An attempt to fathom the ocean

An attempt to fathom the ocean : This is how I have applied facilitation skills to train my 10 months old puppy, Sophie. 

My dear Sophie

In past few years, I have learned few techniques of facilitation which i applied on people and humans i.e. termed as stakeholders. These days, I am putting my facilitation skills to train my 10 months old puppy, named 'Sophie' (Labrador retriever). She is one of intelligent breeds. 

After giving her only 10 days of training, she now responds when I ask questions with limited words and I prefer to use one language so that she doesn't get confused. She now involves and participates in all activities with me. She understands few commands which she was completely aloof prior to training i.e. Sit, get up, behave, down, yes, no, go, come, fetch etc.

I have her personal training charter where I make notes whenever she wants me to understand her unfleshed behavior. I then involve myself to research, to know what her unsaid queries are; only by understanding her posters which is nothing but sometimes her dysfunctional actions. 

I underline my thoughts before I start giving her training since she still has a puppy head. After looking around at several well mannered 6 months old puppies, I have started engaging myself more with her. She used to jump on people a lot and now she is my well behaved little pup who sometimes gets delirious with joy. Now, we are one happy team. I never knew it was so simple even to apply on my pet. 

After spending 100s of dollars on dog trainers, I brought myself on board to understand the problem first. She was not learning something advanced when out with trainers once a week. Then, I deviated her to understand the purpose of training by assigning her a daily time schedule. After personally giving her few regular days training she now comes to me on her own when she is ready to go out for a walk. 

Isn't it amazing. My 10 months old puppy now shows me one happy face after I engaged myself with her little more to sort out the problem. Two things I could do, either I always keep her indoors and inside the crate or I give her freedom to choose to walk anywhere at home by her own choice. I gave her the choice to walk and talk freely. And, being free she considers herself empowered to make her own choice and decisions. Now she has my full focus as both guardian and a guide. She understands the role very clearly and reacts in the same way. 

Yes, this was facilitation which I applied on my pet and it worked. 

Summary of what I did- 

• Understand the problem well.
• Deliver the purpose of doing facilitation. 
• Use vague language
• Comprehend the power of questioning right
• Be always on time and maintain the time schedule 
• Work as a team
• Inform clearly
• Be clear of your role 
• Make charters and notes 
• Manage dysfunctional behavior
• Give focus
• Let others feel empowered

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