Dog training trends are interesting to me.
The current one I’m watching is how younger trainers out there are basically throwing their hands in the air, giving up, and opting for solutions that enslave dogs.
Here’s what I mean.
Everything they do is about stopping dogs from doing this or that. That’s because they have spent more time learning how to be visible on social media than learning their craft.
In contrast, the better trainers teach dogs how to be, to act, to use their natural behaviors. And to like it. Handler engagement is the focus rather than slavery.
Many years ago, I purchased hunting dog training videos. I watched how different specialty trainers worked with the various breeds: retrievers, pointers, and spaniels. I looked for the commonalities and differences. Each group worked differently in terms of how they related to their breed. For example, you won’t get the same performance out of a spaniel if you relate to it as a pointer or retriever.
I was working a young Vizsla yesterday. This is our first lesson at a quiet neighborhood park. So, she was distracted. Everything was “loud” … smells, people milling around in their yards, insects buzzing around. Once we started to work, many of the things we have taught her at home just weren’t happening.
What to do?
I could have made her do all those things. I know the old ways very well. I could have put her in the galley and made her row like a slave. But that isn’t my way.
Instead, I experimented with what would cause her to interact with me. I got very mild responses from some things, none from others. Much different than what she does at home. From those tests, I made recommendations to the owner regarding what I wanted him to do with her over the next week. Most Vizslas are sensitive dogs, so you must work through that. They can be good workers if you draw them out.
Every trainer must go through a learning curve. For some, the learning curve is neither long nor high. They pick up a few things at the start, and they get stuck there. Others make it a lifetime journey to keep getting better. For me, I just can’t get this stuff off my mind. I dream dogs. I wake up sometimes thinking about what I’m going to do with this student next week and must make myself quiet down and fall back asleep. That doesn’t make me special, but I do think it is important to stay hungry if you want to really make this a profession.
I feel sorry for the slaves. I wish I could free them all. Unfortunately, many students would rather have a program that enslaves their dogs than work with them. Thus, there is a monetary incentive for trainers to meet that demand.
My ship doesn’t sail that way. I hope yours doesn’t, as well.
Plan accordingly.