Training the Pointing Labrador

In this episode, written expressly for Spicy Bill, Link, Sally, Roscoe and a few others, we talk about how to train through the winter off season to come back out next spring and be ready for running with the Big Dogs.  How to convert the T and Swim-by into mastery of running blinds with marks or without.  There are ways to do this without much pressure or confusion.  Instead, a methodical approach that works with the way your dog processes and thinks is a pleasant process for you both.  Be nice to see you all with purple ribbons next year....

In this episode of the ongoing puppy series, we talk about passivity in dog ownership.  Very often, people attribute unacceptable or irritating behavior to the dog 'just being a puppy.' When youngsters are allowed to do certain things with no intervention, they are learning that those things are perfectly acceptable.  Then later, it often takes more harsh training to undo what was initially taught.  So much of later training can be made easier by teaching the pup to problem solve for itself, and how to respect your requests, and take them seriously.  Some food for thought on the topic....

In today's trainer/handler-oriented episode, I share a little personal philosophy about where you are in your dog experience, and why it's likely just where you want it to be.  There is no big secret about how to be successful.  But the willingness to do what that takes is most often the main issue.  It isn't easy to excel at anything.  And those who do generally aren't the most talented or most fortunate.  It comes down to putting in the time, work and personal humility.  

In this third of the new puppy series, we discuss beginning to "read" your dog.  How do you learn the inner workings of your new partner?  How to you optimize your training program to fit this new little one?  How to you learn to adjust what you do to fit this particular dog?  It is a fascinating topic if you're willing to think objectively...

Second episode of the Puppy Series, a discussion about what 'love' actually is when it comes to our dogs, and how to develop a dog that is a full team player and excels in its job with you.

In today's episode, we talk about bringing that new puppy home.  Do you have a plan?  Do you know what bad habits you want to avoid, and which ones you want to develop?  If you back-engineer this from what you want this dog to be as an adult in your life, it can help in your approach to creating that dog.  Above all, teaching your dog how love learning is a thing you'll never regret.  Listen in for a few ideas....

In today's episode, we break down the real purpose of the word "no" used in so much dog training.  It really breaks down to how you view the training process and what your real responsibility is.  It is often more a reflection of your thinking, and not so much your dogs'.  

Freshly back from judging the 2024 Triple Crown in Freeman SD, we go over how the Labor Day Weekend went.  Setups, upland fields, people, young dogs, old dogs and why this process can be so important on a personal level. It was an amazing experience, and as always, a real privilege to watch the best pointing Labs in the galaxy do their thing.

If the sound quality seems different on this, it's because I failed to turn on the microphone and it's just the computer recording.  My apologies.

In today's episode, we break down what it actually takes to master this dog training business, and effectively teach your dog what you'd like it to know, as opposed to instructing it as to what actions it must take.  Listen in....

For my TC folks who have spent the last year getting ready for this Labor Day Event.  It's a long one, but here are some ideas to get ready these next 4 weeks, for the biggest American Pointing Labrador Association National ever held!