Weekly Tidbits - August 11, 2021
On my mind this week and random things from around the web on dogs, behaviour and training.
Dog sports are just behaviours. Really.
My wife and I have been doing dog sports with our dogs for more than 20 years. We’ve worked with our dogs in Obedience, Rally-O, Herding, Tracking, Nose Work, and Agility. We’ve done reasonably well in all of these activities but I have to confess that we are not ultra competitive people. We do these activities as much for our dog’s enrichment as anything else. I don’t need to win a national championship; I just need to do the best I can to teach my dogs the skills the sport requires and make sure that he enjoys the activity.
One of the interesting parts of these dog sports is the unique culture that each sport seems to have. Whether it is obedience or nose work or some other sport, there are “special” techniques and tricks for getting your dog to perform well. The Internet is full of “sure fire” methods to “teach your dog the perfect heel” or how to teach your dog weave poles using special equipment or how to get a reliable retrieve. These are methods developed by people who have been doing their respective sport for years and had success with many, many dogs. Many of these methods present themselves as unique to the sport and are the best practices for success in that venue.
There’s just one problem with claims like that - it’s all just behaviour. In fact, it’s rare that we ever train dogs to do behaviours that they do not already know how to do. We’re just teaching them to do them when we ask or in a specific way. My dogs sit, lay down, pick up things with their mouths, jump over things, etc. all the time. Teaching them to do things like heel or stop on a piece of contact equipment in agility is just getting them to respond to my direction to do that thing.
So what makes training my dog for a sport like Nose Work or Rally Obedience any different than teaching them basic behaviours or trick behaviours at home? Well, nothing. The sames rules of behaviour and canine learning apply regardless of what you are trying to teach the dog. There are criteria, consequences, cues, and a process that makes it all work. From that perspective, teaching my dog to heel for competitive obedience is no different than teaching my dog to go to their mat and lie down at home.
I’m sure that many of those “special” methods and techniques developed in various dog sports began with the intention of helping handlers get results without having to explain a lot of underlying training principles. But the fact is that many of those techniques have taken on a kind of cultural mystique. It is just THE WAY you teach things for that sport. Unfortunately, approaching training in that way stifles creativity and discourages understanding of more fundamental training principles.
A solid grounding in good training principles and process should enable a trainer to teach their dog anything they wish, from heeling to handling complex agility sequences from 20 or 30 feet away. It’s just a matter of adjusting criteria and process to fit the task. The same is true for our dogs. Not every dog learns in the same way or at the same rate. Turning to these special techniques will not necessarily produce the same results for every dog. Having the ability to adjust the training because I understand training principles can mean the difference between success and frustration.
No matter what dog sports or activities you do with your dogs, consider the benefit of thinking outside the “box” of that particular culture. Don’t just take the “conventional wisdom” of that venue or sport as gospel. Training is training and behaviour is behaviour. There is nothing special about a particular dog sport, at least from your dog’s perspective. It’s all just running and jumping and playing to them. Or at least it should be!
“Leave It” and “Take It” - Critical Skills for Puppies
Teaching our puppies to “leave it” is among the first things we teach them. It’s a gentle and simple process that most puppies will pick up after only one or two teaching sessions. I think this skill is important for two reasons. First, it creates a behaviour that might just save my puppy’s life that keeps them from putting things in their mouth that can be harmful. But second, and perhaps more importantly, it teaches my dog that they can be rewarded for NOT doing something.
Most of the behaviours we teach our dogs requires them to do something like sit or lie down, or come when called. These are ACTIONS. But “leave it” is choosing to REFRAIN from action. In a way it is rewarding my puppy for patience. It helps them understand that sometimes the best way to get rewarded is to wait for further instruction.
This week I came across this great video from Simpawtico Dog Training in Big Flats, NY. Simpawtico trainer Ian Stone CAPT-KA explains a great method to teach not only a “leave it” behaviour but a “take it” behaviour to help dogs be more gentle with their mouth and not snatch food or treats. It’s a short video, just over 10 minutes, but covers a lot of important points and shows some great demonstrations of how the training should go. Check it out and tell me what you think!
Mornings at my house
I’m sure it’s not just the Belgian Shepherds that do this but my two seem to have made it a daily ritual. It just isn’t a good morning unless all 8 paws have trampled me. Six is much more gentle and precise but you have to admire Ashe for his enthusiasm!
Have a great week and have fun with your dogs!
Oh so true. To consistently get good outcomes, a knowledge of behaviour is a huge advantage. All you have to do is remember it all when you are actually running, which many of us find challenging! Loved the cartoon😊