Why Do You Teach What You Teach?

A client asked me, “how do I get my dog to heel?”

I asked her what is important to her about why she wants to teach her dog how to do this?

She responded that she didn’t know?

Taking a look at the purpose or the method of teaching a particular skill or reinforcing a behavior is an important piece in training.

From a cultural standpoint, the dog training industry was and still is at times focused on obedience training.

Obedience training is rooted in the concept of having power over and controlling your dog.

It sets the expectation that you will teach your dog to listen to you and perform every cue requested in a timely fashion.

That mindset sets you and your dog up for failure.

Modern approaches in dog training focuses on building a relationship requiring mutual respect and benevolent leadership by the caregivers rather than domination.

It requires understanding and consistency in establishing a daily practice of engagement and fun.

When your dog is acknowledged for making the choice in staying close to you, your dog will more likely offer staying close to you more frequently and now the reinforcement history of your dog walking by your side is established.

Then you are achieving your goal of your dog walking next you while your dog is being rewarded for naturally offering a behavior your dog finds pleasurable.

When you live with awareness of the purpose of each skill you are intending to teach your dog, you will begin seeing how your dog’s behavior extends beyond the skill itself.

When looking at teaching my client how to encourage her dog to stay close, the reason underpinning her interest in teaching a “heel” was more about her dog’s fear response towards other dogs.

She believed if her dog stayed close to her, then the barking would ultimately stop.

Now, we get to the root of the concern.

When a dog feels unsafe, they go through fight, flight and freeze response which looks like a dog barking and lunging at the other dog or whatever your dog perceives as scary.

A dog walking in a heel or staying close isn’t going to help your dog feel safe when the scary thing is still too close for comfort.

Now, we focus on helping our dogs change their minds about those scary things.

Curious how? Schedule a Discovery Call with me to learn more!

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Expanding my Practice to Support Pet Professionals!!

Going on the coaching journey with dog training clients is a privilege.

Witnessing how you may start of unsure or even a bit nervous of what dog training will look and feel like can seem overwhelming.

Even with the most concerning behaviors you bring to the table, there are plenty of moments of joy and disbelief in seeing the behavior change right before your eyes.

Getting from point A to point B does take some of your own emotional vulnerability and openness in trusting yourself and the training journey.

There are good days and not so good ones.

This goes for both you and your dog!

This is completely and totally normal.

What it takes is deepening your own resolve in moving the training needle, so your dog can learn to do more of what you want to reward.

The sea change starts from you.

Each of you have left an imprint on my heart.

Now, I’m expanding my services in supporting other pet professionals in doing the same.

Supporting other dog trainers who understand how force free dog training works, but are struggling in maintaining the confidence in serving clients through the training journey.

This goes beyond the operational side of running a business.

The coaching you and I would do together would focus on the social-emotional aspects of running a business.

You will gain alignment of your values into your business which will help you have greater client impact.

You will gain strategies in strengthening boundaries with your clients which you can implement compassionately and graciously.

Your overall confidence will grow and you will be able to feel more steady in knowing your clients feel both supported and self sufficient simultaneously.

If you are already a pet professional that is looking for support in navigating client relationships, I’m signing up 3 new trainers into my Confidence Boost Program.

Doors close on 12 November!!

Schedule a Discovery Call with me:

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Engage/Disengage

Transitions can be quite the challenge for dogs.

They have to get used to new place, new smells and even new neighbors (2 and 4 legged ones).

Transitions don’t have to give you or dogs a headache.

When your dog sees you as the safe haven and can rely on you to show them the way, you can give your dog space and let them make choices.

You can give them the opportunity to engage when they want to or take a break when needed.

Even for sensitive dogs like Jack, he’s learned through a well established reinforcement history of greeting and getting to know other dogs while at the same time making the choice of checking in with me and coming back to me.

Engagement and disengagement is part of his behavior pattern and no cueing the behavior is even needed.

Taking the time in strengthening our relationship, the dividends are surely worth celebrating. Invest in your relationship with your dog, you too will be living on easy street as time goes on!

He returns to me because I bring the good stuff.

As for Bernie, he enjoys his time away from other dogs, but I’ll still reward his naturally occurring behavior too!

Do you want to find out how you can encourage your dogs to do things you would like to see more of while having some fun and relaxed time with your dogs?

You can schedule a free Discovery Call with me!

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