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“Murphy, what’s the matter with you!!! Heel, boy heel” The exasperated handler slapped his left leg insistently as the young Dobe ignored his every word, straining to get to the Keeshond at the side of the classroom. A sweet elderly lady continues her litany to the confused little Boston terrier, “Sit Sadie, Sit girl. Come on, won’t you sit for mommy, please?” And the Boxer in the Open class finally has a breakthrough moment on a retrieve command and the handler misses it entirely. People trying to train
their dog often talk too much or miss the moment! In their eagerness to
‘help’ their dogs learn, students sometimes hinder their dogs’
progress and understanding with ‘too much or too little information’ at
the ‘wrong time’. They must have a clear picture in their mind of what
they want their dog to learn. Help your students break it into small parts
and help their dogs to be successful by teaching them how to clearly
identifying in their mind the ‘moment of discovery’.
In any exercise there are many such
moments and students often miss them altogether, or worse yet, speak too
soon when the dog is still confused about what is wanted. Some people
successfully use a clicker to define this moment, but students can also use
a quick verbal marker –a word that says, “That’s it! You have just
correctly guessed what I’m trying to teach you.” They need a word that
can pinpoint that moment in their dog’s mind really concisely. I prefer to
use a word because words are portable and you can’t misplace/lose them.
Students can use their word with a different tone of voice for different
levels of effort. E.g.: neutral for the average effort and excited for a new
or better effort. Some folks say “Good!” I like to say “Yes!” cause
it’s quicker for me.
Let’s say they’re trying to improve the heel position of their dog. The dog no longer pulls on the leash but its position is sloppy after a turn or change of pace. Have them make a corrective turn and/or lure the dog through the trouble spot with a target –but do it silently. They should wait for their dog to ‘arrive’ in the heel position to begin praising. Teach them to watch for it and anticipate success. The very moment it happens –have them mark it – with the ‘word’ “Yes!:” and allow the dog ‘success’ in the position by continuing heeling in a straight line for a while. Let the dog enjoy the comfort of being in the correct position. Now repeat the turn and give the dog the opportunity to discover the precise heel location again. Mark it! “YES!” If the dog doesn’t find the spot –don’t coax and don’t look back. Make another turn to correct the mistake and mark the moment that the dog re-discovers the sweet spot. Too often students try to coax a dog and hit the dog with a barrage of pleas or coaxing (which sounds a lot like they want him to continue doing what he’s doing wrong.) Or they get irritated and they use their voice inappropriately to try and threaten the dog into position. This leaves the dog fearful and not at all thinking through what they’re trying to teach it. Teach them how to use lures and the basic opposing turns, U-turns, change of pace, and side steps to bring their dogs into position without comment. Teach them to save their praise for the exact moment their dog starts doing what they asked it to do. Teach them to use their voices wisely and learn to TIME praise carefully so a dog knows just when it’s right. Once an exercise is well understood by a dog, they can gradually delay praise, but when it’s first figuring out what they want it to do, it is especially important to give it that reinforcement –not too early and not too late.
Mary Mazzeri has operated Care Dog Training in Carpentersville, Illinois since 1970. She is also a successful competitor in conformation, obedience, tracking, and lure coursing with her Irish Wolfhounds and Border Terriers.
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