Today I was at a moving sale for a fellow dog trainer and a couple of things popped into my head. One was that I was incredibly lazy and why do I expect more from my clients then I am often willing to do myself. Too many irons in the fire, but a lot of grand plans none the less and 2) keeping access to training simple, along with the exercises we give to our students and clients can go a long way to compliance.
The lazy thing is a completely different blog and I need to come to some self realization before writing more on that. However, the keeping it simple part I can write about since it is so fresh in my brain.
While at my colleague's house I see this silver contraption folded up on the floor of her dining room as I was rifling through her for sale items and I asked her what it was. She proceeded to inform me that it was an exercise contraption for which I have already forgotten its name.
My curiosity of course got the better of me so I asked her how does it work. Perhaps again having grand plans to start exercising again (I am laughing as I write this). It appeared that it should be a simple operation, open it up and away you would go. However, I still have no idea how this contraption works. My friend could not find the video tape that goes with the product.
This made me think about all the gadgets, exercises, theories, etc we try to encourage our clients to utilize and then are befuddled by the fact they don't actually use them or implement our protocols. Often we blame them as being uncommitted or lazy, but in reality they have no idea what we are talking about and are pulled in so many directions the thought of trying to sit and read complex instructions or even watching a DVD seems overwhelming and they simply quit.
As great as all the science is, the gadgets are and game plans seem to be they are only as effective as the people implementing them. So the next time we as trainers offer some intelligent, yet time consuming program to our clients think back to that seemingly simple yet daunting exercise gadget that a moderately intelligent, yet lazy dog trainer still can't remember the name of... Keep it simple, short and fun.
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So True!
It's an important thing to remember. Training should be fun and accessible to all whenever possible. We always try to explain things in a way that even a 5-year old can understand because many dogs live with young'uns and because so many people don't want to learn to be a dog trainer, aren't interested in theory and background, they just want the dog trained. If they tune out, or our directions are to complex to follow/execute - we've failed the dog.
Kelly Gorman Dunbar
Editor, Dog Star Daily
Amen Sister...
My feelings exactly. Thanks for the affirmation. Theory is fun and useful, but irrevelent to those that only want their dog to behave. Being trained and being well-behaved in the minds of many are not the same thing. Maybe that will be my next blog.
Jill Marie O'Brien, CPDT, CNWI
APDT: 2032
www.k9nosework.com
info@k9nosework.com
Being Ready
I am probably a lot like your clients. One of your most awesome clients, of course, but I am not a trainer and am learning. When I started off, I used Cesar's techniques and quickly found they didn't work.
After a couple of months of though, I was ready to go to a basic training class, which was awesome and helped immensely. The methods were simple and things I never would have guessed. We were good at it, and it stuck. It was amazing, like magic, but I get it.
After about a year of that, I realized I was ready for some help controlling my dog's barking and reactions to other dogs and humans. Last week, I hired a trainer and found the methods to be highly effective. Again, the methods were simple and things I never would have guessed. At one point the trainer was encouraging my dog to run off and bark, only to then tempt him with a reward, and it was working! How bizarre! After only two days, and I am very much still figuring things out, my dog had a close encounter with another dog, barked once, I clicked, and my dog came over to me, sat and waited for a treat. It was amazing, like magic, but I get it.
As adults we almost always forget that learning happens in stages. As kids, we accept 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, etc as reality. But for some reason as adults when there's something we want to learn, we expect to learn it all and be done with it. And maybe as trainers, you sometimes accidentally expect that too.
I know that every day I will learn with my dog. Whether it's big training jumps or just how to more efficiently prepare his lunch. That's the way it is, and by accepting that, I don't accidentally give up.
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http://doxienews.com
Keep it going..
Keep up the good work. It seems you are on the right path. Building a solid relationship with your dog goes along way towards having a well behaved dog.
Good luck in all your future training...
Jill Marie O'Brien, CPDT, CNWI
APDT: 2032
www.k9nosework.com
info@k9nosework.com