Quiet Shifts

I’ve been quiet lately.

I’ve been allowing new awarenesses to come forward thereby giving myself space to grow and evolve.

Change in life is inevitable and flowing with the shifts and using the shifts as stepping stones as they inform me of my next phase.

One of my clients recently, allowed for subtle shifts to happen as he integrated a new understanding and way of life with him and his dogs.

He shared with me that he used to want his dogs to walk beside him just like a neighbor he sees regularly with his dogs walking in step with him.

After sharing with my client that a walk for a dog is for them because they don’t have the freedom to choose when they leave the house or go where they want, a walk at least gives the dog an opportunity to express their agency, my client saw his neighbor again. This time, he observed his neighbor yank on the leash that was connected to a pinch collar. Only after the dog was choked, the dog dared not to walk out of step again.

In that moment, my client had a reckoning for himself. He shifted away from wanting control over his dogs. My client wanted his dogs to have freedom to be themselves and choose to walk with him.

The people I serve desire to grow, expand and see the world with new understanding.

They are willing to do the work in self discovery, so they can make the adjustments in their own life so they can experience more freedom and autonomy.

Life can feel uncertain, but having someone to support you, you don’t have to feel alone as you take the next step.

If you’re willing to take the next step, I’m offering 3 spots for a strategy session in how to implement the shifts you want to make in your life.

Set up a Discovery Call to find out if this mini session is right for you: https://fourpawsandyoudogtraining.as.me/?appointmentType=14277016

Mistakes are Essential for Learning

Reading about how mistakes are ways the neuroplasticity in our brains can adapt to doing this differently which means growth and learning occurs.

When others make mistakes, like our dogs, how can you use the energy to create something new instead of dwelling on the failure of not getting the outcome perfectly?

What about the flip side of not trying at all? Avoidance of making a mistake by not trying is that really success?

Success isn’t about a lack of mistakes. Success can be seen as achieving a goal in spite of the mistakes that occurred along the way.

You get to decide!

Tipping the Scales

Are you wanting compliance and obedience or do you want behavior change?

Just to be clear, they aren’t one and the same.

You may also be thinking that I’m only talking about dogs, but I’m also talking to you too.

If you’re unsure of what you want, that’s an ok place to be.

That’s because you’re feeling the pull in both directions of what matters to you.

Sometimes what we value is in conflict with one another and discovering what is your motivation in changing something in your life, is your first step.

When you are looking to make a change that is also includes the life of another being, you are no longer looking to make a choice based on what you desire, but also considering the other person or in this case, your dog too.

Uncovering what matters to you and your dog is no longer what you only want, but what you and your dog want together.

Connection, freedom, companionship and a loving bond.

Now, when you look back at the question of what do you want, compliance/obedience or behavior change, do you feel a shift of what matters to you?

Does the scale tip in one direction or another?

You may be feeling how out of balance the value of obedience and compliance is and how something greater is possible for you both.

If obedience and compliance is feeling less enticing, you are feeling into how the values of connection, freedom, companionship and a loving bond first and foremost and how these values aren’t born out of telling the other person or other being what to do and when to do it, so they perform.

You are opening yourself up to the possibility that your dog wants the same things as you do, but in a more dog friendly way.

You start making choices that consider how your dog feels alongside what you want your life to look like too.

Now, you want to know how to translate the value of companionship, connection, freedom and loving bond into motivation for you and your dog.

This is where the adventure begins!

You can set up a Discovery Call and explore how you want your life with your dog to feel like in 2024!