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Acknowledgements
While I have learned from many dog trainers over the years, a few stand out. Thanks to Glen Johnson, who early in the 80s taught me about inducive training. And also to Bill Dotson, who introduced us to Schutzhund and Search & Rescue.
Thanks Tracey Louper for letting me help teach classes, and being my friend and sounding board for new dog training ideas.
Special thanks to friend and mentor Michael Ellis. Michael is a gifted dog trainer and teacher, and almost everything I use and teach these days comes from Michael.
And thanks to Ivan Balabanov, who started our club, Big Sky Schutzhund Club, on the way to becoming thinking dog trainers.
Category Archives: Obedience training
What were we thinking, indeed!
Five dogs, 14 events, 2 days, 2 handlers. When I went to check us in on Friday, my opening comment to the table steward was “Jones, table for 7.” Friday was interesting… horrible weather with periods of pouring rain and some good winds that threatened to take out the canopies at ringside. But the dogs [...]
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What were we thinking?
Back when Warren and I sent our entries in for Gallatin Dog Club AKC obedience trial, June seemed so far away. We’d have plenty of time to teach the broad jump and work on those pesky out of sight stays. Harley at least has the retrieves down, but Lexi was still in the learning stages [...]
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Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Consequences of not coming when called If your puppy is really too busy to come when called, you can practice “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. In the beginning, this may be difficult to practice because you need to switch back and forth from the bad guy to the nice guy in the blink of an [...]
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Obedience FUNdamentals
(Notes from the Wednesday night Obedience FUNdamentals class) The foundation: puppies and adults. What they need to know: Active treat rewards: run – active back up, follow hand. Turn, take from low hand (from behind) left & right chase food through legs – teach for later use in front rewards “Positions” sit stand downs: move [...]
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Doggie Zen
DOGGIE ZEN or “OW! That was my finger!” Food is a great motivator — so much so that it can be painful at times for the trainer! Doggie Zen is a way to teach the puppy not to take the food so roughly. Get down on the floor with your puppy. Hold a piece of [...]
Talking Dog
WHO CONTROLS THE SPACE: Physical Communication Think about space as a tangible thing: how do you feel when someone gets too close to you in line at the supermarket? Have you ever had a boss who looms over you when he checks your work? Who gets the big, compfy chair in the corner office, and [...]
Classes resume
Monday nights at 6.00 — Beginning Agility Monday nights at 7.15 — Continuing Agility Wednesday nights at 6.30 — Obedience and Rally FUNdamentals These classes are on-going… that is, they have no beginning or end, so you’re welcome to join us at any time.
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Obedience titles
This came over one of the lists I’m on… as usual, there is no citing, so if you know who wrote it, I would love to be able to give them credit… This just in: This writing circulates all the time on the dog lists as “Author Unknown.” The author of “What is a Title, [...]
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Reward strategies
Variable reinforcement: Making the reward really matter When the dog is first learning a new skill, we reward every correct response. This is called continuous reinforcement, and is effective in the beginning stages of learning. However, we need to move quickly away from continuous reinforcement as it is not effective in the long turn. Imagine [...]
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