Understanding the Physical Dog: Observation Skills

This instructor-led courses focuses on a topic near & dear to Suzanne Clothier’s heart: the physical dog. She first published her award winning video, Your Athletic Dog: A Functional Approach, way back in 1995, before sports medicine was common place.

Her work as a trainer incorporates her knowledge of conformation, movement, functional assessment, and how all of these physical factors work together with behavior and performance.

Trainers will develop a new understanding of what each dog can reveal about their physical being and functional athletic ability.

This course will provide practical information on:

• Dog anatomy & conformation – why does structure matter?
• Observing functional movement – a systematic approach to assessing the dog’s abilities and limitations
• What is “normal” vs the norm – frequently seen issues that should not be ignored
• Common behavior, training & performance problems & their physical roots
• Understanding exercise physiology for injury prevention, conditioning & performance

Using video, graphics, “Try It Yourself!” exercises and Q&A sessions, Suzanne will enrich your understanding of the physical dog. Your observation skills will be fine-tuned, giving you the ability to ask, “Can you?” when working with any dog, no matter what the training or performance goal may be.