Puppy Adventure with Eva Bodfäldt

Eva Bodfäldt is, in my opinion, the most outstanding Dog psychologist/trainer I have worked with, her ideas and views correspond to my vision of life with a dog.

She makes it a fun adventure, full of laughs and humour. She works around our personalities as individuals to form a team, handler and dog, towards a stronger bond and mutual understanding.

This famous, cool (so they say) dog trainer (and Veronica’s friend) Eva Bodfäldt is coming to stay with us. It’s a joint venture, fun, friendship and puppy training.

We’ll see about the fun…for me…I won’t judge until this is over.

To say that Veronica is a fan is an understatement! She’s a groupie! She’s been following Eva’s ideas since 2002, after having read her book. “Kontaktkontraktet” (Follow me”).

That was way before she actually met her. As always, she blabs to everyone, the whole Swiss dog community has probably heard about Eva.

We pick up Eva at the airport. And listen to this: She greeted me first! Yes, THE famous Eva sat on the ground and cuddled with me way before she hugged Veronica! Ha!

Some people know how to prioritise!

We immediately bonded, look at us.

Eva started the training. Short 5 minutes sessions. On the program: the reward system, dog encounters, walking on the leash, tattling… among others.

Turns out I’m not the only pupil here, Veronica needs to learn the tricks of the trade.

I really got into the whole reward system: “Gott”, (Treat), “Bus”, (Fun, Play), “Japp” (Yes, treat thrown) and of course “Bra”, (good):

It’s like a magic box, you never know what’ll come next?

Veronica thinks I have a tendency to get a little “over enthusiastic”, Eva’s “Ryggsäcken” (The back pack), is suppose to calm me.

Veronica takes me between her legs, strokes me gently. Without knowing how I got drowsy, and wanted to sleep…damn that’s efficient. I did not see that coming.

Eva showed Veronica a fun way to manage dog encounters, she made me search for goodies. I was too busy to even think about the dog.

The dog on the other hand, was like “Oh she’s busy, let’s move on”.

Some say tattling is bad behaviour. Not Eva. She actually want us dogs to tattle on anything around us, a dog, a jogger, a horse etc… and what’s more, we get rewarded for it.

Here, I’m telling Veronica “Look, there’s a dog over there by the bench”. I get rewarded from the magic box, “Gott”, “Bus”.?…Who knows…

We have trained coming in for my treat, on the left side, between Veronica’s leg and hand. Apparently it’s preparation for heel work.

I rock!

A walk has become an adventure. Each time I look at Veronica something happens. What will come next?

A bravo, or a treasure hunt?

A little “bus”?

Crazy Veronica dance? It’s so much fun. I’m too busy to keep an eye on Veronica to even think about pulling on the leash.

To wind down Veronica gently strokes me under my chin, and with a “Japp” (a treat flying to the ground) I let go of the toy.

On the tattling front, I’m a master, I’m like a hawk searching for its prey. Ok, Ok, guess that’s a little stretch, but I’m a very promising student.

I thought that training meant being all serious.

When Veronica makes a silly mistake, and trust me, she does. (like tripping on her own feet, or saying “Gott”, when she means “Bus”), you’d think she’d look annoyed.

Oh no, she laughs, about her silliness, what’s more Eva laughs too…Actually there’s a fun, merry atmosphere all along.

Eva and Veronica had decided to go to a cafe in town, with me. Duh, I’m the star here. I have, however, noticed that they talk about a lot of other stuff, not dogs, not even me,

I find that a little unsettling, I think it should be ALL about me!

I love this place. It’s full of people and look at me. I’m the perfect example of “how dogs should behave in cafes”. I’m actually amazed at myself.

Veronica kind of ignores me, she strokes me and every once and a while a treat is dropped in front of my nose.

At the end of the day, I’m exhausted, (Veronica too I think). Challenging our intellect is tiring. Don’t get me wrong, I love the training.

Can’t wait to get back out there for more.

Alas the days pass too quickly and it’s time to say farewell. I love Eva, she’s the best. Training with her is like a fun, magic, treasure hunt.

Veronica is right, Eva is wonderful, amazing, sweet, funny…oh oh… Yeah, no point beating around the bush…it’s official;

I’m an Eva Bodfäldt groupie!

Eva’s words: “Jag träffar alltför många raser för att bli en rasnörd. Jag fastnar för personligheter. Om jag hade haft möjlighet hade jag till dags dato ägt en schäfer- en magnifik enögd kung, en borzoi- galet busig och helt underbar, en amstaff- kärlek vid första ögonkastet mellan oss båda och en kines- den mest intelligenta, smarta och den mest tjuvaktiga av hundar. Och nu….lilla Helga- hunden med sammet i själen och bus i blicken. Lycka till Veronica!“

It’s been a great pleasure to start my journey with Helga under Eva’s guidance. Her sense of humor, her ideas, her warm and generous personality makes the training not only fun but easy.

Tack Eva

I recommend anyone interested to read Eva’s books, attend a workshop or buy an online course. It’s most inspiring.

_HEM