HOW IS THIS FOR YOU? The Elemental Questions Webinar Series

Description

Right Here, Right Now – The Immediate Experience of Life

Whatever we hope about the future, whatever happened in the past, the truth of life is that it is lived in the present. The now unfolds moment by moment, dynamically shifting in ways big and small.

Dogs live in the present more successfully than many humans manage to do. This is not to say that they are free from their past or that they fail to anticipate future events. Dogs just do it on a different scale than we do, and – most importantly – they experience their lives in the here and now.

This quality of being present, living in the now, is both a blessing and a curse. A dog may be enjoying an afternoon in the yard with a favorite toy, and then, with just a distant rumble of thunder, everything changes, prompting the dog to drop their toy and head for the porch with haste. Or the dog might see a squirrel and rocket off for more fun than any toy can provide! Faced with something that scared or excited us, we would act in similar ways.

But there’s a catch: we don’t always recognize that the dog’s experience has changed. We march along on assumption, intent on our goal, maybe oblivious to signs that the dog is now feeling differently. We change something that affects the dog, but we forget to ask the most critical Elemental Question: “How is this for you

Key Concepts:

• The Feedback Loop: Our dogs provide a wealth of information, moment by moment. The feedback loop is only as tight and productive as our ability to observe and respond to the signals that the dog is sending.
• Observations, Not Assumptions: We can get lost in our goals or our assumptions, and forget to truly SEE THE DOG. How do we make sure we are acting based on observation?
• Trusting the Truth: When we trust the dog is telling us the truth of the moment, we respond differently – and in good faith – than when we discount their messages. Dismissing or ignoring the dog can erode the dog’s trust in us.
• Relationship Centered Training: RCT prioritizes the relationship and the dog’s emotional, mental and physical state over any performance outcomes.

Grounded in observation and empathy, based in truly being present with and for the dog, “How is this for you?” provides an unfailing guide that helps us be responsive, humane, fair and helpful for the dog.

 

6 Questions, Unlimited Answers

This part two of a 6-part webinar series from Suzanne Clothier, exploring each of the Elemental Questions.  There are six webinars in the series.

• Hello? January 16 at 2pm EST
• Who are you? March 13 at 2pm EST
• How is this for you? May 8 at 2pm EST
• Can you . . . ? September 11 at 2pm EST
• May I . . . ? November 6 at 2pm EST
• Can we . . . ? December 11 at 2pm EST

The Elemental Questions are an extraordinary foundation for any relationship with dogs – or with any species. They are as valuable to the person with their first dog as they are to experienced professionals.

You will have access to the recordings for a year after their air date.

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