My Australian Cattle Dog (blue heeler)
My dog has a habit that could drive anyone crazy.
He often fixes me with an intense stare. He doesn't bark. He doesn't whine. He doesn't blink. He simply drills straight through me.
Sadly, it took me ten years of living together to discover his "secret."
It is not aggression or just a personality trait. It is a working tool. As a herding breed, the Australian Cattle Dog uses it to control cattle and sheep by locking onto them with his gaze and making them turn where he wants them to go.
The breed descends from the wild dingo, which gave it that cold, unblinking, predatory stare. If the stare is not enough for a stubborn bull, the dog fearlessly nips him on the heel.
Most of the time, however, the stare alone is enough. It is impossible to ignore. Even a powerful bull finds it easier to do what the dog wants. The predator's gaze turns him into prey.
Unlike the dingo, however, the Australian Cattle Dog has a shepherd. He does not hunt for himself. He carries out a higher command. That is why he constantly checks in with his eyes, as if asking:
"Boss, what do you need me to do now?"
I cannot help wondering whether I should learn something from my dog.
After all, the quality of your attention determines everything in life:
noticing anomalies,
building relationships,
revealing what is implicit,
reading the meaning of symbols,
freeing yourself from illusions,
becoming a different person,
and whether uncertainty turns against you or works in your favor.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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