Training the Pointing Labrador

#319 So You're Running the 2024 Triple Crown?

In today's special episode, we break down all the elements of running the American Pointing Lab National event:  The 2024 Triple Crown.  What does it require?  What type of things should you practice, what will a day look like?  Join in a practical discussion about what you will be asked to do, important rules and things to get yourself as ready as possible.  It is genuinely a great accomplishment to get to this event with a pointing retriever, and it is the ticket to the APLA Hall of Fame.  Listen in and make plans to be prepared for this National!

#318 Your Dog is a Mirror

In today's fairly personal episode, the discussion covers how all our canines, in their performances and behavior, reflect back what they receive from their partners.  They are like the Divine Mechanism helping us to see ourselves.  When their performance and behavior is evaluated on this basis, it is both humbling and powerful in reaching the improvement we are looking for.

#317 Training for Effort

In today's episode, we discuss a couple different approaches to training a dog.  There is the 'teaching the right motions', the 'make them do it right', the 'repeat it until they get it' and then the one I like, teach them to give their best effort and reward that response.  Probably the last one is the hardest, because you have to pay attention the whole time, but it can certainly produce good results.  Have a listen....

#316 Expanding Local Clubs and Furthering the Pointing Lab World

In today's episode, we discuss the success of localized pointing Lab clubs and how we need to form more of these to help in educating more people about these dogs.  Where do you get a good pup, how do you train them with both retrieving and pointing aspects?  What should you do with a new pup?  How can you meet people to train with, what equipment do you need, how do you get help and how can you get a test in your region?  The PL world is expanding rapidly with the quality of dogs and trainers we now see.  I encourage anyone interested in participating in this expansion to contact me or anyone on the APLA Board so we can help get things going in more parts of the country.

 

www.Americanpointinglab.com

www.Batesworks.net

Juliannebates2021@gmail.com

#315 The Conflicted Dog

Poor behaviors, new training problems, confusing troubles, generally stem from the dog being in a situation it cannot manage, is confused or is disheartened or distrustful.  But very few of us look at things this way.  Understanding the inner nature of your dog can often be quite useful in problem solving.

#314 The Magic Side of Dog Training

Today's episode is just a couple stories.  Stories of things that happened with dogs, not because of the training principles used, not because of any expert advice, but because the individuals really wanted it with their dog.  And when done with sincerity and belief, they did it.  Hugely inspirational to me over the years..

#313 "She never does that in training!"

For those who test their dogs in any venue, we've all had the day when we were prepared, paid the entry, drove the distance, only to have our dog do something it has never done before.  We are dejected and mystified.  Here are a few ideas that might help in preventing the unexplainable.  

#312 Breaking Down Training Problems

In today's "Tests are happening now" episode, we talk about how to best prepare your student for success.  I have found it isn't by practicing game day setups to get ready for gameday, but by understanding your pupil's psychology, behavior, fitness and ability to grasp the necessary concepts. Then work with these to prepare them to handle whatever the judges are throwing at them, good or not so good.  Best answer to a questionable judge is a well-trained dog...

#3111 Revisiting Force Fetch Step 3

Today we move past the obedience and moving hold and teach the dog to fetch the bumper with the single command.  In doing this part humanely and with thought, the dog is taught that it controls the training pressure, and that  by responding, there is no pressure at all.  A critical part of the force fetch process, particularly if handling is part of the training plan.

#310 Revisiting Force Fetch Step 2

Following the previous podcast, this episode takes us from teaching 'hold' in a stationary and calm position, to teaching 'hold' while moving and carrying out basic obedience exercises.  This is the next logical step to ultimately getting your dog to deliver all retrieves calmly to hand and prepare for advanced handling work.  Always more easily done if broken down to pieces that make real sense to the dog.