Training the Pointing Labrador

#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.

#309The Force Fetch for Someone Who has Never Done it Before, Step 1

Lots of horror stories about this process which teaches good bird handling and is the first step of teaching the handling process.  If you've seen it done in a hard way, it would scare you away.  Many of us are afraid or insecure about undertaking this step in dog training, but these feelings come primarily from not understanding what's really going on between you, your dog and the ultimate objective.  This is the first in a series of the 'how-to's' and the 'why's' a  person new to this training can use to do the process themself.  All of us who have successfully force fetched a dog well, started by not knowing in the beginning.

#308 The Human Factor in Your Training

In today's early spring episode, we talk not about the dogs, but about you.  The human factor IS the limiting factor in our dog training.  Who we are and how we see and interpret things determines the outcomes.  We can require our canines come into our human arena, or we can ask more of ourselves and go into theirs....  it's a choice.

#307 Commands and Useful Communication

In today's episode, we break down the difference between "making noise" and useful and clear communication with your dog.  To effectively teach a dog anything, you must first establish a relationship in which the dog respects you and actually wants to be taught some new things.  This is most easily accomplished when you communicate in a way natural to a dog, and often sabotaged by implementing our human way of communicating.  Many training problems originate from our thinking we're teaching one thing, and the dog learning something quite different.  Interesting topic...

#305 The Fearful or Disinterested Dog in Training

In this episode, we discuss the approach to training a dog that is fearful of things it encounters in training and daily life, and the same for the dog that has a mild interest in the work for which you got it.  It can often be accomplished, but it isn't a quick fix and takes an understanding and commitment on our part in training them.

#305 Puppy Raising - How to Teach them to be Problem Solvers

In this episode, which is continued discussion of the important elements in puppy upbringing, we breakdown how to teach a dog to be its own best problem solver.  After clearly teaching them a concept, it is important to know how to transfer accountability for response from you to your dog.  Doing this effectively makes all advanced training far easier for both you and your dog.  Also, regular life!

#304 The Upland Pup 8 to 16 weeks

Today's episode is about dealing with the best training habits for you and your young pupil to develop.  Not creating any bad habits is almost as important as the things you are teaching the little one. We talk about bird introduction, retrieving and puppy obedience.  These are the keys to the bright future you can build with your dog.