It is easy to dismiss the animal kingdom as not being nearly as important as humanity, but animal trainer Gabrielle Harris begs to differ and explains how humanity can learn from the animal kingdom and make the world a better place for all to live in.
Animal behaviour has interested and perplexed humanity for centuries and a desire to understand why animals do what they do has resulted in vast amounts of research being conducted on the topic. Having been an animal trainer since 1990 and being surrounded by animals her entire life, Gabrielle Harris offers a new and astonishing way of viewing animal behaviour and what humanity can learn from the animal kingdom if they simply remove the science and open their hearts.

Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction

Chapter One: Leadership – Giving and Receiving
Leaders with whom we wish to be associated; pecking order misconceptions; playing is being present; personal belief systems; listening; leadership vs dominance.

Chapter Two: Developing leadership qualities in ourselves
Mean yes when you say yes; Be clear that the gift is deserving; A good leader is a reward in action; Simple is effective; Justice will be done so be fair; The role of body language and posture; We get what we give; Grey is confusing – black or white is clear; Little tricks of the trade; Feel it; Quality of your attention; Taking responsibility for our actions; Play, play, play

Chapter Three: Sensorial animal oneness
Awareness alone; Training trainers to be confident; Managing the dynamic of a group; Trust in the relationship.

Chapter Four: Why we do what we do – expressing who we really are
Chapter Five: The Power of Choice – Free will
Chapter Six: Responsibility – Cause and Effect
Chapter Seven: It is not always as it seems: beliefs and illusions
Chapter Eight: Intuition and feeling
So do you have to be a witch or a wizard to do this?
Chapter Nine: Developing your potential to be intuitive
Chapter Ten: Comfort and Discomfort
Chapter Eleven: Listening to the signs – mutual support
Chapter Twelve: Animals reflect our inner state – the mirror principle
Children and Confidence
Chapter Thirteen: Being Clear – non-judgement
Limiting potential with judgement
Chapter Fourteen: Intention – The Universe Handles the Details
Chapter Fifteen: What we focus on expands
Chapter Sixteen: Ego – Friend or Foe?
What is being present all about?; What causes us to lose the moment?; Subject consciousness; Object consciousness; Leadership vs dominance – which style is self-aware?; Inter-human ego; What we can do to overcome and diminish ego?; Responsibility and accountability; Tell the truth about what we do; Leaders; Negative re-inforcement; End on a positive note; Least reinforcing scenario; Questioning Trainer Motivation; Empathy vs Anthropomorphism; Don’t get lost in the bridge – Go with the Flow; Natural behaviour – Motivator and tool; Four Step Plan – SLAM principle; Animal traning is a lesson in self-awareness; Mirror Principle; It is just feedback; Ego triggers; What we focus on expands; We can only control ourselves; accountability and responsibility; Teaching us to feel; Building trust
Conclusion
Appendix
Introduction to Behaviour Modification Theory

Gabrielle Harris lives in Drummond KwaZulu Natal on a plot that she shares with a menagerie of animal souls, her children, Zac and Kai and husband Darryl. She has worked as a professional animal trainer since 1990, with dolphins, seals and penguins (and sometimes fish) at Sea World, and is also a trainer with Horse Gentlers International. She has consulted at a number of facilities, and presents animal training workshops. One of her favourite pastimes apart from being with animals is listening and appreciating her son’s rocking talents.