This presentation focuses on a topic near and 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 presentation will provide practical information on:
- Effects of structure and function on behavior, training and performance.
- Observing functional movement.
- Common behavior, training and performance problems and their physical roots.
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. Learning to read the physical dog gives the concerned, humane handler a way to be sure they can answer two of Suzanne’s Elemental Questions: “How is this for you?” and “Can you?”
The late R.K. Anderson, DVM noted that Suzanne “was the best observer of dogs that he had ever met.” Her keen eye for movement and functional athleticism is legendary and her knack for helping people see dogs in new ways shines in this presentation. Come see what dogs can tell you when you know how to really see and not just look.
