The 7 C'S: Thoughts On Training & Relationships

By Suzanne Clothier

Since it first appeared in the Camp Dances With Dogs workbook, this charming little booklet has been a favorite with Suzanne's fans. This humorous, thoughtful look at seven key points of a healthy relationship has even been used as a handout by Dr. Helen Greven during her 1996 lecture for the International Society of Psychodramatists.

Clothier examines these 7 key points of the dog/human relationship: creativity, consistency, communication, congruency, condition, clarity and confidence.

Where else will you find a discussion of dogs & people sprinkled with quotes from Shakespeare, George Burns and Cool Hand Luke?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flying Dog Press
• Release date: Apr 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9780976548973

Book preview

1

The Seven Cs

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As I drove home through the dark night, he reached out to hold my hand with gentle pressure, pressing his body against mine, his breathing soft and regular as he dozed, tired from the hours we had spent on the mountain searching for a lost boy. The occasional passing truck momentarily lighted his fur, outlining briefly this young German Shepherd who was my partner in Search and Rescue.

When I whispered to him how very proud I was of him, his toes tightened slightly on my hand, acknowledging my comment though he did not stir. At that moment, cold and wet and tired, peering through the fog to the road that led home, I felt deeply the powerful connection between myself and Chilkat, and the wonder of an exceptional relationship with an exceptional dog.

I though about the dogs that had come before Chilkat, and all that they had taught me, and all the mistakes I had made. Arrogant, selfish, demanding, unfair, even cruel at times – in such a stumbling fashion I have moved through my years and relationships with dogs, searching for the methods, attitudes, understanding and self-knowledge that would light the way to just this moment where a dog reached out a paw to hold my hand as he slept. To this moment where Chilkat and I met, however briefly, in a place where perfect understanding existed between us, leaving him superbly canine and me fully human. I have been blessed with many such moments with many dogs.

As a professional trainer, it is my job