Patience and Growth: How Astro Changed My Life

Astro is many things—cute, cheeky, always learning, inquisitive, headstrong, independent, loving, smart, loyal, and funny. He’s also a trifecta of working breeds: Border Collie, Kelpie, and Australian Cattle Dog. This makes him not just a lovable mutt, but a whirlwind of energy, intelligence, and stubbornness. We adopted him in 2019. At that time, I had no idea he would end up teaching me valuable lessons about life. He taught me about leadership and friendship too.

Astro’s breed mix is a recipe for high drive. He’s supremely intelligent and brimming with energy—a trait from his Border Collie side. This makes him born to work and always craves stimulation. The Kelpie in him adds another layer of energetic enthusiasm. He’s not one to sit quietly by. He needs to run, herd, and stay active (def not a lap dog, although he sometimes thinks he is 😆). Finally, his Cattle Dog side makes him fiercely loyal, protective, and at times, wary of strangers and other dogs.

But this mix, as wonderful as it sounds, comes with challenges. 

“Life is like a dog: beautiful, adventurous, and, yes, there’s sh!t 💩—a lot of it.” 

In life (and at work), there’s no shortage of beauty and joy. However, we also have to deal with the less glamorous parts. These include the messes, both literal and figurative.

A few years ago, Astro became “reactive,” a term in the dog world that sounds much scarier than it is. People hear “reactive” and think dangerous or aggressive, but in Astro’s case, it simply means he reacts to things that make him uncomfortable—in his case, other dogs.

It’s not that he’s aggressive, he’s selective. 

He’s not particularly fond of retrievers, labs, scrunchy-faced dogs, or oodles (yes, those poodle mixes). Retrievers and labs are notorious for being all up in your personal space, and Astro values his boundaries. Scrunch-faced dogs? They’re hard to read. And oodles? Well, they walk funny and look too much like sheep, and Astro’s herding instinct kicks in.

This behaviour, while frustrating at times, has been an incredible learning opportunity. 

Just like humans, dogs are allowed not to like everyone or every situation. 

It doesn’t make Astro “bad” or “difficult”; it just means he has preferences. And, like us, he has to learn tolerance and respect for those he doesn’t vibe with.

Think about it—how many times do you encounter people in your office or life that you don’t particularly like? Does that mean you should be rude or dismissive? Of course not! 

Professionalism and respect go a long way, even when you’re dealing with someone you don’t gel with.

The best team ball-boy. Go Rovers! ⚽️

Astro has taught me more about patience, understanding, and the power of environment than any leadership book ever could. He’s shown me how crucial it is to understand trigger stacking. One small stressor can build on another. Eventually, it can lead to someone unable to cope anymore.

In leadership, this is key. People, like dogs, are influenced by their environments. It’s up to us, as leaders, to recognise when someone is feeling overwhelmed or overworked. We need to help guide them through.

He’s also reminded me of the importance of individual differences. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. 

Every dog, every human, every situation is unique. What works for one may not work for another, and that’s okay. 

We have to be flexible, open, and willing to adapt. It’s why we’ve leveraged the knowledge of experts, from trainers to behaviourists, to help us understand Astro better.

And this applies to leading people as well—leaning on subject-matter experts and continuously learning is how we grow and improve…and help those in our charge along the way. #teamwork

Astro as a pup

Perhaps the most significant lesson Astro has taught me is patience—both with him and with myself. He’s helped me realise that progress doesn’t come all at once. It is not linear. And sometimes, you have to take a few steps back, to go forward. 

Training, like personal growth, is a process, and it requires time and effort. I’ve also learned that patience extends to my teams. Everyone learns and adapts at their own pace. A good leader recognises this and offers support when needed.

Astro has shown me that the environment is everything. If he’s in a stressful or overstimulating setting, he struggles to be his best self. This translates directly to managing people: our environment, whether physical or emotional, greatly impacts how we perform. By creating a positive, supportive environment, for ourselves and others, we will thrive.

Thank you! Your journey has taught me that life’s ups and downs—are opportunities for growth. You’ve shown me how to be patient, flexible, and understanding. These qualities have made me a better leader, teacher, and friend. You taught me to respect boundaries, and value the importance of our physical and mental environment. Practicing quick thinking, empathy and tolerance in challenging situations is crucial. You have given me life lessons that extend far beyond the dog park. 

Applying these canine life lessons has made my journey a little less ruff—and it can for you too!

Never stop being you, my silly bud!
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