I have been doing a bit of a survey of pet dog training programs. Here is what I have found, in summary…
Dogs are not getting trained. The primary lesson types being promoted are, either 1.) Online or board and train, to force a dog to stay on a dog bed/ cot, to not pull on a leash regardless of the situation, and how to shut a dog down; and 2.) Minor types of things, like teaching a dog to balance on a platform, how to lure a dog to Sit with a treat, canine CPR, some enrichment ideas, and tidbits about behavior that are not useful or accurate. Oh, and then the programs which tell you that they will “train the trainer” and charge you a truckload of money so you can also teach “all” the above, so they can now shut down even more dogs.
That’s about it. Yes, there are owners that just want a program to shut down their dogs. Or people have no idea what they want. Those aren’t the students I want to work with and aren’t the programs I offer.
I guess I’m, what, old school? I think a dog should be trained to do useful skills in the real world. What are the beginning to advanced skills that I teach and advocate, from beginning to advanced?
Heeling on and off-leash with a figure-8, a stand for examination while off-leash, a full recall on-leash, a long Sit / Stay to get the leash, and a group Sit and Down / Stay with other dogs. Off-leash skills, including precise heeling, jumping and retrieving exercises, and a directed retrieve. Scent Discrimination (finding a handler’s scented article) for those who want that, Directed Retrieve (retrieving a specific item on hand signal), Directed Jumping (clearing a specific jump on hand signal), and Signal Exercise (responding to hand signals only), along with a Stand for Examination. Off leash heel to Sit at a starting position, two marks (normally meaning a tossed bird; we use a dummy or toy), dog is sent to one of the marks, dog retrieves back to the handler’s hand. Have the dog go back to the starting position, and then the dog is sent to the second mark and to bring back the dummy/ toy. Then, the dog must take turns, off leash, with another dog. Then there are the higher-level exercises that are useful with dogs that have protective tendencies, such as Sit/ Down/ Stand out of motion, distance recalls, distance Down, and advanced retrieve and Drop It. All focused on doing the above in the real world. And don’t forget, along the way we also resolve any behavioral issues the dog might have.
Furthermore, I think training should consider the age of the dog. For example, in Schutzhund/ IGP, a dog must be at least 18 months of age to enter their first competition. That is to prevent owners from pushing their dogs too hard. For the AKC, it is 6 months old, but dogs the advanced dogs are at least 3 years old in order to have the maturity and enough practice to do all of the above up to the advanced levels. But I have seen owners with 12-week-old puppies enroll their dogs in these shut down/ repressive programs to force them to be inert carpets. I just can’t do that to a dog. I didn’t get into this profession to treat dogs like that.
Just forcing a dog to lay on a dog bed or cot, maybe because the trainer doesn’t know any other way to control a dog in the home, is just poor level obedience training. Forcing a dog to just not pull on a leash or look at another dog or person on a walk, or to force a dog to capitulate, isn’t the same as teaching a proper way to walk a dog on a leash or to act around other dogs or people.
Real training takes time, to teach the dog and the owner, one step at a time. Even if you just do the basics, I believe it is better to do it right than forcing your dog to endure these cot/ leash programs.
Now that you know, it is up to you.