The temperament and individual characteristics of each dog must be considered and the training technique varied to meet the occasion.
When a trainer knows what he can expect from a dog and what his reaction will be, he has the advantage. The trainer automatically anticipates the dog's next move and decides whether to force the issue or to lessen his demands. There is an art in knowing when to be gentle, when to be firm, when to rebuke, and when to encourage. The good trainer is born with essential qualities that give him the natural ability to coordinate his body motions with every move the dog makes. The result is perfect timing. When the trainer is definite in his actions because he knows what he is doing, the dog then knows that he knows, and the result is respect! Respect gained through admiration and not through fear will bring a happy response that is proof of one's training personality.
A dog can be forced to be obedient, but he cannot be forced to like obedience! He recognizes the fact that all training is progressive and that each new step becomes easy if the preceding lessons have been thoroughly understood. He is not afraid to retrace his steps momentarily if in so doing it will give the dog confidence. Because of his experience and understanding, the proficient trainer is aware of the disastrous effects caused by nagging and he will avoid it at all costs. Because he is patient, he does not become exasperated if results are slow in coming. The clever trainer succeeds in making the dog feel responsible for the correction. He is kind, yet firm, and above all will make obedience fun for the dog.
A good trainer, however, does not necessarily make a good training class instructor. Some people may train at home and give private instruction with success, but when faced with a large group they lack the necessary qualities of leadership. In the training class it is not a question of working out a single problem, but of solving about thirty to fifty different problems all at the same time.
The training director must be a likable person and have the admiration and respect of his pupils. He must have diplomacy and be patient and tolerant of others. It is not always easy to teach someone else how to accomplish what one is able to do oneself. The good training director never permits the class to be held up for a long period of time while he discusses one dog's problem with the owner, nor does he hold back the group for one or two backward dogs. The owners with special problems should be asked to come early or to stay after class for personal instruction.
A good dog trainer/class director should divide the beginners' group into two parts. This will allow for a rest period at which time the owners may watch the others and see how they train. Knowledge can be gained from watching, if only to learn what not to do! He should not dismiss his class without introducing a new exercise or a variation of the class routine in order to encourage the owners to practice at home. The owner who thinks his dog is good and needs no training between sessions can be made to understand that there is always room for improvement.
The initial meeting of a training class should be held without dogs unless it is a club affair and the dogs have had previous training. The confusion that results when a group of untrained dogs and inexperienced owners come together for the first time is too much to cope with and little training would be accomplished. A quiet meeting where problems can be discussed calmly and the various steps are demonstrated without the noise and excitement is more productive. This will give the beginner an over-all picture of what he is expected to accomplish during the weeks that follow.
The trainer would do well to demonstrate the basic steps with two or three untrained dogs brought to the class for this purpose. When this is followed by a short exhibition with dogs that are already trained, the group can see by comparison how quickly results may be achieved. A question-and-answer session will benefit the entire class.
The questions should be repeated clearly by the instructor and his answers given so that everyone in the class can hear. Usually one person's question is relevant to the problem of other members of the group. A general discussion will thus avoid time-consuming repetitions of the subject.
Participants should be warned what to expect the following week when they arrive with their dogs. They should be shown how to stop uncontrolled barking by keeping the dogs on a short leash, and how to handle the situation if a dog fight develops. It must be impressed upon the owners never to stand still while his dog lunges forward toward another dog. He must turn away and jerk hard on the leash. A demonstration should be given of the proper way to control an aggressive dog by a careful quick jerk on the leash and a sharp "No!" This technique can be used to prevent fights and to stop excessive noise.
He should remind the owners not to feed their dogs for several hours before coming to class and to see that they are exercised. Request the owners to keep their dogs on a short lead when entering and leaving the building, to walk in the center of all hallways, and to keep the dogs (particularly the males) away from corners and posts. A dog that deliberately misbehaves inside the building should be barred from the classroom.
No comments:
Post a Comment