Kevin Behan's upbringing on a rural Connecticut farm, surrounded by nature and dogs, provided a unique foundation for his work. Observing his father's pioneering dog training initiatives, Behan gained an early, non-judgmental understanding of canine behavior. Through careful observation of nature and influenced by European training methods, he developed Natural Dog Training in the 1980s. This approach emphasizes a dog's cooperative instincts rather than dominance hierarchies, revolutionizing training techniques. Behan is now a leading expert in rehabilitating aggressive and problematic dogs, exploring themes of energy, emotion, and instinct in his widely influential articles and lectures.
Describes a model for understanding canine behavior based on the premise that dog and owner form a group mind and that when a dog behaves in a certain manner it is reacting to the emotions the owner is feeling.