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Monday, June 20, 2016
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Effortless
I heard that word today in an old training manual while browsing the internet.
One of the number one things I have learned training dogs, being with dogs, learning about dogs, is that they come pre-trained. We break them, we give them bad habits. Through our body language and our responses to their actions we train them, mold their personalities into the range of behavior problems we see today.
I learned this the best with Gus, other then his retrieving he has never received formal training. I never treated him for heeling, never taught him to sit. He watched he learned and he met my expectations through other dogs. Effortless was how I trained him.
I tell my students walk into my classes 'I want you to have a clear image in your head of what you want your dog to be. If you feel it isn't possible, then your dog will never reach that level. As soon as you believe your dog will do the expected his behavior, he will.'
Effortless is how training should be. I expect my puppies to act like adults, I remember they are puppies but I treat them like adults. That way when they become an adult there aren't new rules or expectations. Their transition is effortless.
Whenever, I put my hands on a leash, my intentions are clear, my boundaries are clear. I am secure in who I am and what I am doing. The dog knows this and acts accordingly. If I do it right their is no fuss. I like to show people what their dog can do. They are not untrained but they haven't been expected to act that way.
This way when you are met with resistance you know immediately that something you asked was unclear. There is a stark difference between effortless and effort. If your always fighting your dog then you will never know. I preach softness is paramount to my students because no one understands how training could be effortless, once soft is mastered they can understand that training is effortless. Keep your training effortless too and you will start to read your dog better and your partnership can only grow.
~Happy Tails~
One of the number one things I have learned training dogs, being with dogs, learning about dogs, is that they come pre-trained. We break them, we give them bad habits. Through our body language and our responses to their actions we train them, mold their personalities into the range of behavior problems we see today.
I learned this the best with Gus, other then his retrieving he has never received formal training. I never treated him for heeling, never taught him to sit. He watched he learned and he met my expectations through other dogs. Effortless was how I trained him.
I tell my students walk into my classes 'I want you to have a clear image in your head of what you want your dog to be. If you feel it isn't possible, then your dog will never reach that level. As soon as you believe your dog will do the expected his behavior, he will.'
Effortless is how training should be. I expect my puppies to act like adults, I remember they are puppies but I treat them like adults. That way when they become an adult there aren't new rules or expectations. Their transition is effortless.
Whenever, I put my hands on a leash, my intentions are clear, my boundaries are clear. I am secure in who I am and what I am doing. The dog knows this and acts accordingly. If I do it right their is no fuss. I like to show people what their dog can do. They are not untrained but they haven't been expected to act that way.
This way when you are met with resistance you know immediately that something you asked was unclear. There is a stark difference between effortless and effort. If your always fighting your dog then you will never know. I preach softness is paramount to my students because no one understands how training could be effortless, once soft is mastered they can understand that training is effortless. Keep your training effortless too and you will start to read your dog better and your partnership can only grow.
~Happy Tails~
Friday, November 20, 2015
10 Months In
Gus is now over 10 months old, he now is starting to act like a an adult. He is still the baby brother but he has come a long way and I am proud of him everyday. These are the top 5 question I have gotten thus far having a standard poodle
1) "What are those in his hair?" This is the top question I get and it amuses me every time, no they are not beads or bows, those are hair bands and they are so he can see.
2) "That's a lot of hair, does it take you a long time?" No it doesn't, should it, probably, but I am a bad show dog owner ;) and bath and a brush once a week isn't that hard to me. Yes it does take probably 4 hours each time but I think it's meditation. Plus I didn't get a poodle to keep it clean.
3) " Do standards come that small?" Yes they do he is 35lbs and I love his size. Being that there is no limit to standards they can get a big, but I am not a big dog person. I wanted a bird dog, a convenient dog so to me he is perfect. What good is a bird dog that tips over a boat?
4) "What are poodles like?" That's a hard one sense he is my only one I have ever had. He is like a lab but smarter, still ball crazy, still happy go lucky but with more hair. He has baby brother syndrome and he thinks he is a lap dog. He loves everyone but still wants to be my guard dog.
5) "Is this a labradoodle?" No.
1) "What are those in his hair?" This is the top question I get and it amuses me every time, no they are not beads or bows, those are hair bands and they are so he can see.
2) "That's a lot of hair, does it take you a long time?" No it doesn't, should it, probably, but I am a bad show dog owner ;) and bath and a brush once a week isn't that hard to me. Yes it does take probably 4 hours each time but I think it's meditation. Plus I didn't get a poodle to keep it clean.
3) " Do standards come that small?" Yes they do he is 35lbs and I love his size. Being that there is no limit to standards they can get a big, but I am not a big dog person. I wanted a bird dog, a convenient dog so to me he is perfect. What good is a bird dog that tips over a boat?
4) "What are poodles like?" That's a hard one sense he is my only one I have ever had. He is like a lab but smarter, still ball crazy, still happy go lucky but with more hair. He has baby brother syndrome and he thinks he is a lap dog. He loves everyone but still wants to be my guard dog.
5) "Is this a labradoodle?" No.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
When to use a prong, choke and electric collar
The loudest people are always the ones with the strongest opinion.
Yet again I read another training article on training a dog not to pull. I am curious by nature and sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, other times (most times) I am greatly saddened by the state of affairs in the dog training community.
And I quote "The good ol' choker is a classic. It works very simply to cut off the dog's air supply until he does what you want. If he can't figure it out, you just keep jerking until he learns how to avoid being suffocated. Fun for the whole family."(for my own sanity I wont publish the link outright but if you want me to send it send me a private message)
If you seriously think this is how they work. You are so terribly wrong and I feel so sorry from you and you should really just shut up till you know better.
Giving a correction is an art form. It is not for a newbie or really anyone who has never given a correction before, and would probably take a whole book to define let alone teach. The prong, choke and electric collar are all for giving corrections. Used properly they can change a dogs behavior and outlook without harm to the dog. My belief is they are a band-aids, I want my dogs to be able to work on a flat collar but hey they can't always yet. If the environment is to stimulating I need to be able to keep control. Corrections are by feel, I want subtle and soft dogs. I know how to use a prong, choke and shock collar to get me there. I know how to be safe, my dogs are excited when I pull out the chains cause we are going somewhere interesting and new. They do not fear me. If I have to correct them more than I few times I have an error somewhere in my communication.
I wish I could teach the correction in words but I can't. If you think you may need one of these ask someone who has spent years using them. General positive trainers don't know how and I think it's unfortunate. If you don't know how they work you will never learn how to help a dog off one.
But please find someone who knows how to use one nothing rubs me raw then seeing them on wrong with the dog chocking and no one figuring out that's not supposed to happen. Some people call 'em chokes, I call them a chain because it's what they are not because enough idiots got together and got their dogs gasping for air and snapping their trachea's.
If you have learned to use one, then you will know when you need one. It is that easy. I know my dogs, I know when to use one. There is no magic cure all in training and no magic answer. You have to do what you think is right and if your wrong, learn from it and try something else.
Yet again I read another training article on training a dog not to pull. I am curious by nature and sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, other times (most times) I am greatly saddened by the state of affairs in the dog training community.
And I quote "The good ol' choker is a classic. It works very simply to cut off the dog's air supply until he does what you want. If he can't figure it out, you just keep jerking until he learns how to avoid being suffocated. Fun for the whole family."(for my own sanity I wont publish the link outright but if you want me to send it send me a private message)
If you seriously think this is how they work. You are so terribly wrong and I feel so sorry from you and you should really just shut up till you know better.
 |
| My 'abused' dog in his shock collar a year ago. |
Giving a correction is an art form. It is not for a newbie or really anyone who has never given a correction before, and would probably take a whole book to define let alone teach. The prong, choke and electric collar are all for giving corrections. Used properly they can change a dogs behavior and outlook without harm to the dog. My belief is they are a band-aids, I want my dogs to be able to work on a flat collar but hey they can't always yet. If the environment is to stimulating I need to be able to keep control. Corrections are by feel, I want subtle and soft dogs. I know how to use a prong, choke and shock collar to get me there. I know how to be safe, my dogs are excited when I pull out the chains cause we are going somewhere interesting and new. They do not fear me. If I have to correct them more than I few times I have an error somewhere in my communication.
I wish I could teach the correction in words but I can't. If you think you may need one of these ask someone who has spent years using them. General positive trainers don't know how and I think it's unfortunate. If you don't know how they work you will never learn how to help a dog off one.
But please find someone who knows how to use one nothing rubs me raw then seeing them on wrong with the dog chocking and no one figuring out that's not supposed to happen. Some people call 'em chokes, I call them a chain because it's what they are not because enough idiots got together and got their dogs gasping for air and snapping their trachea's.
If you have learned to use one, then you will know when you need one. It is that easy. I know my dogs, I know when to use one. There is no magic cure all in training and no magic answer. You have to do what you think is right and if your wrong, learn from it and try something else.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Dog whistle hanging in the rear view...
There is a dog whistle that hangs on my cars rear view mirror, a subtle testament to the life that I live. Some people hang dog tags, dream catchers, crosses, ear plugs, anything that reminds them of their life and for easy access. It's one of the ways we display to the rest of the world who we are and what we do.
Well every time I take a turn it swings into my view and I am reminded that hey maybe I should take my dogs out working.
They say training is a way of life, for me it is.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Sunday, October 4, 2015
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