Smile!

Book excerpt: Smile! is about the energy we share with our dogs, the state of mind behind that energy, and how a better understanding of the way dogs think and communicate can provide tremendous insight into our own behavior. It is about practicing kindness, achieving clarity, dumping bad habits and finding happiness. It is about removing tension and replacing it with peace, while working on your relationships. It is about being clear in your communication and honoring pivotal differences. It is about letting go of the stuff that isn't working. And it is about teamwork. Smile! connects you with your dogs in a meaningful manner, one in which teaching and learning goes both ways. It immerses you in canine culture, and it will assist you with both easy and "difficult" dogs, in situations where one dog or many are involved. If you equate training your dog with classes, lesson plans, the need for special equipment, frustration and ultimate surrender, fear not! Smile's commonsense, in-the-moment, smile-based and canine-centric approach will be of great help, and it will bring enjoyment and meaning into your life. After all, if you aren't happy, your dog can't be his best.