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pandoravampire -> RE: Training & The Wild Kingdom (2/26/2005 2:32:47 PM)
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thanks travis,
sage words indeedy.
I have spent time with the RAF in the uk on dog training courses. I was a competer in agility, tracking, obedience with my own dogs, plus handler for others. Training dogs is something that i get a heap of enjoyment out of. A dog naturally wants to do as you bid, and time is all that it takes to teach it how.
Most of the dogs i have worked with, have been destined to be destroyed. So, yes, the 'tricks' taught, have saved its life. I used to take private classes. But you'd see the same stereotypical owners, arriving, their German Shepherds, rottweillers, and Dobes, up on hind legs entering the class room, wanting to attack every other dog or person in site. The owners complaining that the dog was too aggressive. Males in particular, could not see that they had in fact 'taught' the dog the very trick they now wished to break!
The dog given to me, would be fine, hand it back and its a snarling beast, just like the owner[8|]. Ive not done any dog training since i lost my border collie, who had won several challenge certificates in obedience. A team like we were is hard to beat.
Now, 8 yrs on, ive taken on a pup that is a rottweiller. I adore the temperment of these dogs. What seems cute at 9 weeks, will - if not corrected, ensure its destruction as a adult. But he is doing well, im rejuvenated in my love of training again. As the special relationship grows.
Most of my training experience is with either German shepherds, or Dobes as they are the breeds the RAF choose. All dogs are supplied free, all dogs have began life as a pet to an inexperienced owner, with no idea that what seemed cute as a pup, is a dominant trait, that has later as sexual maturity progressed, become a danger to own dog. All training is was based on operant conditioning. Good = reward, bad = ingnore, correction to right path, then reward. Its not rocket science.
The novelty dog of the year. Or whatever breed won best in show, well you could bet, that was the new 'craze' in the pup classes. Fashionable dogs being the 'new black'. When this breed was a working breed - hey, that was cool for me, i earnt heaps in puppy classes and one to one sessions with disobedient dogs, as working dogs were asked by novice owners to be a pet. The trendier the breed, the more pups bred. Market forces rule ok. But the less reputeable breeder, were breeding in the very traits that should of been bred out. Hence more dogs destined to become unenjoyable family pets.
Most of my training i do with either hand signals or whistle signals. Gun dogs in particular, i love to train. My brother is a breeder of gun dogs, and has a pheasant shoot, so he bred them and looked after the pups, I, with masses of help from more experienced dogs, would train the pups.
My favourite form of working dogs, is tracking. I am a morning person, so getting up early, going out alone and laying the track down, returning home to collect the dog. The site of the harness would send the dog hyper, howling to set off on the trail. I get so much pleasure from seeing a dog do, what it is meant to do its so harmonic. i love it.
As comfirmation for me of my relationshp with my dogs - obedience does it. This is my reward for the effort i have put into the dog.
My dogs return from romps in the field happy, and peaceful. However, if ive worked them, when theyve had to run mentally to keep up, when theyve been challenged and their brains have been thoroughly exercised, they return happy, and really knackered out lol. And sleep for ages. As do i!
Having emigrated to australia, im now just moved into the country, its going to be tracking haven here. Cant wait for the pup to grow up a bit, and start in earnest. Though he's learning to follow a trail allready as he sniffs his way picking up his little rewards ive left that lead back to me waiting with a lot of praise.
Here in australia, it seems to be common to keep dogs outside. The cultural differences in dog ownership seem very different to the UK. I like my dogs with my family in the home. This pup, like all four previous dogs ive owned, are from day one, the very bottom of my pack. I am its alpha female, and employ techniques as youve described to ensure this. Any deviance from it lowest pack member behaviour that i see, will be corrected, and then the dog retested to ensure it rememebers the lesson taught.
My other animals are left to sort out their heirarchy by themselves. So currently, the pack order is me, my son, our cat, the male duck, the puppy, then the female duck. The puppy in one week, has climbed from bottom, to second to bottom. Female duck is a bit of a coward coz she has her husband around to fight her battles. Only when hubby is away, can the dog overtake her in pack order.
Yeah, i too can go on and on and on about dogs and training methods lol.
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