Observation Skills NEW
See the Dog.
You’ve been watching dogs your whole life.
But are you really seeing them?
This new course combines Observation Skills Part One and Observation Skills Part Two into one comprehensive experience. Learn to truly SEE the dog starting April 12, 2026.
You’ve been watching dogs for years. You think you’re good at it. But what if the problem isn’t what you know — it’s what you’re not seeing?
Scientists have proven that humans can stare directly at something and completely fail to see it. If that can happen to trained researchers in a controlled study — eyes open, fully focused — imagine what’s happening when you’re working with a dog under real-world conditions, when emotion is running high and things are moving fast.
And when we do notice something, we reach for a label. We call a dog “reactive” or “stubborn” or “anxious” — and we think we’ve said something meaningful. But labels aren’t observations. They’re where observation stops. They close the door right when curiosity should be opening it.
The cost is real. An inaccurate observation doesn’t just mean you misread the moment. It means everything that follows — your training plan, your assessment, your response — is built on a foundation that isn’t real. For professionals, it can mean failed training and dangerous situations. For dog owners, it means missing the signals your dog has been sending you all along.
NOTE: This product is purchased through Thinkific. When you click to purchase, a new window will open for that site, where you will need to create a Thinkific account to complete the purchase.
$399.00
Description
Train the skill of looking itself.
This course doesn’t teach you a list of things to look for. It trains your brain to override its natural limitations and see what’s actually there.
“You will observe everything differently.”
That’s what students tell us, again and again — not just how they watch dogs and other animals, but how they move through the world with fresh eyes and new perspectives.
Who is this for?
Anyone who works with, lives with, or cares deeply about animals.
There is no minimum experience level. What every student shares is a genuine desire to see more clearly.
- Deeper understanding: Imagine seeing the stress signals before your dog bites, or recognizing the learning moments that happen dozens of times each day. Respond to what’s actually happening.
- Getting good answers: Without right observation, we cannot make correct assessments. Sharpen your ability to identify patterns, solve problems quickly, and help clients more effectively.
- Move beyond labels: Develop precise, descriptive observation skills that go beyond subjective labels — especially critical when assessing animals in high-stress environments.
- See more, do better: See more, miss less, and make better decisions for the animals in your care. Training, health care, welfare, and placement in the right home – all depend on observation.
- Differences & Details: Train your eye for meaningful behavioral differences. Systematic observation changes what you see and what decisions you make for each dog.
- Educate others: Learn Suzanne’s practical approach that is grounded in clear language and concepts that help your clients develop their own observation skills.
This is not a course about dogs. A course about seeing.
This course doesn’t start with a list of behaviors to memorize. It starts with you — specifically, with the startling reality of how much your brain routinely misses, edits, and invents.
From there, you build systematically. You’ll learn a framework for observation — who to watch, why, what for, and how to record what you see so it remains useful. You’ll work with video, analyzing the same interactions multiple times and discovering how each viewing reveals something new.
By the midpoint, you’re tracking specific behaviors across time — frequency, duration, patterns — and learning to compare what you see against a baseline. By the end, you’re observing complex multi-animal interactions and finding that a scene that once looked like chaos is now full of readable information.
It’s not a fast course. It’s a deep course. The skills you build here will stay with you long after it ends.
Each of the 12 modules includes lesson content, video analysis exercises, observation skill practice, and a self-assessment quiz. Work at your own pace, and enjoy instructor-led discussion sessions.
7 live Q&A sessions with Suzanne, held weekly at 10:30 AM ET. All sessions are recorded, and available for you afterwards. You may also submit questions ahead of time to be addressed in the Q&A. The course opens April 12, 2026 and the first Q&A will be April 21.
Observation Skills opens April 12, 2026.
NOTE: This product is purchased through Thinkific. When you click to purchase, a new window will open for that site, where you will need to create a Thinkific account to complete the purchase.
25 reviews for Observation Skills NEW
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Patricia Rapaport –
Suzanne is an awesome instructor and the course was fantastic. It improved my observational skills in a fun and practical way. The Q&As were thoughtful and helpful and Suzanne will stay in the session until all questions and comments have been completed. I can’t wait to start Part 2. I have never been disappointed by any of the courses. I just keep learning more and more.
Dr. Shlomit Harrosh –
Behaviour is constantly in flux. The ability to accurately see the dog and handler in front of us in real time lies at the heart of excellent dog training. Without right observation, we cannot make correct assessments or respond appropriately and quickly enough to changes in the dog’s behaviour. Suzanne Clothier has created a course that teaches us to do just this. Observation Skills – Part 1 is a step-by-step course that creates the foundations for truly seeing the dog/handler in front of us through a blend of theory and hands-on exercises that improve observation skills in just a few weeks. Just as importantly, this course has given me the tools to continue honing these skills in everyday life. The weekly Q&A sessions and the opportunity to learn directly from Suzanne Clothier through her responses to students’ questions have been an invaluable addition that has further expanded my understanding of dog behaviour. This has been one of the most valuable courses I’ve taken as a dog trainer, and also one of the most enjoyable. For through observation we learn to be curious and open to reality, and this is one path towards greater joy. I highly recommend this excellent course to any animal lover and trainer.
– Dr. Shlomit Harrosh
lynda costello –
I am not a trainer. But I want to learn how better to be a good dog owner. Am 82 in May and grateful to be able to take this course and expand my knowledge. Thank you!!!
Jody Greifenberger –
It’s not a checklist, it’s a way to train your brain and use your senses to “see the dog.”
Suzanne takes you through Observation Skills Part 1 course to lay the foundation you need to become a great observer. She is very generous with her time and this was invaluable to my learning. I’m looking forward to Part 2!
Kristine Patenaude –
This course was excellent at helping me start to put together a focused approach to understanding what I am looking for while observing a dog, sorting out what is important and relevant and how to document what I observe.
Marlies Piersma-Kieft –
I am a trainer of assistance dogs in the Netherlands. My experience in this field is 13 years and in this Observation Skills course-part 1, I have learned a lot which I can put in my backback!
Gwen Grimm –
I initially signed up thinking this course would be a skills learning course on observing dogs and maybe some interpretation of what we observed. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered it was more about learning how to observe and what is involved in the process of observation, which is way more than I ever really thought about. The skill of observation is much more complicated and this course brought that to light and then some. Very interesting and I learned a lot about the skill of observation, relating it to the why and what, regardless of what I am observing at the moment. Looking forward to Observation Skills – Part 2!
Vibeke Alstad Jagne –
The course that keeps on giving
Having taken many of Suzanne’s courses and webinars, I know they are always going to exceed my expectations.
This course is not a checklist. It’s training your brain to be a better observer. You’ll have several aha-moments during the course and course work, but it continues way beyond that. You will observe everything differently, and continue to improve your observation skills after this course. It doesn’t happen overnight, but the road to improvement is fascinating once you know the limitations of your own mind and how to better overcome those limitations.
I can’t wait for part 2 of this course.
Caroline Howard-Vallis –
When I started this course, I imagined it’d be all about learning dog body language, but it’s so much more than that. I’ve learnt how to open my eyes, heart and mind to observe everything around me, not just dogs. Learning to observe what I see and make field notes and comparisons has set me on a journey to understand so much more about myself and my dogs. I’m looking forward to learning more in Observation Skills Two and taking what I’ve learned in Observation Skills One even further.
Selina Gan –
This course definitely met my expectations and helped me notice and understand dog behaviour at a new level. I am looking forward to Part II
Lucy Propper –
The skills I learned in this course I carry with me daily as I walk through relationships with all species and the relationship with myself.
Anneli Freeman –
It’s a wonderful course that opens your eyes to you how to focus on the important details within the larger picture. It shows you how to intently and actively observe, so that you can gather specific information relevant to what you are trying to assess. 100% recommend to anybody wanting to understand dogs that they are working with better.
Krista Kinard –
Loved the course. So helpful to be taught the critical components to observe. Observation skills are an art and habit. If we don’t know what to look for or why we misinterpret. This course helped highlight what to watch for an why. Also highlighted again how much I have to learn and practice to improve. Love the flexibility of the course also so that if work is a problem can still take the course and learn.
Lisa Bataska –
Course for Everyone!
Comment: Whether you are a trainer or own a dog, this course is a must. Observation is not commonly used to assess concerns when working with dogs. Suzanne is an incredible teacher with so much knowledge!
Anne Woolley –
Excellent. videos with explanations were excellent. Jasper and Rollins interaction was great to realise the importance of very subtle actions. All the puppy videos showed very clear behaviours that could be missed if you do not know what to look for. very worthwhile and looking forward to the next one. The videos allowed a lot of stopping, starting and rewinding- i have had difficulties with other on line courses.
Annika Browne –
I think I was expecting a class that would be yet another list of body language details like so many classes out there, but this one is really focused on the SKILL of observing. It was unique and valuable! I’ll definitely be practicing these skills for a long time–it feels like a lifelong study.
Rebecca Moore –
Wow!
Comment: What an amazing course. What I’ve found so helpful and enlightening about this whole course is the huge part awareness plays, not only in our work with dogs but in life. This course teaches you to see, to notice and to collect data accurately and like a scientist. It’ll raise your awareness of your biases and hone those skills of observation that are often so neglected in our day to day lives. But much more than this, it also fosters a real enthusiasm for the ‘game’. The thing I loved most about this course is that it felt like being given the space and time to simply watch and appreciate the vast amount of information we take in through our senses when we are working with dogs. I have given myself unconditional permission to continue in this forever more now! That’s the boost and motivation I needed. Thank you so much Suzanne and to your team for creating such a brilliant learning opportunity.
Fina Itzel Garcia Blanco –
Transformative Approach to Observation
Suzanne Clothier’s Observation Skills: Part 1 course encourages learners to pause and truly observe the beauty in the world around us. Rather than relying on subjective labels that can vary in meaning depending on who you ask, the course focuses on developing precise, descriptive observation skills. This humbling experience highlights how often we overlook everyday details by jumping to conclusions instead of conducting observation-driven behavior analyses. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to sharpen their observation skills without relying on labels. I’m already excited to register for Part 2!
Deborah Clayworth –
The course provided tools to change and intensify the way I observe the world. I was impressed with the material drawn from various scientific disciplines, and the ways that participants were asked to grapple with the process through video analysis. At the same time, Suzanne kept the course, through the Q&A sessions very accessible and comfortable regardless of your professional background. I am not a professional trainer or involved in animal welfare beyond my personal companions, but found the skill development in the course invaluable and expect to continue working to practice those skills moving forward. (I initially signed up for the course because I felt I needed to improve my observation skills to enhance my contributions to my dog’s efforts in nosework.)
Doreen Alessi-Holmes –
This course taught me how to be a better observer, which has made me a better trainer. I can identify trends and patterns more quickly, solve problems more quickly, and help my clients solve behavior challenges more quickly.
Alexandra Bennett –
I thoroughly enjoyed Suzanne’s Observation Skills course. It was very helpful in guiding me to see my blind spots and become more aware of interactions, personality, and temperament. The course helps you see not only body gestures but be more aware of nuances and the slightest shift in cadence. Suzanne is extremely generous in sharing her knowledge and answering questions. She is very engaged in the live meetings, has well-thought-out and helpful slides, and has a keen ability to expand upon topics and questions. So far, I have taken 23 of her webinars and have loved every one of them. This was the first multiple-week course with her, and plan to continue my learning path with her.
Pam Morris –
In my prior life as a school psychologist, I thought I had been well trained to do observations. Suzanne’s course actually takes it to another level. Having the videos and learning how to study them repetitively and in slow motion made me wish that would have been possible (wishful thinking) in the classroom setting. I am looking forward to continuing to develop my observational skills in Part 2.
Deborah Clayworth –
The course provided tools to change and intensify the way I observe the world. I was impressed with the material drawn from various scientific disciplines, and the ways that participants were asked to grapple with the process through video analysis. At the same time, Suzanne kept the course, through the Q&A sessions very accessible and comfortable regardless of your professional background. I am not a professional trainer or involved in animal welfare beyond my personal companions, but found the skill development in the course invaluable and expect to continue working to practice those skills moving forward. (I initially signed up for the course because I felt I needed to improve my observation skills to enhance my contributions to my dog’s efforts in nosework.)
Lucy Propper –
The skills I learned in this course I carry with me daily as I walk through relationships with all species and the relationship with myself.
Vibeke Alstad Jagne –
Having taken many of Suzanne’s courses and webinars, I know they are always going to exceed my expectations. This course is not a checklist. It’s training your brain to be a better observer. You’ll have several aha-moments during the course and course work, but it continues way beyond that. You will observe everything differently, and continue to improve your observation skills after this course. It doesn’t happen overnight, but the road to improvement is fascinating once you know the limitations of your own mind and how to better overcome those limitations. I can’t wait for part 2 of this course.