THE BOND
One of the most fundamental of bricks is building the foundation of the training process. Training reflects the ultimate strength of your relationship with your animal and describes the process of fastening firmly together; just like a seat belt, providing safety, security, and trust. It vastly supports the understanding, acceptance, and execution of commands. Each individual learns the expressions of the other’s body and for the animal it is the ultimate way of building trust and confidence for decision making, negotiating and accepting leadership, and determining followership. It is something very natural and not build upon their ability to necessarily be intellectual by having to connect the dots. In fact, it is quite a phenomenon and truly a sensation to realize the animal’s foremost intuitive and emotional choice to establish that bond with a human, a creature so different from their own.
In dog training there is a great possibility and opportunity to form and shape that bond, unlike in working with horses which is a much more difficult endeavor based on enough factors to fill another library. One fact is that the individuals involved are both of predatory nature and on a basic level they can read and understand each other quite well. If the human then allows the very simple flow of connecting energy to happen and is willing to adopt a caregiver and a remote follower role when it is necessary, instead of foremost looking as their partner as something to plainly dominate to enrich their own personalities, then there is success.
There are particular times when the dog’s dynamics demonstrate that they are not always perfectly under control. This plays into the relationship because the bond can become unbuckled. Humans emotions and their not always rationalized desires are almost always the cause but also influences that create anxiety- or fear-driven instinctive reactions (predator vs. prey) in your animal can lead to that particular outcome. The work within those challenges, the quality of self control, ability of correct assessments, and body language readings becomes of tremendous importance. The quality of your bond now must pass the litmus test. Its foundation enters a whole new level of meaning when it is able to overcome damaging conditions that can impact the progress of the training.
By describing our journey which originated from decades of previous related experiences from animal (horse) training, studies, reference positions, and body readings, we strive to describe our bond with all its ups and downs as well as give incentives, ideas, and philosophical groundwork for those that, like us, never rest in their quest to design the very best with what they have.
Below are images of the original bonding stages taken shortly after Bernhardt’s initial rescue in early March of 2018. He was in a poor condition at that time yet I find tremendous value in the documentation of this step-by step-approach: the tiny steps forward that he made, the very fragile state of mind in which he must have been, and truly what a giant he has become.
“Let’s see what you are about…” 
“Seems safe enough under your house…” 
“Just hanging out, seeing whether we can do something…” 
“It’s safe enough to rest right here…” 
“Come on, let’s play a game together!” 
“Okay then, we can do this… together!”
ANIMAL COMMUNICATION
The essential road to success! Bringing out the best in your training partner and to really be competitive, you must be able to read and also understand what your animal is telling you. Every single move you make, every physical contact or gesture, and every word you say turns into training. It all has a result, whether you want it or not. Your animal reads you and your body language as well on any contact and applies natural-given strong instincts to respond.
There is no delegation of your communication skills towards third parties. In the end, nobody can train, produce, or repair for you. This is because all training patterns are based on the individual bond. However, outside information can change patterns based upon correct evaluation of that bond.
It takes a few things: sensitivity, the willingness and commitment to form a team, a sharp and observant analytical mind, respect for your partner, and the realization that force never creates something competitive nor does the result ever look naturally beautiful. The worst training mechanism is fear – on either side. Unfortunately, fear comes in many forms.
A good animal communicator is an artist with a special mind. The skill comes as natural as all the protégés with their secret lives, thoughts, feelings and wisdom. One simply has to allow the flow.
The secret of getting the absolute most out of your training: play and ease. The repetition of experimental play without drilling repetition or boredom. The outcome must make your partner feel good to the best of their current ability as well as match your current skill and expertise level.
Animal training is not about you, ever! It is about you being the directing artist, being an invisible and exciting part of it. Only then can you create beauty and power. Only those that eventually can do this will see beauty in mediocrity and perfection in the end. For those with this talent, that will be the ultimate reward.
