Consider this: The dog's body is what the dog drives to work, so to speak. Body and mind and emotions are inextricably linked.
Our dogs cannot speak to us with words to tell us they are sore, uncomfortable, out of balance, unsure or just feeling “off.” But their bodies can and do tell us immense amounts.
This instructor-led courses focuses on a topic near & dear to Suzanne Clothier’s heart: the physical dog. She first published her award winning video, Your Athletic Dog: A Functional Approach, way back in 1995, before sports medicine was common place.
Her work as a trainer incorporates her knowledge of conformation, movement, functional assessment, and how all of these physical factors work together with behavior and performance.
Trainers will develop a new understanding of what each dog can reveal about their physical being and functional athletic ability.
This course will provide practical information on:
- Dog anatomy & conformation - why does structure matter?
- Observing functional movement - a systematic approach to assessing the dog's abilities and limitations
- What is "normal" vs the norm - frequently seen issues that should not be ignored
- Common behavior, training & performance problems & their physical roots
- Understanding exercise physiology for injury prevention, conditioning & performance
Using video, graphics, "Try It Yourself!" exercises and Q&A sessions, Suzanne will enrich your understanding of the physical dog. Your observation skills will be fine-tuned, giving you the ability to ask, "Can you?" when working with any dog, no matter what the training or performance goal may be.