Dog training often involves the learning of two species at the same time. Sometimes you have an experienced human working with an inexperienced dog and sometimes the opposite of that. But there are still so many people who have never trained a dog (or have not trained using positive reinforcement anyway) that I get to work with these dual species learning situations regularly. It’s an opportunity to witness magic. As you may know by now, I love finding magic. And there are so many ways and places to find it, that I’m always looking for it. The magic of working on a recall (coming to a person when called) and seeing one dog’s bouncing happiness as she runs to her person who has a bright smile on her face is priceless.
Dog training is all about communication and behavior which are so intricately linked. While the language has changed over the years and we are not commanding dogs to do things (most of us anyway), instead we create behaviors that are appropriate for the situation, we are ultimately still striving for a balance with two different species who cohabit. There is a wide spectrum of how this plays out because we, the humans, are typically making all the decisions. This spectrum runs from no thought to the dog’s perspective to giving the dog the power of consent. That’s a rather wide range! There is no end to the learning for all involved from me, the trainer, to the students of all species.
One of the key pieces of learning, no matter who is doing the learning or what is being learned, is being able to be receptive to new information. And receptivity brings up resistance because often if we can’t receive it’s because we’re resisting. This push and pull of receptivity and resistance has been at the forefront of my awareness recently. The equinox has passed and it is now spring, Mercury has gone retrograde, and things in general feel a bit uneven to me. There’s an uplifting sense of hope and creative freshness, but at the same time there are layers of old grief, pain, and negative patterns being unearthed. In the last month, I have felt like some old patterns have been flaking or sloughing off of me like dried mud off skin. Combine that with this slow to warm up weather and I’m jealous of Lilly’s ability to swim in these colder temperatures because I feel like a swim would be so satisfying in feeling washed clean of these old patterns.
Some of the creative freshness in my spring is getting to teach kids for the first time in years. I am teaching a writing class for older kids and co-teaching a mindful movement class for younger kids. I even have a dog training team of a 10 year old human and a 1 year old Bernese Mountain Dog. It’s so much fun. I am also getting some tricks classes started up and I’m excited that I’m going to have straight up beginners in addition to more seasoned human and dog teams. (See the details below.) The eagles are feeding nestling(s) and one of them flies overhead in the dark on our morning walk as she or he heads out to hunt with that internal time piece so precise according to the light that it’s the same time on my clock every day. I have spotted the vixen at her den, so I’m hoping to see some kits soon. Spring has sprung and new life is everywhere. The colors are emerging!
As always I love to hear your thoughts and current reality. If you need dog help or energy work, please email or call me at 434-249-9786 to schedule a session.
Tricks Class Cville
- Wednesdays May 2-23 6:30-7:30PM
- $100 at Natural Pet Essentials
- Human and dog friendly dogs only. All levels of training experience welcome. Details and how to register HERE.
Tricks Class Crozet
- Tuesdays April 10-May1 6:30-7:30PM
- $100 We will meet outside at different locations in Crozet.
- Human and dog friendly dogs only. All levels of training experience welcome. Details and how to register HERE.
Thank you for your continued support and referrals!
~Namaste