Our Philosophy
ImPAWSible Possible's dog training philosophy is rooted in a deep love for both dogs and people, and our desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of each dog and family we work with. Everything we do is centered on trust, communication, mutual understanding, and purpose.
Mission
Our mission is to elevate the human-canine relationship through education, innovation, and a purpose-driven approach that combines cutting-edge science with real-world experience.
Vision
Our vision is to transform the human-canine relationship through trust, education, and shared purpose.
Our Purpose-Driven Approach
Our unique, purpose-driven approach to dog training—developed in collaboration with our friend, colleague, and fellow Canine Cyberneticist, Brian Fleming, and supported by a team of seriously cool researchers—flips the script on dog training, shifting the focus from the perspective of the observer to that of your dog. Because who knows your dog better than your dog?
Imagine being able to see the world through your dog’s eyes and practically read their mind from one moment to the next. Oh, the freedom that would come from truly understanding why they are jumping on the counter, eating poop (yuck, right?), barking at the neighbour, or getting into occasional fights at doggy daycare.
Can you imagine the possibilities for your relationship and your training? This is the power of our purpose-driven approach to dog training (and why we are so excited about it), rooted in Perceptual Control Theory (PCT).
Every dog is a one-of-a-kind, autonomous, sentient, and intelligent being who, like us, has goals and purpose! They have big-picture goals like staying safe, finding resources, and forming meaningful relationships, as well as smaller, day-to-day goals like keeping warm, staying close to their family, and remaining upright (not always easy—especially with those late-night zoomies!).
Despite what we've been told, dogs aren’t input-output machines, passively reacting to the world like a bag blowing in the wind (thanks, Brian). They are participatory agents, actively controlling their perceptions to keep their experiences aligned with their goals.
As dogs navigate life in real time, they inevitably encounter obstacles to their goals. When they perceive a mismatch between what they want or need and what’s actually happening, they take action to reduce this error. If they can’t reduce this error, that’s when training, relationship, and behaviour problems emerge—like pulling on the leash, running the other way when called, or even more serious challenges like aggression or reactivity (yikes!).
This shift in perspective from our eyes to theirs, fundamentally changes how we approach dog training and problem behaviours. It’s about seeing the world through your dog's eyes, asking different types of questions, such as “What is my dog's goal?” instead of “What is my dog doing?”, aligning your goals with theirs (and theirs with yours), clearing obstacles, and moving forward together. At its core, purpose-driven training is a shared journey—one of discovery, trust, and infinite possibilities.
