Dear friend,
Unprecedented recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI)…
A constantly changing publishing landscape…
Delays caused by new and sometimes unclear manuscript requirements…
These were only a few of the many challenges I encountered on the road to publishing my book, The Way of Life Method: How to Heal Your Relationship with Your Dog and Raise a Sound, Strong, and Spirited Companion (At Any Age).
I’m going to let you in on a secret: up until the day before launch, I wasn’t sure I’d have the books in time for my weekend events. I was dangerously close to having a book signing without books!! You can imagine the level of stress and embarrassment…
It was tight—but we made it. People anywhere in the world can now order, read, and reflect on The Way of Life Method. I say “we” because this book was possible thanks to you.
Not only that, but only one week after launch, and thanks to your extraordinary support and validation, The Way of Life Method hit #1 Best Seller on Amazon in FOUR categories:
#1 in Dog Care & Health
#1 in Dog Training
#1 in Animal Behavior & Communication
#1 in Dog Breeds
I am told by my team at Book Launchers that the status on Amazon changes by the hour so let’s keep the momentum going and get The Way of Life Method back up there again, and for as long as possible!
Recommend the book to your family and friends. Post and share about the book. Review the book online. Suggest the book to your local library or favorite indie bookstore. These are a few of the ways you can help get the word out.
All of you—from subscribers I haven’t met yet to coaching clients working closely with me—are my Way of Life Family. I cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done to support me in this endeavor and help make this launch such a beautiful success.
Now for a few updates!
On launch day, I held an exclusive ask-me-anything (AMA) session with my Book Pack members to thank them for their willingness to read my book and write the early reviews that drove its momentum.
The AMA was followed by a Facebook Live event attended by more than 30 people, most of whom stayed all the way to the end! At both events, I spoke about Way of Life, shared behind-the-scenes tidbits about writing and publishing the book, answered a variety of questions, and read from the book.
On the weekend, I held a convivial talk and book signing at the gorgeous Unique Books Inc., an independent bookstore owned by a lovely lady I went to university with (small world!).
Later that evening, I was joined by clients, friends, and supporters for an invitation-only celebration at the Olde Stone Cottage pub, a local favorite. Check out the pics below! To say that I feel blessed is an understatement.
Now for this month’s newsletter…
- In Book Updates, you’ll find out which retailers are selling The Way of Life Method and learn amazing audiobook news.
- In Events, you’ll find out about my upcoming table sale, a seminar, and my booth at the Toronto Christmas Pet Expo!
- In Paws for the Camera, I share a moving testimonial from clients I met in the most serendipitous way, with a happy ending for all.
- In Reflecting on Our Bond, I invite you to consider setbacks as part of your journey and opportunities for deeper and faster progress.
- InAsk Way of Life, I counsel a client frustrated with her dog’s behavior but aware that she needs help.
- In Seasonal Suggestion, you’ll find out about All Creatures Great and Small, an independent pet boutique in Cobourg, Ontario, which I hope you’ll check out.
You’ll also see that the format of the newsletter is changing. To make the newsletter shorter and less cluttered, you’ll now find previews of the articles, with links to the Way of Life website for the full read.
Even if you’re starting to feel the holiday hustle, I hope you can create pockets of time to curl up with a warm drink and your personal copy of The Way of Life Method.
Speaking of the holiday season, we’ve made it into Modern Dog Magazine’s Holiday Gift Guide! Check it out here and consider The Way of Life Method for your dog loving friends and family.
For readers in the US, I also wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Everyone, be well and I’ll be back in your inbox in no time!
Warmly,
~ Souha & Dogs
PS: For those of you who have the book in your hands, how is your read coming along? How does it feel to hold the book and read it in hard copy? I would love to see what the book looks like in your home and in your hands, so please reply to this email with a pic, send it to us via FB messenger, or post about it on social media and tag us!
PPS: I hope that you’ll be posting your review soon! Now that the book is on major retailer sites, I encourage you to go directly to Amazon and/or your favorite bookseller to leave your review. We’re aiming for 25 reviews by end of November, so please help us reach that goal!
Praise For The Way Of Life Method
It’s refreshing to see a book about dog behaviour that does not focus on training but reveals a deeper understanding of their psychological condition and needs. The Way of Life Method shows the importance of understanding a behaviour from the dog’s perspective in order to correct it. Dr Ezzedeen’s straightforward approach is designed to build a foundation of trust and confidence for our dogs to enable them to live their best lives. All dog lovers should read this book.~
~Dr. Ian Buffett DVM
(Veterinarian)
Souha has a sincere appreciation and understanding that dogs know, so very well, how to be a dog and in order for us to enjoy them at their best we need to listen to what they are communicating to us and our training be guided by this source. She provides many common examples of problems that people run into with their dogs then sets out a detailed plan for the owner to discover what the dog is trying to relay to their family and then what needs to be addressed in order for both the dog and owner to move forward in the most positive and beneficial manner. The owner has a responsibility not to change the dog from being a dog but to appreciate the animal and design the best strategy for an empathetic relationship to blossom between the family and their dog.
~Susan Buttivant
(Award Winning Breeder, Author, Dog Trainer, & Canine Sport Instructor)
Down to earth and easy to read. For every person who has ever had, and currently has a dog in their life, and will always have a canine in their life, this book is a must read. The author guides us through a beautifully thought out process of acceptance and forgiveness, involving our relationships with the canines in our lives. We can redeem our past training and relationship errors and bonds, it’s not too late. This book is the perfect tool of guidance the dog world needs, complete with a reflection area after each chapter. The author strives and succeeds to be fair, in judgment of breeds, rescue dogs, and dogs that are struggling with mental health behavioral issues. A must have for every person and their dogs, this is a read that will change our world!
~Deb Stanton
(Psychic Medium, Medical Intuitive, and Animal Communicator)
In this book, The Way of Life Method, author, dog trainer, and coach Souha Ezzedeen shares with us her wide and rich experiences in dog training. Not only does she offer better techniques to train our dogs to become better pets but also
helps us understand the behaviour behind proper training. The author helps us build a much healthier relationship with our dogs, stressing the importance of rearing and raising our dogs rather than teaching and training skills. The Way of Life Method expands on the importance of proper socialization and understanding drive development across stages. The premise of the entire book is based on the importance of establishing our bond with our pets, bonding being the goal and the focus of any form of training. A “must read” for any pet owner looking to understand the relationship between them and their pet and the tools to raise a
happy and well-adjusted dog.
~Dominique Rousselle
(Co-Founder of Dogs Without Collars Rescue and former Vice President of the Toronto Humane Society)
A thought-provoking resource for anyone who owns a dog, and one which would be particularly enriching for anyone who is contemplating a new canine companion. Relationship based and scientifically backed, the material flows seamlessly into the practical application of the underlying theories, making it eminently readable! If I were still breeding dogs, it would definitely be a book that I would recommend to potential purchasers.
~Sue Neave
(Canine & Equine Therapist, Author, Artist, & Wellness Educator)
Souha has a deep understanding and knowledge of our canine friends. In this book and in her seminars, she asks us to hold up a mirror to take a good look at ourselves and our own ways of being first. She asks questions to make us think about ourselves so we can relate how our dog sees us and the world around them. Souha shares her own experiences in a fluent and direct way that allows us as the student to visualise, identify with, understand, and take steps toward a more balanced relationship with our dogs. She then provides us with great, meaningful tools to help us take that relationship to a whole other level. This is a “must read” book for anyone considering adopting a dog into their family.
~Shari Seymour
(Canine & Equine Therapist, Author, Artist, & Wellness Educator)
Upcoming Events
Paws For The Camera
A CLIENT’S HEARTFELT ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Last month, a client publicly shared her thoughts on our work together, and it left me profoundly moved. It reminded me of why I do this. Why I speak in a different voice and why I needed to write The Way of Life Method. I am so grateful to have met my clients Reid and Andy and their amazing dog Newt, a stunning Nordic dog. I love how well our barter arrangement of dog training for gardening has worked out. In Reid’s words, “we have found our trainer, and she has found her gardeners. Isn’t the universe kind of funny like that?” Find out more about Newt and the issues we worked on in this past issue: https://wayoflifedogtraining.com newsletter/ways-of-doing-things/ Also, please check out my clients’ fantastic native gardening business, Sustainable Roots Ecological Restoration: https://www.sustainablerootseco.com Thanks so very much Andy and Reid!
*****
We’re about to have a real moment of honesty here: over the last year and a half, we have been struggling pretty hard with our dog Newt. We post a lot of cute pictures, which makes things seem great, but the reality is that we were facing some very challenging behavior and reactivity issues. We were even questioning whether this was something that we could mentally, emotionally, and financially handle. A few months ago we were at the end of our rope, looking into rehoming options and generally feeling helpless. And then a prospective garden client had Andy over for a site visit. She happened to be a dog trainer who would end up changing the trajectory of our lives with Newt. I truly can’t express how much of a life- changer meeting Souha Ezzedeen, founder of Way of Life Dog Training, has been for us. Souha’s approach is so different than conventional trainers that we were seeing (and we experienced our fair share!).
With a PhD in management and organizational behavior, and so much personal and professional experience in the world of dogs (including studying wolves!) she brings a unique perspective to the table that I wish we saw in the mainstream. She takes a “radical and intuitive approach to human-dog relationships,” and we have seen such incredible improvements using the Way of Life method, not only with Newt herself, but in our relationship with her.
Souha has a book coming out this month that I would recommend to anyone with a dog, whether you experience behavioral issues or not. There is so much knowledge to be gleaned from her work, and I think that everyone with a canine companion would agree how important it is to tend to that bond.
So now, we have found our trainer, and she has found her gardeners. Isn’t the universe kind of funny like that? Our work with Newt is far from over. But the relief that we feel knowing that we can have a normal life without the heart- break, guilt, and shame of walking away from our dog a thought that was in no way taken lightly is such a gift. Thank you, Souha!
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Here are a few highlights from last month. Click for the full article on Facebook:
Dog Training Industry Missing the Nail
Thank you for your excellent questions – please keep them coming!
Seasonal Suggestion
Note
Corrections to October 2023 Issue
REMEMBER TO DOWNLOAD OUR Free Resources
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Is there a topic that you’d like me to cover in an upcoming newsletter or Facebook post? Please don’t hesitate to email suggestions or questions to info@wayoflifedogtraining.com.
Do you want to know more about transforming your relationship with your dog? Way of Life™ Dog Training is here to help.
