Embodying Compassion Is Counter Cultural

Pet parents shared with me their experiences working with other pet professionals who left them feeling undervalued, demoralized and defeated.

When a pet parent feels overrun and not having any options, this can send them into a spiral.

Spiraling thoughts of limiting beliefs leading them into not taking action because they think “what’s the point.”

One pet parent shared with me how she didn’t leave the house with her dog for over a year because of another pet professional observing her dog showing signs of fear said to the pet parent, “either you’ll have 10 years of joy or you will have 10 years of frustration” and handed her a dog training pamphlet.

The lack of compassion and black and white thinking doesn’t keep the light on at the end of the tunnel.

Even in this situation, this pet parent still searched for training and coaching which aligned with what she and her dog needed.

A professional who not only understands how the emotional lives of our dogs influences how they behave, but a professional who is able to connect with the person in front of them and get at the heart of the matter.

Shedding light on what the pet parent’s core desire feelings are and guiding them to reach the connection and freedom they want life to look like with their dogs.

As pet parents take action based on how they want to feel connected with their dogs, they learn how simple games can lead them to their goals.

Along the way, the strengthen their own confidence and accomplish not only what they want their dogs to achieve, but also how they live a more integrated life with their companions.

Are you desiring for something more in your dog training and coaching journey?

Do you want a pet professional who will not only share with you the knowledge, but also coach you through the hills and valleys and learning, so you and your dog can have an optimal level of learning?

If you’re curious and want to find out more about how professional coaching can enhance your dog training experience, set up a Discovery Call with me.

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Book Review: Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook by Linda Michaels

My journey into dog training and behavior consulting began in 2013.

My mentor shared with me who the industry leaders are and the reasons I should include them in who I continue learning from as I progress in my new career field.

Leaders like, Victoria Stilwell, Nicole Wilde and Linda Michael’s topped the list.

These women are not only leaders but animal welfare advocates.

They have pioneered the understanding of how meeting our dog’s social-emotional needs impact our dogs’ behavior.

The ripples are growing and more people are letting go of traditional methods and are welcoming the new tide of teaching and guiding our dogs.

Fast forward to today and Linda Michaels, my friend and colleague, published the Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook.

This publication reached Amazon’s top achievement in Hot New Releases and is a Best Seller in Dog and Health Care.

The tide continues rolling and the Do No Harm approach continues to grow.

I had the pleasure and honor in writing a book review for the Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook in the international trade magazine, Barks from the Guild.

If you’re curious about the impact of a Do No Harm dog training approach, get a glimpse into the book!

Read the Review Here!

The Student Becoming the Teacher and Back Again

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

I find myself in both sides of this statement in my relationship with Jack.

As the student, learning about Jack’s needs and how to best meet them set me up in becoming the teacher he needed.

10 years ago, when we moved back stateside, I didn’t know it at the time, but being jobless and facing my husband’s next deployment, gave me the space in exploring a new side of myself.

Space was certainly not what I would say I had, in fact, I would say I was experiencing loss.

Grieving my dad’s death.

Grieving the lack of an employed position I cared about and felt passionate in pursuing.

Even starting my trauma healing journey which also led me into the grip of grief.

Simultaneously, I also recognized in myself, I desired to help Jack in addressing separation anxiety.

This is when I began my own transformation of moving from seeing this new chapter as a place of lack and loss into taking the time in front of me and using it for my own inner work and learning.

Jack happened to be my catalyst for change.

I chose to use this time in learning how I can be the teacher Jack needed.

Instead of seeing all the negative behavior, I made the choice in seeing everything he was doing well.

This was a light bulb moment for me.

I recognized my own power in choosing how I wanted to see the world and how I interpreted Jack’s behavior.

The time at home not working allowed me to create some time away from Jack without even going anywhere.

I was able to capture calmness on the regular and with time he was encouraged him to make the choice in spending time away from me.

He made the choice to no longer follow me around, no longer checking on me if I wasn’t in the same room with him for more than 5 minutes.

I started seeing how capturing him being settled around our home and settled his nerves.

I also had the space in spending more quality time with him.

By building a bond and establishing a secure attachment with him, he started trusting I wasn’t going to abandon him.

This last piece made the difference.

The bond we formed and maintained through exercise, positively recognizing him when he was relaxed and settled, playing games with him, enrichment car rides and play dates at a force free daycare shifted everything for us.

By the time my husband returned from deployment 9 months later, Jack was more comfortable being home without us, he was developing life skills when we saw the evil UPS truck LOL and we navigated around sticky situations which usually created unbearable tension for Jack.

Because of our bond, he’s achieved feats I never dreamed of like living in a hotel for 2 months during our recently PCS back stateside, he’s more comfortable greeting people on the street, experiencing dogs behind fences and seeing them across the road and even moving through a military gate and having our ID’s checked.

Jack as the student, Jack learned to trust me, because I taught him it was safe for him to do so.

Our bond transformed my life too.

We are full circle back at me becoming the student as Jack is teaching me what he needs as his age advances and his needs change.

This wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t make the choice 10 years ago to change how I felt about my circumstances.

Feeling the space between loss allowed me to see opportunity when I thought all doors were closed.

Are you willing to try something new and desire to transform your life?