Lessons from Milo – Bad Influences

Milo is our two-year-old Labrador mix – 95 pounds of energy and love.  He is a good dog -- most of the time. 

Our neighbors have a Labrador as well, who's about the same age as Milo but about half the size.  Izzy is a Labrador full of love and energy and is a good dog -- most of the time. 

Our yard joins Izzy’s yard, with a gate between the two. We open the gate so Izzy and Milo can play. But when Milo and Izzy get together, their collective IQ’s drop dramatically.  The “good dogs” are replaced by “ornery dogs.”  Together, they leave behind holes in the yard and destroy items, from toys to outdoor furniture cushions to plastic milk cartons. 

Then, separate them, and things go back to “normal.” 

It is not rare that I have clients come into me with misdirected ideas about the laws or what can or should be done. It becomes obvious they have been influenced by some outside “information” whether that is from friends at the coffee shop, the internet or the “news” – kind of a “the sky is falling” or “everyone is out to get me” syndrome.

I did need to dispel that information and agitations and, most of the time, I can get them on sound footing.  I ask them just to throw out of their mind everything that they thought they knew.

Sometimes, when I meet with a new family, I urge them to allow me to give them unbiased information, to start fresh, so that, together, we can create a well-informed plan that will achieve their goals.  Once we do that, it will be a good plan, not influenced by bad information. 

Just don’t take advice from the “Izzy and Milo’s” of the world.