The Growl to Grow Dog Training and Support Program goes beyond teaching skills.
This program also supports you, the pet parent through the challenges of the training ups and downs.
Learning never happens in a straight line.
Rather the dips in achieving which we perceive as failures are necessary for gains.
Gains in your dog cresting a hill of learning something new.
The gain may also be for you.
Raising your awareness of what is needed everyday living life with your dog.
Having the contrast of progress being accomplished to the stagnation or even perceived regression of a skill is necessary for us to re examine what you need to do to get back into the practice.
As your coach, I’m here to offer you support and guide you in deepening your knowledge of how your dog learns and your role in shaping this too.
Find out how I can support you through teaching your dog more of what you want.
You may not be aware of what to expect when you bring home a dog for the first time.
You may also feel confident in integrating a new dog into your family because you’ve had dogs all your life.
You start noticing behaviors pop up which you never experienced before like barking and lunging at the end of the leash.
Or, nipping at house guests as soon as they walk into your home.
You start becoming more aware of what you may not know of how to help your dog feel safer and more comfortable at home.
You may even resorted in using old skool training approaches which is even making the situation worse.
When you are presented with new information based on modern science which contradicts your outdated beliefs, it’s hard to switch gears.
The little gremlin on your shoulder whispering in your ear, “you can’t do this”, “I feel overwhelmed”, “I’ve tried so many things before and I know this isn’t going to work”.
The gremlin sitting on your shoulder is keeping you from growing if you choose to buy into those messages.
Growth and learning something new requires not only your dog, but you too to do new things.
Growth takes risks which creates stress in our bodies.
Our minds are hard wired to avoid stress, when the edges of your potential are pushed, this is when your gremlin speaks to you.
Your fear shows up.
When the prospect of change signals you will also need to start a new behavior pattern, adjust your routine, switch up your lifestyle a bit to prioritize your dog’s needs, you may be thinking “whoa”.
One client shared with me, “I’ve been frustrated for 4 or 5 years and saying no for all the barking going on, It’s hard for me to stop”.
I respond, “the same time needed for you to make a change is also necessary for your dog too”. Be kind to yourself and have compassion for the change you and your dog are undergoing.
Starting of the practice can seem clunky or confusing. You may even have a misstep here or there and that is ok.
I don’t expect you to be perfect just as I don’t expect your dog to be perfect too.
Perfection is an unattainable expectation.
Rather, progress is made slowly and gradually with making the conscious decision to take the action steps towards your goals and celebrate the small steps you and your dog are achieving together.
As you practice, the gremlin’s voice begins to fade (never goes away) and you become more competent in the skills you’re doing and are even able to fluidly integrate them into your life.
It’s not easy to change, but the courage to show up for you and your dog every day is what sets the stage for your growth and learning.
Schedule a Discovery Call with me to find out more!
When your dog has a positive association with following your hands, learning hand signals happens so quickly.
Hand signals can communicate what you’re asking your dog to do even from far away when your voice can’t travel that far (great for recall training work).
Hand signals are also a life skill for your dog. As dogs age, they can loose their ability to hear.
Using hand signals throughout your dog’s life can preserve the communication you can have with your dog even if your dog is not able to hear your voice.
Verbal cues are also important for our dogs to learn and to learn them independently from the hand signals as another life skill.
Phasing out the hand signal also provides an opportunity for your dog to problem solve with you which also strengthens the bond between you and your dog.
My client and her dog Teddy are in the stage of learning and teaching of phasing out the hand signal as an every time occurrence.
Since my client has hard wood floors and they can be a bit slippery, she’s using a mat which is more comfortable for Teddy which will also be more encouraging for him to lie down too.
My client gives the cue for down and Teddy looks away. She waits a bit, but then uses the hand signal for down.
My timing was off in this first round of asking her to give Teddy time to think.
The second round, my client quickly integrated what I coached her to do and as you can see Teddy makes the choice in responding when he’s ready.
Thinking takes a lot of brain power, so we gave Teddy some time off the mat with some treat and retreat fun!
My client and Teddy are nearing the end of their Pet Parent and Puppy Support Program.
They will be getting ready to take their Pet Dog Ambassador Program assessment in 2022!
If you enjoy having a hands on approach in teaching your dog life skills, but not sure how to go about it, you can schedule a Discovery Call with me and we can chat!
Four Paws & You Dog Training 