Staying Open, Curious, and True to Our Ethics

pdteinfo
1 hour ago
2 min read

As PDTE members, we share an ethical path that invites us to meet dogs with love, respect, kindness, and a steady readiness to keep learning. That shared path also connects us to one another. Our ongoing learning is not only personal, it strengthens the cohesion within our group.

When we grow, observe, and reflect together, we stay aligned, supportive, and true to the spirit of the PDTE, just as Turid intended when she founded it.

Learning is not a burden; it is a quiet gift. Each new insight reminds us that our understanding of dogs is alive and deepening as we observe, listen more closely and respond accordingly. Growing doesn’t erase what came before; it simply shows that we care enough to keep evolving.

We’ve chosen not to follow the old, rigid ways of thinking. Instead, we stay present, we soften, we notice, and we allow the dog in front of us to guide the pace. Curiosity sits at the centre of that. We often say: “a curious dog is a healthy dog”, the same is true for us. When we stay curious, we remain open, engaged, and anchored in and by our ethics, rather than drifting back to habits that no longer serve dogs or humans.

And as we keep our minds open, we also strengthen the way we support one another professionally, sharing observations, insights, and gentle reminders that help us all stay on course.

The world changes, and dogs keep teaching us, sometimes in whispers, sometimes in clearer signals and sometimes by “shouting” at us, it is up to us to take the time to observe, listen and respond.

So let’s keep our minds open, our hearts soft, and our curiosity alive. It keeps us healthy, grounded, cohesive as a group, and ready to meet each dog and each person with the warmth and respect they deserve.