Dog training often leads people into believe obedience is the answer.
It sets the expectation that control over another being is the goal.
Without control, you won’t have harmony or peace in your home.
This isn’t true.
Creating peace and harmony is only attainable when you respond in the moment with awareness of yourself and those around you.
You let go of controlling them and the situation you’re in.
You learn to flow with your dog, your friends, family, work colleague regardless of what’s happening because you recognize the illusion of control limits your life.
When you deepen your awareness of yourself can you make choices that are congruent to who you are as a person that desires connection and freedom, then you can can feel the harmony and peace that already exists.
Do you desire to slow down and want to deepen a connection to yourself so you can live more harmoniously with those you care about, including your dogs?
I’ve been attending at training this week that has nothing to do with coaching or dog training lol.
Since I am spending a whole bunch of time learning about things that aren’t really about anything pertinent to my profession, I still made a choice to wear my listening ears.
I’m glad I did.
The first day, the presenter who is an organization leader discussed values.
He shared how he lives his values and how the values he holds dear are also apart of his organization.
He took it one step further and asked us all individually what value resonated with us and why is it important for the organization we were learning about this week.
I took this seriously.
It was impressed upon all of us that if we live to be X, then we must take action based on X.
Out of all the values, we all chose one that we felt was important to us in how we show up.
Underneath it all, we have to connect with values when we make choices for ourselves personally and professionally.
This made me feel into how my business operates and get clear on the values my business believes in too.
A Do No Harm ethical code in how and what I teach humans and their dogs is interwoven throughout each of the values I’ll discuss below.
Values are personal to the individual.
Here are the priority values for Four Paws & You Dog Training:
Respect: We strive to respect the dignity and worth of the person and their dogs. You are both sentient beings and fostering a safe, humane and gentle learning approach is central to how we show up for you. We ask you to also demonstrate respect for your dogs’ welfare and wellbeing and prioritize this value when working with us.
Autonomy: We see each of you and your dogs as individuals with unique personalities and you all have ability to make choices. We are committed in creating partnerships with you and your dogs so you all can create the life you want to live with your dog. We also ask you to see your dogs’ choice making in the same light and respect your dogs’ consent.
Empowerment: Through our partnership with you and your dog, we cultivate a learning environment where we co-create your action plans. By guiding you on your journey, you take ownership over how you show up and take action, so you can live and move in this world confidently within yourself and with your dog.
Fun (I forgot this one yesterday on the live, but it’s a HUGE one): We strive to create a fun learning environment so you and your dog can find the joy in being in companionship with one another. Play is a primary reinforcer for us and our dogs and when fun is happening, bonding and trust are being built. These are foundational for any learning and growing to happen.
The Do No Harm ethos intersects with each one of these values and underpins them as a grounding force.
If these values resonate with you and want to explore how activating them can shape your learning experience, set up a Discovery Call with me.
The school is designed for infant, toddlers and preschoolers.
Coming out of the bathroom, I saw a sign on the wall that was at the height for small children, but I know it was there for the adults in the building.
The sign read something like this, “Words have feelings. Choose your word, choose your mindset.”
Then it had the words “fixed growth” underneath it.
Spot on. What you feel influences what you think and what you think informs your body of what you feel.
When you are unaware of the word choices you choose to make about yourself, your dog, friends and family even your situation and how you describe yourself, you’re telling yourself how to feel without “knowing” it.
When you’re unaware, you are repeating old patterns of thought and outdated beliefs of yourself. You don’t recognize how the word choices are a reflection about you feel about yourself. You have a fixed mindset.
You have the power to shift your mindset by paying attention to the words you choose.
Staying aware of how you use your words to express yourself, you can make the choices of what truly reflects how you feel because you’re listening to how your body responds to the word choices you’re making. By staying present and in tune with yourself, you can become so aware of how you’re showing up in the world too.
Growth requires change and the way you express yourself shifts!
If you’re curious about and are willing to make changes so you are living in alignment within your own values, let’s chat!
Four Paws & You Dog Training 