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Hey Dog Pro, Have You Noticed the Elephant in the Room

That quiet tension that's always lurking in your work with dogs and people.

You know the feeling.

The tug-of-war between:

  • Theory and practice
  • Science and intuition
  • Expectations and reality
  • Complexity and simplicity
  • Linear and non-linear thinking



And then there are all the models, and all the lenses:

  • Ethology
  • Learning theory
  • Attachment theory
  • Cognition
  • Neuroscience


Each of these lenses holds an important piece of the puzzle.

But in the moment with a real dog and a real human in front of you, it’s not always clear:

  • Which tool do I use now?
  • Which lens fits this situation?
  • How does it all come together in practice?


In my experience, the weight of the elephant can be crushing and lead to:

  • Burnout.
  • Overwhelm.
  • Confusion.
  • Frustration.
  • Self-doubt.
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of passion.
  • Imposter syndrome.


I Lived With the Elephant (and it almost took me out!)


It came to me in the most unexpected way - the day I rescued my now late dog, Mouse, from the Bow Valley SPCA in Canmore, Alberta. He had spent 1.5 of his first 2 years there, after being found on a “walkabout” near the Trans-Canada Highway at just six months old.

It didn’t take long before I found myself crushed under the weight of an elephant I didn’t yet have a name for. A constant tension between who Mouse was and who I wanted him to be. I became his enemy, not his ally.

His seemingly endless list of behaviour challenges including separation anxiety, aggression, jumpy, and jumpy mouthy behaviour became a source of constant embarrassment and disappointment for me. 

Despite all of my education, and my efforts to train and “fix” him, behaviour modification only got us so far. Sure, things improved a little over time, but it always felt like we were just treading water.

I was drowning.

That same tension followed me into my professional work. There was this constant conflict between theory and practice. Between the linear models I had been taught and the messy, non-linear reality of behavior. Between neat categories of behaviors like "separation anxiety", "reactivity" and "resource guarding" and the tangled web of emotions, history, relationships, and context that actually shaped what I was seeing.

  • I thought it was me.
  • I wasn’t good enough.
  • I didn’t know the science well enough.
  • My skills weren’t where they needed to be. 
  • I almost left the industry.

And then something shifted...

I started to see Mouse, and his behaviors a new light. I started to see them the context of the whole. 

Not just as problems to fix, but as part of a living, breathing system.

I started to notice the web of relationships. The invisible threads tying everything (his aggression, separation anxiety and hyper-arousal) together. The constant ebbs and flows e.g., approach and retreat and excitement and calm.

  • I learned to pause.
  • To listen.
  • To be present.
  • I started to see Mouse.
  • I learned to work with the system, not against it.

And over time began to understand something that changed everything:

The solution isn’t outside the system. It emerges from within it. When the system doesn't have a solution, or when the system is being pulled in different directions by opposing goals, there is conflict. Within that conflict there is opportunity...

And that’s when everything began to shift.

Introducing Pooch Peacebuilding

This work is a true labor of love, born from my lived experience with Mouse (and subsequently thousands of dogs and clients). It brings together systems theory, peace and conflict studies, relational holon theory, and systems research methodology into a living, breathing philosophy and practice that helps dogs and people live peacefully together.

While the heart and soul of this work is my love for both dogs and people, as someone with a deep commitment to science, this work is in the process of being published academically too. 

In this course, dog professionals will learn:

  • How to see the whole system e.g., the dog and the behaviour in context.
  • How to sense and detect the natural dynamics and ebbs and flows within the system.
  • The universal logic (pattern) that underlies all systems!
  • Disciplines to implement in daily practice to become generative peacebuilders in your work.
  • How to think and problem-solve in a way that mirrors the nature of the system itself with the help of systems research methodology.
  • How to support dogs and people in a way that fosters growth and learning from within the system (no more burnout and feeling like you’re carrying the load).
  • How to co-create training plans for any behaviour your clients and their dogs will love.
  • How to integrate all of your knowledge, experience, and what makes you uniquely awesome into your practice.
  • How to face the elephants in the room and leverage them as catalysts for growth.

This course gives you freedom outside of the training boxes (though you can still apply those, too!). It will help you carve a path to transformation through the messiness of life with dogs and people and make a meaningful difference in your practice.

Course curriculum

Course curriculum in progress

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About this course

  • $720.00

What You'll Learn

  • To see and assess the whole human-canine system in context.

  • The four essential disciplines of generative peacebuilding

  • To problem solve in real-time with the help of systems research methodology

  • To detect and monitor the natural ebbs and flow of peace and conflict in the human-canine system

  • The universal logic of systems (think of this like a life and dog training cheat code!)

Benefits

  • See the big picture (dog and behavior in context!)

  • Create lasting, sustainable change.

  • Navigate conflict with confidence.

  • Simplify complexity (aha moments!)

  • Expert coaching and mentorship with Cat.

  • Renew your passion and purpose!

Testimonials

“Behavior is incredibly complex, and as professionals working with clients and their dogs, Pooch Peacekeeping breaks down this complexity, providing a clear framework to navigate the layers and considerations involved. It supports positive growth and connection by empowering natural, organic solutions. Each layer of the course uncovers new insights, patterns, and moments of alignment, connecting real-world experiences with deeper understanding. It explains the systems that shape us, our dogs, and the world around us, offering practical ‘maps’ or ‘guardrails’ to see more deeply and expansively. The course teaches us to observe interactions through multiple lenses and reflect on our observations. These ‘maps’ help us navigate the complexities of behavior, giving us room to grow both personally and professionally. This growth, in turn, enables us to support our clients (both human and dog) in their own development. By integrating systems thinking into our work, the course empowers us to provide natural solutions for the challenges clients face, fostering harmony in their relationships rather than relying on traditional, non-organic interventions that often lead to dependence and roadblocks. ”

“"This course has been so life-changing, not only professionally but personally. It's truly been beyond my wildest imagination. This course has not only solidified and revolutionized my already deep understanding of dog behavior, but it's also been absolutely life-changing in my personal life—a ripple effect I did not see coming! There is so much of this course that has felt like a soothing balm on all of the things that once confused me or overwhelmed me when it came to thinking about, talking about, and learning about conflict, motivation, and behavior—in humans and dogs! Cat's incredible breadth of knowledge and her ability to connect the dots on such a large scale has been wonderfully insightful and inspiring. This course is fueling, for me, a long career in the dog behavior consulting and dog training industry and a deeper understanding of the intricacies of life itself. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this! I am so grateful to have found this course. You will not regret diving into this work!"”

“It’s a brilliant course, truly a game-changer and a must-have for all dog professionals.”