A.B.C.C. - Training Basics – Gun Dogs
(by Bob Pickworth)
Training should aim to enhance the gifts that genetics has provided.
Whilst
I am glad that notions of dominance and aggressive dog training are
being replaced by positive reinforcement and non-confrontational
methods, it is folly to forget who is in charge, or be ashamed of words
like ‘command’ or ‘control’. Dogs are dogs, they are not people. We
give them commands not only for our benefit, but for theirs. As well as
being valued family pets, they carry out a range of complex and
essential tasks.
All dog training is founded on four basic principles. To get satisfactory results, especially in dog sports, these basics are: Attitude, Balance, Control and Communication.
There are many other important principles, but most will fit into the
ABCC. When a problem or issue surfaces in training, (and they will)
it’s important to go “back to basics” and analyse a sequential approach
to dealing with the particular issue and in a methodical and slow
manner. (“the quickest way to train a dog is slowly”). Generally the
problem will relate to one of the ABCC and very likely the last,
Communication. It is far better to not allow an undesirable behaviour
to occur, than to have to correct it. (Bad habits are like a
comfortable bed – easy to get into and hard to get out of). It can take
many weeks (or months) to correct a “bad” habit, an example is breaking
to shot, or unsteadiness at the line (I know from personal experience).
No
Dog is superior in all areas of retrieving ability, but some will be
more able than others. Dogs with weaker natural skills can benefit from
well planned, prepared and executed drills. Early training experiences
are foundational and prepare the groundwork for future success.
ATTITUDE: A poor attitude rarely produces a good student.
Attitude
and motivation go hand in hand. Learning what motivates your dog to
elicit the responses you desire, is the key to getting the desired
outcomes. This is even more applicable to dogs than in humans, because
dogs are unable to reason or rationalise behaviour as we do. A sound
example explained to me when studying Animal Behaviour at University,
was that of a dog near a fireside in wintertime. As the fire dies down,
the dog gets closer and closer to the fire to keep warm. When the fire
diminishes, the dog does not have the reasoning ability (intelligence)
to get a log and drop it on the fire.
Too much attitude is
equally as difficult to manage (needing more control) however it is far
easier to slow down a “hyper” dog than warm up a corpse. You will often
hear the words, “driven”, “high performance”, “hyper active” and
similar, for dogs that are highly motivated and “switched on” to work /
play. A working dog with “high attitude”, is a challenging student, but
far better than one with low motivation.
Like physical traits, personality and character traits are genetically encoded and transferable from the sire and dam.
Desired attitudes
include: Biddable, compliant, cooperative, tractable, amenable,
dutiful, submissive, willing to please, acquiescent, courageous,
sagacity, attentive, responsive, educated thinking, Concentration
(locking on) and partnership.
Undesirable attitudes
include: stubborn, independent, uncooperative, self-absorbed,
unsociable, fearful, anxious, aggressive, disobedient, cowardly,
reticent, inattentive, irresponsive, lack of concentration (head
swinging).
A puppy / offspring chosen from a litter where the
desirable characteristics / traits of the sire and dam are known will
provide a greater chance of producing those same desired
characteristics / traits, than a randomly selected pup. This is a good
rule of thumb, but by no means definitive – there have been many
outstanding offspring from animals of unknown or mediocre parentage,
whether dogs or racehorses etc.
BALANCE: is the harmony between taking direction and applying it independently.
Balance
in training will produce the desired outcomes. This balance is
demonstrated in the field where dog and handler communicate effectively
and there is educated thinking and partnership, where the dog has been
educated to take direction and applies it intelligently /
independently. Balance, is that fine line of; application of training
by following (drilled and embedded) direction and intelligently
“thinking it through” to retrieve the game. This is epitomised where a
dog is sent to an area of the fall (or blind) and uses its senses to
hunt and cover the area until it finds the game and correctly delivers
it to hand.
Balance in training includes: land and water, marks
and blinds, cover and open ground, independent working and partnership,
work and play.
Too much of one, will be at the expense of the
other. Too much marking will see blind work diminish, too much land
work and not enough water, will see water work diminish etc.
A
well-bred gundog pup from a retrieving background will arrive with
retrieving drive. This does not have to be taught, it is instinctive
behaviour (however it needs to be managed and directed). A pup / young
dog will benefit from steadiness; control; and obedience drills.
Excessive marking in the early stages, can promote unsteadiness and
excitability with the outcome of a ‘self-employed” and strong headed
dog that wants to retrieve on its own and ignores the direction of the
handler. Knowing “how much is too much” comes with experience, but a
75% steadiness / obedience to 25% retrieving play with a young pup is
probably about right.
Mike Lardy suggests “ Never needlessly
overcite a pup with repetitive, meaningless marks unless the pup has a
motivational problem”.
CONTROL: complying with the handler’s directions / commands.
Having
a well-mannered and controlled dog is essential. A controlled dog will
watch, listen and carry out the commands / directions given by the
handler, promptly and efficiently. An uncontrolled dog on the other
hand, is unruly, disobedient and is self-employed, ignoring or only
partly carrying out the commands given. An uncontrolled dog is a
nuisance to all. Gun dogs enjoy hunting and retrieve as a function of
their genetic instincts, Control allows them to achieve this inherently
rewarding experience, by working in a team, following the handler’s
commands.
Control begins the day the pup comes home. Crate
training, toileting, feed time and basic obedience need to be
considered and carried out as part of a methodical routine. Being
haphazard with these routines will result in unpredictable results in
both training and the field. Similarly inconsistent expectations for
the dog will result in confusion and erratic outcomes.
To have a well-controlled and disciplined dog, you must be a well-controlled and self-disciplined handler.
COMMUNICATION: Using verbal and non-verbal commands so that the dog clearly understands what is expected.
Dogs,
like humans, are happiest when they are doing something worthwhile.
Training dogs is about communicating to them what is worthwhile (what
we want them to do – or not do). Dogs have primitive brains (compared
to humans), they rely heavily on their senses, particularly their sense
of smell, which is far more powerful than that of humans. Animal
behaviouralists suggest by 6-12 weeks of age a dog's brain is fully
developed, but not its experience. It's during this early stage that
relationship with a pup and the handler and foundations of effective
communication is important.
Relating to Gun-dog work (any
training), basic obedience commands; Sit (which also means Watch me and
Stay until released), Come, Toilet, Fetch, Yes and No, can be learned
very quickly with Patience, Praise and Practise.
Learning what
communication best works with your dog (positive encouragement is
important, but “NO”, must also be learned and “I am the boss”) is the
key to success, but introducing whistle commands is useful, even at an
early age. I am always amazed at how early a pup can learn hand signals
when cued with voice commands and positive reinforcement.
It’s
probably a good idea to introduce “fetch play” during this stage, but
only with obedience work, remembering to keep it fun - holding on to
the pup until you command “fetch” (reinforcing steadiness) - Bill
Hillman calls this “The Game”.
The most effective communicators are the most successful handers.
©
This
page is provided by Working Gundog Club Inc.
(Affiliated with Dogs NSW)
