philosophy &

Philosophy

Each of us has a story that extends beneath our surface.

We’re complex and nuanced. We have a hardwired survival mode, instincts, a desire to seek what brings us joy and safety, while steering clear and avoiding what we precieve as dangerous or scary. This is innate and our behaviour reflects these fundamental truths.

The same holds true for our dogs and our dog’s behaviour.

As much more than pets, our companions need to be understood from the inside out. Our dog’s behaviour is information for us. Their natural way to communicate and convey how they’re feeling. If a dog feels unsafe or unheard, their behaviour will grow into bigger behaviours/emotional expression (or in some cases lead to ‘shut down’ behaviours). These bigger moments in their communication are symptoms of being misunderstood, unmet needs and/or indicators of areas in our relationship that don’t have a solid foundation (simply through misunderstanding). In addition, there may be internal factors to consider. These aren’t about ‘training’ but rather about understanding who our dog is/what they’re telling us through their behaviour. All behaviour (including our own) serves a function. No behaviour “just happens”. Once we consider this, we can see things differently.

This leads to understanding, where we find compassion, empathy, connect and relate. Our curiosity leads the way.

As a Certified L.E.G.S. Family Dog Mediator, my practice involves seeing the whole of WHO each dog is. To learn the WHY of a dog’s behaviour, we must consider their L.E.G.S….

• LEARNING: an animals experience & education in life
• ENVIRONMENT: the external conditions of an animal’s world
• GENETICS: the DNA that designed the animal inside and out
• SELF: the internal conditions of an animal (health, age, sex, personality, etc)

It’s in this model that mutual wellness in relationship grows.

We are much more alike on the inside, than we are different on the outside.

Foundation for Teaching

All lessons are built on a foundation of core essentials – understanding who our dog is, body language, relationship building, and learning practical life skills.

Facilitating genuine partnership development is the goal. We want your dog to look to you for guidance, knowing they are safe, and that you ‘have their back’. We want you to feel confident in how to observe what they ‘say’, adjust, support and guide your dog. TEAMMATES!

Whether you’re just beginning your relationship journey or seeking to problem solve and/or strengthen your current relationship, our mindset is the key to successful outcomes.