Soup And Sandwiches anyone?

I was recently asked by a client to describe exactly how an initial training consult works? I thought for a moment and then replied ' I come to your home and meet you and spend some time getting to know you and your dog, asking questions and observing how you interact with each other.. I spend time learning what your needs are and what you would like to achieve.  Together we then formulate a  training programme, unique and tailored to you and your dogs requirements. This involves me  teaching  you and your dog skills and strategies to cope with every day life and help you to implement them, by meeting with you in the big wide world on a regular basis and dealing with situations as they arise. Once we are making progress you will then have the opportunity to  link up with others who are on the same journey.'

The conversation spurred me to get on and find a name for my new learning programmes launching this month. In keeping with my workshop detective theme I wanted it to fit in with that but also be something to do with the season, I didn't want it to be too specific as I would be covering so many different aspects to cater for each individual and their dogs' needs. I thought about the things I love about this time of year - the cold crisp days, the leaves turning colour and crunching your way through them as they lay on the ground, scarves and gloves, cosy times, hot drinks and warming comfort food, soup and sandwiches......

Soup And Sandwiches make a perfect lunch at this time of year and yet in today's busy society how often do we make do with the fast food option on the go. We buy a cuppa soup and a dry sandwich and end up disappointed because we are permanently in a rush and we have no time to spend savouring food, never mind following recipes and cooking for ourselves. Homemade soup can be an indulgent dish with all your favourite ingredients and seasoned to taste if you have time and enjoy cooking, and you can't beat a home made sandwich on fresh bread with your most loved combinations that you fancy at the time if you have everything you need in the cupboard to make it and oh yes, the time. Sometimes I  compromise and enjoy Heinz Tomato Soup and a cheddar and raw onion sandwich on brown bread, even that requires waiting around for the microwave to ping or heating up on the stove.

Time is something we need to grab back for ourselves, for our families and for our dogs. Taking time out to spend quality time teaching your dog the skills they need to become a well rounded member of todays society is sometimes really hard. Supposing I said in the time it takes you to heat a tin of soup and make a sandwich you could learn a skill with your dog that will help you when you are out and about.  Just  like making a soup, and adding ingredients to our taste, we could add to that one skill, other skills that work with what you would like to achieve and eventually we would have a recipe that satisfies you and your dog and sustains you when the going gets tough. 

Eating can be a social event so when you have mastered your recipe the possibilities are endless and by putting the right menu together you can dine out with friends on a regular basis. So, others that are on the same journey with their dogs, and have added the ingredients that work for them and created a recipe that they enjoy can then share their menu with you and vice versa.

The autumn and winter months are brilliant for learning and practising new skills at home with your dog, skills that you can perfect and polish and joining together with like minded people on that same journey is part of cementing the learning.

If you are an existing client or have worked with me before or would like to join us in Soup And Sandwiches and learn as part of the  S.A.S. TEAM aka Skills And Strategies - Teaching Empowering And Motivating I will be only to pleased to explain in more detail. 

Please email me rachel@fourpawslearning.co.uk  or phone 07779 289913 for more information.

​