Seeing the Messages

Posted byhoundbizPosted inCoaching, Four Paws and You Dog TrainingTags:, , ,

What motivates you to change something your dog is doing?

Is it because your dog is barking what seems like all the time?

Is it because your dog is lunging and growling at guests and other dogs and people while you’re walking by?

For my clients, their dog’s behavior is only part of the story.

All you wanted was to add a companion to your family and your family members to support you, collaborate with you, be accountable to how they also wanted to raise a dog with you.

But instead, they left you in the dust and on top of it, are upset with you about it being your dog having behavioral issues.

You want to give up!

Your motivation is waning because you feel let down and feeling lonely. You wanted your family to show up for you, but now you’re left doing it all. On your own. Once again.

What if your motivation is waning was because you see how what’s going on with your dog is more about seeing your value for teamwork and accountability isn’t shared with others in your family? What if the divide is more about how you and your partner have different ideas on how to address the concerns?

Being right versus doing what’s right for the dog causes you and your partner to butt heads.

You want to be heard and understood by those who care about you.

It is also a time when you may want to go back to what didn’t work because its easier than navigating heart to hearts with your family about how things need to change.

The change is how you all are not only showing up for your dog, but each other.

Maybe staying the same feels easier because you’re not even sure how you feel about what needs to be different. You just know something has got to give.

Taking action in a new direction one step at a time, may seem scary, but what lies on the other side is what you want.

Calmer home with your dogs.

Peace within your relationships with your family members.

Ultimately, speaking the same language with your partner and feeling you’re on the same page in how you make decisions is what your heart desires.

The motivation for change is less about what your dog is doing and more about what you want within the relationships you have in your life.

What do you want your life with your family and your companion animal to look and feel like?

Published by houndbiz

Katherine Porter is a force free, reward based dog behavior advisor and consultant serving clients and their companion dogs worldwide. Her calm and gentle approach in coaching clients in effectively communicating what they want to their dog blends her MSW background into her dog training and behavior practice. Katherine was a behavior consultant for Heeling Hounds after graduation. She opened Four Paws and You Dog Training LLC when the military relocated her family to Fort Sill, OK in 2015. During this time, she volunteered with Rainbow Bridge Can Wait where she provided post adoption consultations to new pet parents. She also developed and implemented tailored behavior modification plans for highly reactive dogs residing at the shelter. She also provided educational programs to military children through interactive workshops at the Fort Sill School Age Center. In 2017, Katherine relocated Four Paws and You Dog Training LLC to Germany. She served the Armed Forces communities in Bavaria. She continued coaching and advising her clients in addressing their companion dog’s fearful and reactive behavioral issues. Katherine takes a Do No Harm approach first and foremost in providing behavioral plans. She is committed in serving clients with gentle and modern science approaches in modifying behavioral concerns such as reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety and fear based responses. Katherine is a member of the Pet Professional Guild. She is focused on integrating a holistic and modern approach in addressing her client’s pet companion reactive behavior issues.

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