Twenty something years ago, I joined a Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy (dojo). It was a bit intimidating that first time, not knowing what to expect.
How did they start me out? What happened that first month (I was attending 3 times a week)? Well, what they didn’t do is discuss the theory of ground-based self defense, no handouts, no reading materials. Class started out with an hour of challenging calisthenics; that went on for the first month. Then an hour of floor drills doing basic side control positions… on my own for about a month. I watched the other students spar for an hour (you can learn a lot by just watching). We then bowed out, mopped the mats and floors, and said goodbye for the night. That was it. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I could see them work, I just needed to begin.
The way of the academy was to learn by doing, not to memorize a set of rules. They never did discuss theory. You were to figure it out intuitively over the years, trying out each new skill, and gaining ability through hard won, personally acquired, knowledge and expertise… and some occasional injuries! At first, you let your body figure it out, not your head. You had to fight innumerable bouts with a wide range of people over many years to gain your belts. In a real fight, there would be no rules. You had to learn how to be a fighter. You would discuss, figure out, develop fighting strategies with each other as you reached each new level. By having personal experience, then the theory and strategy started making sense. But even if you have been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for years, you will still need coaching, and you will still be making mistakes.
To a certain degree, I have drawn some of my dog training and coaching approach using that experience. I do clarify some concepts on the first lesson, but I speak mostly in layman’s terms. I rarely use the big words, the scientific terminology and theories. Not every student is expecting this. Some want a trainer that is more like a schoolteacher: step by step handouts, a list of required reading, written exams; memorization drills; and certificates of completion along the way. The way I do things isn’t for everyone. I know this: the way your dog wants to work with you won’t come about by following a list of rules. If I give you memorization drills, you will make mistakes and you won’t be prepared to use any of that in the real world.
On a first lesson, I might ask a novice dog owner to get their dog to Sit for a treat (“you can only use your voice, your body language, and a treat… you can’t use a leash or touch your dog”). Now… “What worked? What do you see? How does your dog feel? How did you feel?”
All of that might seem an easy challenge. You might have done this innumerable times with your dog, but with a brand-new dog owner, they have no idea how to proceed. I will still encourage them to try. With each repetition, I’ll offer a suggestion. I want my students to discover what to do, and what doesn’t work. There isn’t much risk in a new dog owner using treats to teach a Sit. But a lot can be learned that will spill over into the next skills. I want my students to “own” their skills, not just imitate me. One day I’m not going to be there with them and their dog, and they will have to make things happen, possibly in an emergency. It is better to have your coach let you make mistakes and learn in class than not knowing what to do in the real world.
To me, good dog training and handling is an intelligent and thoughtful process, but it isn’t necessary for me to assign volumes of textbooks and scientific studies before a student works with their dog. I can teach advanced skills without requiring them to know the technical stuff. If I can get a dog owner to properly read and interact with their dog, then they will get the results they want. Thus, I will give a student a challenge and then encourage them to try it out. My viewpoint: get a student to get a feel for it and see their dog’s response. We can then tighten up each skill in subsequent lessons.
I just don’t believe that a good dog training program works like a Betty Crocker cookbook. Thus, I don’t do it that way.
