Barking Orders

Cesar Millan is a well-known dog trainer and formerly the star of an Emmy-nominated TV show which ran for eight years.

The show, The Dog Whisperer, focused on Cesar’s seemingly effortless ability to communicate with chaotic, often aggressively-behaved, dogs.

Though Cesar would speak to the animals audibly, his effectiveness was less a product of what he said so much as how he said it and what he did when he spoke.

As you might expect, what resonates with dogs is different than what resonates with people. For example, a slight tilt of the head is a physical cue that may disarm and placate a dog, which is a response that frantically screaming “stop chewing that!” may perhaps not illicit.

Cesar’s success comes from the fact that he does not try to communication with dogs the same way he would with people. He uses the communication language most effective with his audience: dogs.

More consequentially, the same principles used by Cesar are actually being used in settings of human development. Specifically, autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Since one of the many problems that people with ASD deal with is the management of their own physicality, particularly, the challenges of self soothing, professionals have found that through the use of movement and rhythm therapy, effectively, teaching those with ASD how to dance and relate to music, they have been able to positively impact the behaviour and social anxiety of those treated.

Effective communication requires two primary things: understanding what method resonates with the intended audience and using that method so that your idea can be translated most effectively.

At Thompson Investment Partners our top priority is you: hearing you out, understanding what is important to you and ensuring we take the time to speak your language.

Let's start the conversation.