then I will be the independent me, the stubborn me, the difficult me that you’ve learned to love so well”

29th December 2016

Dylan wasn’t too well so Geraldine asked me to check in with him. We talked about how he was feeling and any aches and pains he had. We talked about natural remedies and supplements that might help him and Dylan gave his opinion on them.

Dylan had a very simple message today “Thank you and hugs with my paws”

 

22nd August 2017

Well, Dylan is still here. He just had his 12th birthday. Getting about is harder for him now but he’s still a very happy and contented boy. The difference between the anxious, scared dog I spoke with nearly 3 years ago and this happy, relaxed boy is night and day.

I spoke with Dylan because Geraldine wanted to be sure he was OK with the changes that are going on with his body and that he’s coping with old age. This is our conversation:

Hello Dylan – “Hi”

You sound bright and happy – “I am”

Are you ready to pass over? – “Not yet, but soon”

Are you holding on for someone or something? – “No, I’m just enjoying my time”

You sound very relaxed – “I am”

That’s good. Do you need anything? – “No, not really. Sorry I’m so heavy though”

I think it’s OK. Your family love you and if you need a lift you’ll get a lift. You would do the same for them – “I would”

Do you have any idea how long you’ll be staying for? – “Not really”

I’d like it if you would do something for me – “I know”

Let me know if you get to a point where you need a vet and I’ll let mummy know – “OK, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen”

I know. You sound so great! – “I do don’t I? I finally sussed this life thing out I think, even though I left it a bit late”

Are you still enjoying dreams about your life – “I am, and watching everyone doing what they do, enjoying being around them still”

It’s good to have a chance to speak with you again – “Thank you”

Do you have a message for mummy? – “Yes, of course. You know how I feel about you and you know I can’t help how my legs are now but I’m sorry and I promise it won’t be for too long now. This body is getting silly now. It’s got to give up eventually but until it does I’m just having fun and taking my time. I hope you don’t mind. I love you”

I hope that this insight into Dylan’s life will give hope to others who rescue fearful dogs. They can come around and they can have a wonderful, happy life. Dylan is an example of just how much they can change. We don’t know how much longer Dylan will be on this earth in physical form, but knowing how happy he is makes my heart sing!