The First Principle: Creative Reaction - Becoming peaceful together
Creating calmness (Present Moment)
This principle forms the basis of the work. Here we help our animals to reduce their thinking levels and become calm by switching between calmness and attention. The fact that we share feelings with each other is deliberately used here. We lower our own thinking levels with a simple exercise, create a calm atmosphere and then invite our animal to join us. And of course there can be many reasons why our animal cannot get involved with calmness at the moment. Interestingly enough, calmness can bring restlessness to the surface, which in the case of a dog, for example, manifests itself in running around, barking, whining or scratching.
The key: Mindful Regard – attentive observation
And here comes the heart of the Trust Technique: as soon as the animal shows that it cannot engage in calmness and shows restlessness, we give the animal all the time and space to express this restlessness, while we observe it with undivided, non-judgemental attention - with Mindful Regard.
As soon as the animal comes to rest, we also go back to our rest. And so begins an interplay between rest and attentive observation. If we remain peaceful, patient and persistent, we not only give the animal the opportunity to let go of nervousness and fear. In a peaceful state of mind, it is then also possible for the animal to listen, trust and learn.
We cannot make our animals trust, but we can give them the right framework in which they can find their trust again themselves.
The Second Principle: Realisation Learning - Developing new perspectives
When we increasingly trust and understand each other, when our animal recognises us as a source of peace and when we have learned to become peaceful together, it is time to take it to a new level.
Change reaction patterns
At this level the 1st principle is applied in a challenging situation. We always help our animals to calm down after a stressful situation. This allows them to see the situation from a different perspective over time and learn to react differently. For example, if a dog reacts aggressively to other dogs outside, the owner can help the dog to calm down immediately after such an encounter by applying the 1st principle (calm down together). If this is repeated after every encounter with other dogs, the excitement can subside over time and the dog can learn to react differently towards other dogs, because it can assess the situation better in peace.
The prerequisite for this is, of course, that the first principle, becoming down together - Creative Reaction, has become a familiar exercise.
The Third Principle: Trusted Cooperation – In a peaceful relationship trust and confidence can grow
The connection to our animals can deepen over time so that an intuitive understanding, an intuitive communication becomes possible. Understanding goes far beyond words and body language and it can happen more and more often that we perceive each other's thoughts and feelings directly. Living together and cooperating with animals is redefined here as a deep connection based on respect, mutual listening and deep mutual trust.