Training the Pointing Labrador

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.

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..

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.

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, go

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.

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 mak

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 u

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.

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 im

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.