"Why do you so much like taking pictures of things?"
This is a question that will never stop being asked whenever I am seen taking random pictures wherever I go and all I would do is just smile because no matter how much I tried explaining, they still won't understand me. Taking pictures can never be so tiring to me because many a time, I love using original pictures for my posts more than downloading online. I want to make it feel more connected in my posts. Though, these days, I haven't been attracted to objects around me as this place looks so local 😬
But yesterday, I went out to do my hair at the salon and didn't get any until I went to the area where I stayed on my first arrival in this town where I am posted for my service. I decided to visit the couples since I was around, and in my tribe, they say we cannot pass in front of the king's palace and not greet the king, it's "disrespectful". Hahaha, that was just me adding that word up, but it makes it more cool to do that which means you honour the king or whoever you visit.
My ImageOn getting to their house, I met these lovely dogs sitting and enjoying the cool breeze outside, I guess the heat wave got to them too. As I took a picture of them, I remembered the first few days I arrived at the couple's place to stay pending when I would get my accommodation. When I first got there, the dogs were barking so loud that one would think they saw a ghost or something else, but that is the nature of dogs — seeing a stranger, they bark. I couldn't move until the husband came to escort me inside while chasing the dogs away.
A few days later, the dogs became familiar and would not bark anymore when they saw me coming. Every morning, they see me going out to my PPA and in the afternoon, they see the same person. At that moment, they were always silent and would even wag their tails to welcome me. When they see me from afar and they are at the entrance, they would get up and leave the entrance for me to go in. On days when I would sit down at the verandah playing with their daughter, I noticed the way they sat around us and would stare at me. When they see anyone moving around the house, they bark so loud. During my time there, I observed some things and understood dogs better.
What the picture means to me...
That scenario taught me about the following things; Trust, Familiarity, Adaptation, Patience, Consistency, and Socialisation.
Initially, I was perceived as a stranger to these dogs, which triggered their instincts to be more cautious and protective, hence their barking. As I spent more days and weeks with them, they were able to become familiar to me. They became accustomed to my daily presence and recognised me as a member of the family and environment who meant no harm to them. Their change in behaviour from barking to wagging their tails demonstrates their ability to adapt and form positive associations over time.
Dogs are social animals that learn to trust and interact with individuals based on what they have experienced. Just like my story, it highlights the importance of socialisation and forming positive relationships with not just animals, but human beings.
I was able to earn the trust of the dogs with time as I spent more time around them, showing them kindness and non-threatening through my patience and consistency. It takes dogs more time to trust someone around them and, being man's friend doesn't begin in a day, they can get familiar with the same person over again and understand that they are always around to interact with them, from there, they create a bond with people because of their experiences with them.
In conclusion, my story is a true definition of the power of being patient, consistent and getting positive interactions through building relationships and fostering trust, not only with animals but with people.
Thanks for your time reading. Looking forward to your interaction.
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