I am a holistic dog parenting coach inspired and educated by Turid Rugaas, the internationally known dog trainer and author from Norway.


My aim is to help humans care for dogs through education and ‘pawsitive’ experiences. I offer dog consultations at my home and on walks with dog & owner.

Philosophy:

I would like to bring the same simplicity and joy that we experienced as children with our dogs to adult dog *parents. We know the common sense way to be with our dogs but sometimes we get confused because so many ‘experts’ tell us otherwise. It is not necessary to control our dogs in the sense of total obedience but rather have a relationship where we communicate effectively with our dog. By learning about dog body language and using our own body language in a way that dogs can follow, dog parents will feel a tremendous sense of relief when communication between themselves and their dog becomes clearer.

When I say dog *’parents’ I mean this in the sense of being responsible for our dogs and providing basic needs (food, water, sleep, the chance to toilet and social interaction), love and extras like mental stimulation, fostering self-confidence and a sense of well-being and happiness. Unless a puppy, a dog is an adult within its own species and should be treated with respect, not as a small child. Dogs can teach us so much and they often know the right thing to do.

The inspiration for my business name, Head, Heart, Hands and Paws came from a talk that Turid Rugaas gave at the Pet Dog Trainers of Europe (PDTE) AGM in October, 2015. As I have studied Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy of teaching, which also mentions using the holistic practice of head, heart and hands in educating children, my ears perked up when Turid started speaking. Many of us approach life and learning with preconceived ideas and habits. Turid’s talk, as I understood it, asked us as dog trainers and her students, to observe each new dog afresh, with all of our senses.

When I work with you and your dog, I will be following Turid’s sage advice. I will try to take in everything about your dog, from his/her health/mobility, response to current training methods, relationship with other dogs or humans in the household. I will observe your dog’s body language while he/she is moving, resting and exploring. It’s details and the big picture I am looking for.

Sometimes dog’s lives can improve with the smallest change. My own dog, Nash (Cairn Terrier), will always pull the opposite way on leash if he is not given slack on the leash. If I give him slack, and use my body to show him which direction I’d like to walk in, he is almost always willing to follow. Many times, I let him lead the way to build his confidence. Other times, the changes are more profound. As a rescue dog, Nash is very sensitive to noise, so we have had to ‘pad’ our entire house with softness from tablecloths to rugs. We are careful not to clap, slam doors and to play loud music. He’s getting better all of the time!

As I work with each new dog and his/her family, I use all of my senses and my heart because it’s important to have empathy and really try to feel what a dog may be experiencing and reflect this to the humans around him/her. It is my job to get it right. If I can change the dog’s life for the better, the humans will also benefit positively. This is what I call ‘working together’ with you and your dog, with my head, heart and hands.

I am a current associate member of The Pet Dog Trainers of Europe (www.pdte.eu/).

Laura