In Thomas Gordon's Active Listening Technique, which action is recommended?

• A. Repeating in your own words what the client has told you
• B. Providing rapid feedback without listening
• C. Interrupting to ask questions
• D. Focusing on your own agenda

Answer: (A)

Active listening emphasizes confirming understanding by reflecting the client's message back to them. Paraphrasing what the client has said—putting it in your own words—lets you verify accuracy, show empathy, and invite clarification, which helps uncover the real concerns and goals in dog training scenarios. This approach builds trust and reduces miscommunication. The other actions run counter to this: giving rapid feedback without listening skips important details and can misinterpret the issue; interrupting to ask questions breaks the flow and prioritizes your own agenda over the client's; focusing on your own agenda ignores the owner's perspective and the dog’s needs. Therefore, restating the client's words to ensure you understood them is the recommended action. For example, if a client says their dog barks at strangers, you might respond, “So the barking happens when someone comes to the door and you’re worried about safety—correct?”