I made the big shift from an IT User Experience Design career to become a dog behaviour training professional in 2013.
Still a geek at heart, I am always curious, and continue to improve my understanding and skills. By taking professional courses, attending conferences and participating in practical, hands-on dog training workshops, I was able to qualify as a certified puppy class instructor (PCI) and a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA and PDT).
But then... I read Kim Brophey's book - "Meet You Dog". I discovered a different way of looking at the human-dog bond and dog behaviour: an applied ethology lens.
This inter-disciplinary science made complete sense to me. It filled gaps in my knowledge that helped me to connect the dots of "WHY" dogs do what they do. That depth of understanding starts with recognising who dogs are as a species, and how dogs and humans developed a unique partnership. Kim Brophey's Family Dog Mediation® approach has proven to be most effective at preventing and resolving common puppy parenting challenges and dog behaviour problems. Family Dog Mediation® encourages mutual understanding between our species, and it seeks to nurture our ancient dog-human bond.
In addition, applied ethology, also considers how we can improve dog welfare, resulting from negative stressors due to the restricted and captive lives our family dogs now experience. An applied ethology lens goes well beyond dog training. It helps dog carers bridge the knowledge gap between nature and nurture, and has the potential to create a paradigm shift towards a more ecologically literate human culture. A culture where we rediscover our connection to the natural world, to experience awe, reverence and a humbling, deep love for nature again.
So, when Kim Brophey launched her Family Dog Mediation® course for dog professionals, I jumped in to qualify as a Certified Family Dog Mediator® FDM
Family Dog Mediation® encourages curiosity: "WHO ARE YOU?", "WHY DID YOU DO THAT?", in order to better sunderstand our puppy as and individual of a remarkable, social species. As a certified FDM I assess the situation with a holistic, applied ethology lens, and aim to take into account all four L.E.G.S.® of your dog's individual experience. This informs us on what might be going on. What the dog's emotional experience is. Together we look for an approach that can prevent or resolve human-dog conflict, by relieving stress-related behaviours... on both ends of this inter-species relationship.
"Train the dog" is not always the anwswer. Start by meeting your dog and truely seeing them for who they are.
