Trainers, behaviorists, and big businesses have embraced the liberal use of positive techniques, philosophies and equipment for decades. Accompanying this is the buzz about leadership, alpha statuses, along with advice on what we should or shouldn't feed our dogs, when to feed them, and how much to feed them. What if it is as simple as ABC and 123-breathing, eating, playing and smiling? Awareness Centered Training (ACT) gives us permission to
- joyfully and easily train (JET) our dogs without fear of right or wrong
- mindfully shape natural behaviors with SAM (socialization and manners)
- quickly integrate training for a few minutes each day, playing Doggy Diner
- reduce sensory overload with "ahha!" moments of peace and stillness
- connect using body language, breathing, and the magic of your smile
- empower yourself and your dog with skills you can use anywhere
- creatively balance energy while enhancing well-being
- let go of what doesn't matter and go with the flow (wolf )
- change life for the better with dogs as translators for learning and healing
While you train with awareness, unhealthy patterns in your life can begin to vanish. This is not because of a book, social media, or life doing something to you. It is because you and your dog are doing something different together. Enjoy the journey.
My life's goal is to make a difference for dogs, especially our understanding of how they learn and change our lives. I have been working with dogs since childhood and made mistakes - as we all do. Fortunately, after years of writing, training, and working with dogs and their people, I have learned that the best approach is as individual as the dogs, dog parents, lifestyles and goals.
At New England Pet Partners we train therapy dog teams. The "only" approach is one of awareness. We look for the dog's (and human partner's) strength and motivation. With focused training, we pay attention to lifestyle and what the dog needs to become a happy, healthy and confident companion. Sometimes, what we want does not always jive with the dog's goals, but we can usually find a path that will work for both human and dog.
Awareness Centered Training - ACT came to me after years of expending too much energy and stressing myself and the dogs out. We needed balance. I am positive that balancing energy in dogs makes a huge difference in how they respond to training, the environment, and us! Strong on the list is Socialization and Manners (SAM) and daily training.
In today's world of sensory overload, we need to slow down and dogs can help! They live in the moment and do not care about the hype. They desire and deserve understanding and what works best for them for training and well-being, not what we think they want. The only way to find out is to be aware of ourselves and our dogs - everywhere (home, dog parks, walking, visiting). Is it working? Are you enjoying your dog's company?
I no longer compete in conformation, obedience, agility, draft or water work (Newfoundland's) but I integrate what a dog is good at into training - empowering myself and the dogs.
Dogs can easily learn with life rewards that can be integrated daily and through our respectful interactions with them.
I'm optimistic that as a society we are learning that training does not start and stop. We don't go to college and quit learning. Neither do our dogs. However, the concept is not easily embraced. Too many dog parents still echo, "Okay, I went to 6 weeks of training and my dog still acts out." Really?
Training classes are valuable, as is private coaching, BUT the real work happens with practice (and love) on a daily basis. This changes for our dog just as it does for us as we age. Any age dog can learn.
Awareness Centered Training - ACT helps you bring training into all stages of your dog's lives, not just the beginning, in a smooth easy flow with understanding, breathing and stress release.
