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I WANT to Train the Sexy Stuff

laurelannpilkingto

Training Tuesday


....but I NEED to train the fundamentals.


I went to my first hunt test over the weekend and watched some really great teams work. I had the benefit of the gallery answering all of those 'newbie' questions. I learned a lot about handler strategy at the line.


Most importantly I saw, in action, WHY all the skill sets I've been thinking about are absolutely necessary. I've been avoiding training some of these things hoping the dog will just pick up the skill along the way.


My bad.


Things like a solid sit (steady at the line or hold your TFR), a nice heel (don't die on the way to the search area), and impulse suppression (aka what we usually call impulse/stimulus control). Basically, don't do what you really want to do until I tell you that you can do it.


This creates holes I then need to fix. It is immensely harder to fix a behavior that the dog learned to do wrong than it is to train it right in the first place.


I WANT to watch my dog go out and hunt and find it. But we aren't ready because I don't have all the finishing touches ready. And those finishing touches are the crucial parts of our work. The TFR, the steady at the line...these simple things are comprised of multiple skill sets. Training is simple but not easy.


So this week we are working on things like chin rest (precursor/aid to a hold), hand/nose target duration (can be used in heeling, retrieve, and positioning at the line or anywhere else), pivot (hind end awareness, sitting in heel, heeling) AND me walking around my basement with my thumb glued to the side of my thigh so I can relearn the mechanics of walking with squared shoulders and my dogs learning there are treats in my hand if they stay that close to me.


All my dogs dance around in front of me because I throw toys, now I have to counter balance the 1000's of reps with them learning to walk by my side because that pays.


But here's the kicker. After 2 short sessions I am seeing light bulbs. I have two dogs who are now pivoting into place when I make a tight turn. Less dancing....


Take the time, work the fundamentals.


What fundamental skill sets are you working on?

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