5 star rating

Powerful

Claudia Videla

I would love the idea of living in a world where people could dare to talk and admit feelings of shame and fear. I honestly believe it would change the way w...

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I would love the idea of living in a world where people could dare to talk and admit feelings of shame and fear. I honestly believe it would change the way we think, experience life and also affect many other aspects in our lives such as the way we see ourselves. The few times I have dared to be honest and answer with the truth when a colleague has asked me "How am I doing?", I have been met with love, understanding and encouragement. Sometimes we have to be brave and stop thinking that we always have to be perfect, stand alone and fend for ourselves. I was really inspired by her honesty and vulnerability.

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5 star rating

You NEED this course!

Matt Montes

No matter where you are in your journey through life this course and the community built around it WILL take you to the next level. Whether you're looking fo...

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No matter where you are in your journey through life this course and the community built around it WILL take you to the next level. Whether you're looking for strategies to enhance your communication skills, better understand your own needs and how to ensure they are met, or maybe you are looking to expand the tools in your emotional toolbox. Over the years I've engaged in many continuing education/personal development courses and programs but this has been hands down the most beneficial program I've been part of and the community involvement and support is without equal. Thanks Grisha!

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5 star rating

Very deep

Catie Louwers

Wonderful course, it went very deep for me, how to listen to my own needs and knowing it's not egoistic but essential. Reminding me to meditate and showing m...

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Wonderful course, it went very deep for me, how to listen to my own needs and knowing it's not egoistic but essential. Reminding me to meditate and showing me other oportunities to do that. And showing me how to listen deeply to others. For me, who's triggers are humans, this is a big lesson.

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5 star rating

Just what I need

Evelina Soeswanto

I really enjoy the course, specially after losing my dog Aby on last April. This course is just what I need while I am still grieving. Thank you, Grisha xo

I really enjoy the course, specially after losing my dog Aby on last April. This course is just what I need while I am still grieving. Thank you, Grisha xo

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5 star rating

A delight to work through

Yvette Potter

I totally enjoyed this incredible comprehensive course full of wonderful information for body and soul. I would recommend it to everyone! It is my go to agai...

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I totally enjoyed this incredible comprehensive course full of wonderful information for body and soul. I would recommend it to everyone! It is my go to again and again if Im feeling a little bit wobbly it just puts me right back on track

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5 star rating

Great

María Weiss

Demanding, very good

Demanding, very good

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5 star rating

Helpful!

Christi Chapman

I have been going through some rough changes post-Covid (three times... WITH LONG COVID each time) and my whole life has been turned upside down. My dog trai...

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I have been going through some rough changes post-Covid (three times... WITH LONG COVID each time) and my whole life has been turned upside down. My dog training business was negatively impacted, a relationship with a significant other ended, I had several close family members and friends who passed away in less than a year, my personal life is non-existent, and I lost a home and another property I dearly loved. I have been in simple survival mode for about a year. Re-taking this course helped me get things back on track, to see where I was not even aware of needs that were not being met, and I am making small adjustments daily to help myself start thriving instead of simply surviving.

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5 star rating

Better world

Nuno Amador

This course helps to know me better and give me tools to challenge life to be happy and calm in comunity

This course helps to know me better and give me tools to challenge life to be happy and calm in comunity

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5 star rating

The People Pleaser

Taralynn Wipf

I have been struggling with being "the people pleaser" and have been gaining SO MUCH knowledge for sometime now thank you Grisha and community! Finding my in...

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I have been struggling with being "the people pleaser" and have been gaining SO MUCH knowledge for sometime now thank you Grisha and community! Finding my inner peace and setting positive boundaries not only personally but career-wise as well. Absolutely love that you added these fundamentals into your education formats as being an adult can sometime feel like the hardest part on having to people. The hardest part of human interaction is how we perceive our own selves to be which can be a lot! Setting boundaries for both yourself and others and creating that safety we all desire and NEED is a key point to living. Thank you! I have learned you cant set your students up for success if we aren't willing to do our own personal work and let ourselves enjoy our great successes and achievements as well as our failures.

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5 star rating

Touching, practical and necessary

Cierón O'Regan

I loved the resources throughout the course, but especially the personal insights from Grisha who wholeheartedly shares her own experiences, grief and practi...

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I loved the resources throughout the course, but especially the personal insights from Grisha who wholeheartedly shares her own experiences, grief and practices. This is a wonderful reminder (with practical advice) to connect with yourself and show up more meaningfully for our dogs, clients, family and friends.

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5 star rating

Perfect Timing

Ali Bradshaw

This course was exactly what I needed. So grateful for all the tools and resources shared. I appreciated Grisha's vulnerability and perspective on all the t...

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This course was exactly what I needed. So grateful for all the tools and resources shared. I appreciated Grisha's vulnerability and perspective on all the topics. I was grateful to find that even though I came hear to learn more about how to help dogs I found this resource to help me live more mindfully and fully.

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5 star rating

Heart warming and uplifting

Robin Johnston

How to Human has been an amazing and uplifting course. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to take the course.

How to Human has been an amazing and uplifting course. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to take the course.

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5 star rating

Love this Course

Jennifer Mann

It's important for Dog Owners/Trainers to really be authentic with themselves... well it's important for all Humans, but it will benefit your dog if you real...

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It's important for Dog Owners/Trainers to really be authentic with themselves... well it's important for all Humans, but it will benefit your dog if you really get to know your authentic self. This course is eye opening and has great tips to inspire the courage to create healthier habits in your life

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star rating

Are You Ready to Thrive?

Beyond survival is the land of "thrival" (thanks for the word, Susan Friedman). Learning to live wholeheartedly by prioritizing authenticity and vulnerability helped me finally get to know and love myself (more every day). The changes I've made to my life gave me more time with my dogs, better relationships, and a lot more peace!

I created this course to share the thrival skills that took me decades to learn. It's life's work (or maybe longer), but hopefully this information will complement what you've already been learning. May it help you on your path of joy.

Note: I'm not a therapist, but I'm a human, just like you, and I've found a lot of useful resources over the years that I want to share. I've integrated those resources with what I've learned from professional work with dogs about being a mammal. It's a perspective that many of my students have found helpful, and I hope it helps you, too.

  • Eliminate unhealthy habits in a way that meets your needs.

  • Make more efficient use of your time and do things that nourish your spirit.

  • Build more loving, respectful relationships with yourself and others.

  • Express yourself clearly and compassionately.

  • Find healthy ways to meet your needs that helps (or doesn't interfere) with others meeting theirs.

  • Learn how to switch out of survival mode and back to joy.

  • Get practical skills for mourning that can lighten the pain from the loss of your dog or other loved one and unpack their final gift to you.

  • This webinar and all of the other classes in the school are included with a Diamond Membership All Access Pass. For one low price per month, you get access to all of our emotionally enriching dog courses. See if Diamond is right for you.

  • Already a Diamond? You're already enrolled in this webinar, at no extra charge. Just log in and refresh this page, and you'll see a Start Learning or Resume Learning button on the top.

  • We also have a Library Pass which lets you stream this course and a lot of other pre recorded content. Find out more on the Library Pass Page.

Why Take the How to Human Course?

Because your heart matters. Get all of my favorite tools for wholehearted living.

  • Pass It On!

    The more relaxed you are, the easier it is for your dog and the people you love.

    I'm a work in progress, as we all are, but in this course, I share the most effective ways I've come across to have a healthy, happy nervous system. Please note that this course is not meant to replace work with a professional therapist.

  • Convenient Lessons

    Videos and text lessons to fit into your schedule, plus quick quizzes to help you solidify the material. If you don't like reading, even just watching the videos will be useful.

    Course takes approximately 6-12 weeks. Return as often as you'd like.

  • Community Support

    The How to Human discussion group is extremely supportive. It goes through quiet phases, but you can wake it up by posting.

    You are definitely not the only dog lover who is on a path to thrival. We have dog trainers and others from all over the world in H2H.

At your own pace

This is your path, but you don't have to walk it alone.

I taught this course with live videos in the past. You'll get to see all of those videos and all of the written material, but better yet, you'll also be in great company! Students from previous classes are in the private discussion group. Our community is growing and we look forward to meeting you.

What does this course cover?

A lot! We also have a discussion group and some live support meetings.

  • 1

    Welcome to How to Human!

    • A Message from Grisha

    • How to Use this Course

    • Course Plan

    • This Course isn't Therapy

    • Live Interaction & Community

    • Let's Get Inspired!

  • 2

    Section 1: Changing Habits Efficiently

    • Section Overview Video

    • Which Habits Do You Want? Do Your Habits Serve You?

    • The Power of Habits

    • Thoughts are Behavior, Too

    • You Don't Always Have to Be Positive! Be Authentic.

    • Sweet Dreams! Tips for Sleep

    • Check Your Understanding

    • Pause to Practice

  • 3

    Section 2: Feelings, Needs, Strategies, and Boundaries

    • Section Overview Video

    • Let Yes Mean Yes, and No mean No

    • Essentialism: Saying Yes to What Nourishes You (Less but Better)

    • Resolving conflict and building empathy with Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

    • Boundaries. Noncompliance is not Rejection

    • Anger is not Aggression

    • How to Apologize

    • Check Your Understanding

    • Pause to Practice

  • 4

    Section 3: The Border Collie in Your Head

    • Section Overview Video

    • How Our Brains Work

    • Negativity Bias and Other Brain ‘Fun’ Facts

    • Assumptions (part 1): Labels and Cognitive Dissonance

    • Assumptions (part 2): Cognitive Distortions

    • Assumptions (part 3): Fundamental Attribution Error

    • Gratitude Can Change Your Brain Chemistry

    • Gratitude, Privilege, and Making a Difference

    • History is the Cultural Version of Antecedent Arrangements for Behavior

    • Other Ways to Change Brain Chemistry

    • You Aren't at the Mercy of Your Emotions

    • Check Your Understanding

    • Pause to Practice

  • 5

    Section 4: Being Present

    • Section Overview Video

    • Be Here Now

    • Taking in the Good

    • Mindfulness

    • Meditation Introduction for Trauma: Roland Bal

    • What is Meditation? Trauma Guided Meditation by Roland Bal

    • Mindfulness Exercises Guide Me Home

    • Everyday Mindfulness

    • Building a Mindfulness Practice

    • Dog Breath Meditation

      FREE PREVIEW
    • Building Compassion: Your Inner Puppy

    • Wholehearted Living and Badassery

    • Check Your Understanding

    • 5 Ways to Use Your Senses to Ease Anxiety

    • Pause to Practice

  • 6

    Section 5: Stillness and Unconditional Love

    • Section Overview Video

    • Compassion is the Key to Happiness

    • Compassion and Unconditional Love

    • Lovingkindness Meditation (Metta)

    • Meditation on the Move

    • Relationship Audits: Does This Relationship Meet My Needs?

    • Check Your Understanding

    • Pause to Practice

  • 7

    Section 6: Impermanence, Groundlessness, and Letting Be

    • Section Overview Video

    • Helpful Ways to See This Precious Life

    • 3 Ways to Listen Mindfully

    • What are Transitions?

    • What is Mourning and How is It Different From Grief?

    • The Relationship isn't Gone, It's Different

    • Acceptance and Joy in the Midst of Loss

    • Keep Talking About It

    • Emotional Approach to Retirement Planning

    • Pause to Practice

    • How Do You Help a Grieving Friend?

  • 8

    Next Steps

    • Thank you!

  • 9

    References and Other Resources

    • Books I Love!

    • Online Resources

Instructor

Dog Trainer, Author, Singer-Songwriter

Grisha Stewart MA, CPDT-KA, KPACTP

I'm a collaborative dog trainer, author, international presenter, singer-songwriter, and keynote speaker of European ancestry (best guess based on DNA and some genealogy is Scotland, "England & Northwestern Europe," Wales, "Germanic Europe," Ireland, and Norway). I've been helping people and dogs professionally since 2003. My passion projects are grief tending, community singing, and woodturning.

I'm fascinated by animal behavior (including humans), somatic awareness, spirituality, psychology. My work is directed at wholehearted living for all beings, including dogs with a history of aggression, frustration, or fear as well as puppies and my other favorite species: humans.

My Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT 2.0 book and BAT 3.0) is used worldwide to help dogs gain confidence and social skills. Well over 200,000 people have learned about BAT so far.

Diane Redding and I co-host a podcast called The Lesson is Love.

As an outgoing introvert, I refresh my batteries by singing, expressing grief in community, and savoring life with my husband (Tom), Labrador (Joey), cat (Garbanzo aka "Adventure Kitty" and "Baby Panther"), and Little Brown Dog (Zuki). I identify as a queer (pansexual), neurodiverse, middle age, white, raised in poverty and now of middle class, and US citizen, spiritual non-Christian leaning toward neo-Druid (but raised in Christian culture). My pronouns are she/her. I am still wrestling with living on the stolen river watershed of the Siuslaw people, who are part of the CTCLUSI.

Huge Impact

Vanesa Vizuete

"Grisha Stewart doesn't need an introduction among the professional dog trainers, the world knows her because of her amazing work. She is also a kind, loving, caring human being who has for the past year embraced teaching people through her How to Human class. I took it last year and it impacted greatly how I live my life."

The more you know about how to be human, the better life gets.

Get the this course free, individually or with a membership.

  • $99.00

    $99.00How to Human: Thrival Skills for People Who Love Dogs

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  • $49.00

    $49.00How to Human: Thrival Skills for People Who Love Dogs

    Discounted Rate.

    For those who cannot afford the standard contribution. One-time payment to add this recording to your library of courses. Your access will not expire. If you also can't afford this rate, notice that How to Human is part of our Diamond membership. Or if even that is too much, consider applying for our Diamond scholarship.
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  • $39.99 / month

    $39.99 / monthDiamond Membership All Access Pass

    Great value! Access to ALL live and on-demand streaming content on the site, including this course.

    Diamonds are also part of a thriving, supportive community that loves to dig into every aspect of dog behavior. You'll get help from well over 100 emotionally intelligent dog training and animal behavior classes, taught by my favorite experts from around the world. Diamonds also get special events, student coupons, and other perks. [Learn more].
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    $444.00 / yearDiamond Membership All Access Pass

    All the perks of the Monthly Plan, but even better value. Buy 12 months and get one free!
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    $29.99 / monthStellar Village/GSA Library Card Membership

    A great value option for dog lovers who want to watch webinars on demand, but don't need the full benefits and community of a Diamond Membership.

    Access pre recorded content and Grisha's eBooks for one low price per month. [Learn more]."
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