Training the Trainer | The Art of Comman...
It’s now time again to train the trainer. This chapter is more about concepts than training. If I asked you to describe the basic retrieve to me before you read anything about chaining commands, you may have figured out a couple of the commands, but would you have realized it took the eight steps noted above? If not, you would have figured that to teach the retrieve all you needed to do was sit your dog at heel, throw the bumper, and let instinct guide the pup to get the retrieve. Many people do this, and the dog is seldom very good at it. They often don’t...
Moving to the Yard – Puppy Trainin...
It is here that many things need to be made clear. First, if you have followed the instructions thus far, you should have a very happy pup that feels secure enough to go about the world on his own, but also, a pup who is willing and even excited to do the very short training sessions above. If this isn’t the case, one of two things is happening. Either you are not spending enough playtime with the pup, or the training sessions are not fun. They go hand in hand, you see. Puppies are play oriented. Watch a pack of pups, and you’ll see that when they’re not...
Early Puppy Training Total Guide
At nine weeks old, it may seem early to start training your pup, but time has proven that with this early start, puppies not only train more easily, but also remain in a “learning mode” the rest of their lives. They have learned how to learn. If a pup is trained in the traditional manner; waiting until they are six months old, they have already learned how to do things their way…. not your way. Remember, in traditional training, a lot of pressure comes to bear. A pup is not ready for this pressure so training waits. In our method, we are training with...
First Days With A New Dog… Getting Start...
Early Puppy Training Training a dog begins with training a pup. Training a pup begins with training the trainer. Having a clear picture in mind of what you want to accomplish means more than just having the final picture of your hunting companion soaring off after game in mind. It involves manners, temperament development, proper playtime, interaction with other family members, and socialization outside the hunting areas such as in the home or even in the local hardware store. You must envision all aspects of your dog’s behavior right from the start. Figure...
Why Train a Retriever to Point?
When reviewing the literature on retriever training, a disturbing trend is seen. Most instructional books are written for the would-be field trialer or hunt test participant. They emphasize form, not function. While these books are necessary for many good reasons, I feel compelled to author a book for the hunting enthusiast who views his hunting companion as more than just a competitor for the greater glory of the breed (or the breeder!). In years past, there was a need to offer a showcase for the various breeds to determine the “best” dogs of the breed. This...
Finding The Right Dog For You
The desire to retrieve will guide the training process from start to finish. You will use retrieving to introduce everything that is taught. The only exception to that would be in the earliest stages of puppy training (We’ll get to that in a later chapter), or at times, when introducing a new behavior. By selecting a dog from good retrieving stock you can up your odds of obtaining an enthusiastic pointing retriever. Other traits are also necessary. As discussed in the introduction, good temperament is also a major trait we’d like to see in our pup. What is...When reviewing the literature on retriever training, a disturbing trend is seen. Most instructional books are written for the would-be field trialer or hunt test participant. They emphasize form, not function. While these books are necessary for many good reasons, I feel compelled to author a website for the hunting enthusiast who views his hunting companion as more than just a competitor for the greater glory of the breed (or the breeder!). Read More...
