Take the Time to Teach and Train the Essential Skills you and Your Dog Need

Thoughtful Thursday

We are goal oriented beings. And many of us in detection dog (sport or professional) tend to be highly goal oriented. AND competitive.

This can lead us to push ourselves, push our dogs, and especially push our puppies. I often hear,

"But they are six months old, they should be doing XYZ now."

"They are eight months old, I'm behind."

"My dog is 18 months and we NEED to get our certification done!"

I have Sheba, a nine month old British Labrador, who has significant motor and her whirlwind brain needs time to mature. My Dutch Shepherd prepared me for the one event learning, the speed at which she can grasp new concepts, and the desire to always be working.

I have made the choice to put her detection work on the back burner. She needs to mature. We are working on complementary skill sets that will build the calm hard worker that I want. We are working on things like impulse control, functional obedience and managing arousal levels.

I am taking the time because I know in the end, it will take less time. By waiting and teaching and training for a calm mind in all situations, it will pay dividends in how she learns, acts, and hunts in the future.

In this game of dog training, the only competition should be with ourselves. Comparing yourself and your dog to other trainers and dogs is comparing apples to oranges.

Take the time to teach the essential skills your dog will need early in its training career. You may find those skills will create a more rounded working partner sooner than you think.

Is there a time you have pumped the brakes on your training to allow your dog to 'grow up'?

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Our Fall 2022/Summer 2023 Calendar will be out soon so make sure to join the K9Sensus Trainer's Group on FB for updates. Registration will for most classes the middle of December.