Last week, my client was walking me out the door after our session.
He had an “aha” moment.
He turned to me and said, “I now know why you asked me during the discovery call what my level of commitment is in working with my dog.”
I got curious and asked him to share what he learned through our time together.
He shared how teaching his dog wasn’t an overnight quick fix.
He’s experienced through our time together how breaking down the skills into manageable bits helps his dog understand what to do instead.
My client shared how he struggled with his dog pulling and barking at everyone and everything.
For my client, this is dangerous since my client has mobility issues and so we not only came up with several ways of keeping both him and his dog safe.
As he shared his frustration with his dog pulling and barking “all of the time”, I asked my client after our session, “did your dog bark at the people passing by, the teenage yelling to get her father’s attention?”
He said no.
I asked him, “did your dog pull you down the driveway?”
He said no.
I asked him what changed.
He shared what changed was how I guided him to wait for his dog to check in with him, to play Engage/Disengage when his dog was watching the person yell to her dad.
He also shared how the connection with his dog is what made the difference.
I agreed. His connection with his dog shifted over our time together and this is the foundation for everything he wants to do with his dog.
It’s not enough to teach cues.
You have to go further. The trust and the connection is what will transform your relationship with your dog.
From the bond you share with your dog, then you can achieve what you put your mind to and considering what your dog wants to do too.
Remember you’re a team and being apart of a partnership requires both the person and dog to be on the same page and adjusting for what’s happening, how you both are changing and growing and what the purpose is in choosing a direction and path to go on.
If you desire a deeper relationship with your dog and value growth and connection over what your dog can do for you, set up a Discovery Call with me.
Four Paws & You Dog Training 