Enlightened By Dogs With Kathy Kawalec

Kathy Kawalec shares an intimate story about her border collie Maya, who had been rejected by three homes by the time she was six months old. Maya was labeled "untrainable" due to her uncontrollable and dangerous chasing habits. Experienced trainers struggled with her, but Kathy approached the situation differently. Instead of focusing on training specific behaviors, Kathy prioritized establishing a strong foundation with Maya, emphasizing these key partnership principles: Role modeling: Showing Maya the norms of living as a family and helping her adapt through classical conditioning. Meeting Maya's needs: Ensuring she felt heard, had a sense of belonging, and felt she was contributing to the family. Building trust: Not setting timelines for Maya's progress, but taking things day by day. Decision-making: Using the clarity framework to guide choices, based on trust and desired outcomes. The Partnership Dance Steps: Incorporating dance steps into their daily activities to foster connection and communi