Gratitude is about working with focused presence and reward. Rewards can be as simple as a comforting scratch - where does the animal love to be scratched. Food, is a another good reward but can cause anxiousness if not managed properly. A toy is another option. Whatever the reward it needs to be strong enough to increase the animal's attention on you, but not so much as to create over thinking. An animal needs to be in low level of thinking for the reward to be better understood and received.

A dog at listening level 4 would be lying down, a 3 would be lying down with head on the floor and soft eyes. For a horse, a level 4 might be if the head lowers.

After receiving an award the animal will ask for another reward. The idea is to again reduce thinking levels, through creative reaction, before giving the reward. Be patient, eventually you will reduce those thinking levels.

In repeating this reward giving, make sure the thinking levels are low enough each time.

Be aware that rewards can sometimes be too strong. You may have to gauge an appropriate reward to work with. The message is a peaceful state without 'over want' is what the animal is striving for.

To make the reward work in a co-operative way. Timing is key. Reduce the thinking levels to 5 - 3. When that is done the action that is to be rewarded can be undertaken. remember to break the action into easy steps, with regard and support. You may need to do a little verbal and physical encouraging. Don't forget to offer the 'well done'. Say it out loud. Then offer the reward.

So, to break that down. Ask and support the action, then say 'well done'. Go to the front of the animal and face them, say 'thank you', and finally give the reward. Doing it in this way keeps the flow and contains the co-operative moment to be better appreciated. This also reduces any potential over thinking from the animal in anticipating the reward.

Once the animal understands the full action and the reasons for it, they can often improve their future learning.

When working with nervous animals it helps to go slow and steady. If a horse is anxious about putting on a halter, then simply introduce the halter to the horse by getting them to touch their nose on it, and then progress from there.

Note, the animal needs to be still and calm, with thinking levels down, before the reward can be given.

When making contact with the animal, have a level of regard. Let the animal lead. If the animal moves away, you move away too.

When a horse licks, they are accepting what your are doing, or accepting the contact you are making.

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