Someone will come to me because they are uncomfortable with their dog growling and biting their guests and found using painful methods didn’t work.
In the beginning, the pet parent lost trust in their decision making and are feeling desperate for guidance. They feel powerless in what to do when their dog’s behavior was not what they expected.
Now, their self doubt creeps in and they want their dogs to stop barking, lunging and growling and they find someone who promises they can help and the issues with their dogs will be eliminated.
What’s offered to them is using tools that strangles their dogs or electrocutes them paralyzing the dog into submission.
In our culture, we are taught to believe in correction and punishment. There is a belief that blaming and shaming others rather than being empathetic and understanding motivates another being to do something.
Why is it so much easier for us to blame and shame others when something goes wrong?
Is it because the story we tell ourselves is that this being that is showing fear or rage is inappropriate and we desire to distance ourselves from what we perceive as wrong doing?
Emotions aren’t good or bad, they just are and when we can lean into what’s showing up and invite in the lessons the heavy emotions are showing us, can we learn on a deeper level of what’s needed.
What’s needed is love and kindness.
For one of my clients, she wanted to feel more in control.
What she discovered through our time together was how she found herself.
She let go of the belief that she needed to overpower others and instead, leaned into how another being is feeling and uncovered how her compassion can be healing to her rescue and herself.
She learned what safety meant to her and her dog.
The mutuality of what they both received opened up her heart to what’s possible and for her to learn that when she can trust her actions in how she addresses her dog’s behavior, she finds her freedom.
Freedom when guests come over.
Freedom in taking leisurely walks with her dog.
When you and your dog experience freedom and safety, the world is wide open to you!
Four Paws & You Dog Training 