Skills You'll Gain
Day 1
Understand Your Influence: Recognize how your emotions and self-perception directly impact your dog's Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) levels.
Read Your Dog's Language: Learn to accurately interpret your dog's subtle cues and stress signals to better advocate for their well-being.
Cultivate Inner Calm: Develop practical techniques to manage your stress, leading to a more grounded and practical presence for your dog.
Navigate Real-World Challenges: Acquire strategies for handling frustrating scenarios with other dogs and people while protecting your emotional well-being.
Build Trust & Communication: Foster a deeper foundation of trust with your dog, improving overall communication and relationship quality.
Practice Self-Compassion: Learn to reframe negative self-talk, set realistic expectations, and build a supportive community around your dog ownership journey.
Day 2
Observe Your Competitive Impact: Understand how your body language, leash tension, and pre-routine rituals influence your dog's FAS in competitive settings.
Discern Your Dog's Emotional Responses: Learn to interpret your dog's emotional reactions to your cues and mood during competition.
Transform Nerves into Focus: Utilize powerful techniques like visualization, deep breathing, and positive self-talk to channel pre-competition jitters into productive energy.
Apply Real-Time Calm: Practice grounding exercises and calming signals to regulate emotions during and after competitions for both you and your dog.
Navigate Challenges & Grow: Develop strategies to handle unexpected setbacks, maintain a positive outlook, and learn from each experience, ensuring positive reconnection and growth for future runs.
Champion Your Dog's Well-being in Sport: Receive guidance on when to withdraw a dog from competition and how to navigate retirement, always prioritizing your dog's Quality of Life.
Valerie Bogie - Bio:
Valerie Bogie, MSSW, Veterinary Social Worker, is a dedicated advocate for improving the well-being of caregivers in the animal community. With over 20 years of experience in animal care, her extensive career includes training exotic animals in zoos and aquariums, as well as work in veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and dog training.
Like many in the animal care field, Valerie personally experienced caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue, which ultimately led her to leave what was once her dream job. This pivotal experience sparked a transformative journey when she discovered Veterinary Social Work – a vital field dedicated to supporting the human side of human-animal interactions. Recognizing firsthand the profound impact this specialized support could provide, a new passion and purpose emerged.
Today, Valerie is dedicated to raising awareness and developing vital resources for the expanding field of Veterinary Social Work. Her academic accomplishments include induction into Phi Alpha, the National Social Work Honor Society; being named a University of Tennessee Volunteer of Distinction; receiving an Award for Excellence in Service; and being chosen as a student speaker at her MSSW Hooding ceremony.
Currently, Valerie serves as the Director of Partnerships for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work (IAVSW), the Director of Human Support Services for Insight Animal Behavior Services, and offers psychoeducation and consulting through Valerie Bogie, LLC.