Excellence not perfection

[Naj]

Just seen this and had to post it. It encapsulates my philosophy on developing a good working dog.

https://www.facebook.com/48317122507725 ... 88?sfns=mo

[ips]

Interesting read

[WGD]

Just seen this and had to post it. It encapsulates my philosophy on developing a good working dog.

https://www.facebook.com/48317122507725 ... 88?sfns=mo

[CockerCanuck]

I certainly agree with the author of this. On another thread we have been discussion how different breeds may learn a bit differently. I have had many Labradors all of whom seem to just love to learn even when they don't really understand the point of what you are teaching them. They just love the process of training. In contrast my CBR seems to need to understand the practical purpose before he will apply himself. I have said before he is tough to teach but quick to learn. We very quickly came to agree that our common purpose was to get ducks in the boat. After that he did an awful lot of learning on the job and he progressed in this type of learning faster than any Lab I have owned.

[reidller]

I read it on fb, makes perfect sense. I expect 99.9% of working dog owners would be over the moon with 'excellent', and surely 'perfection' is in the eye of the beholder anyway

[Judy]

I certainly agree with the author of this. On another thread we have been discussion how different breeds may learn a bit differently. I have had many Labradors all of whom seem to just love to learn even when they don't really understand the point of what you are teaching them. They just love the process of training. In contrast my CBR seems to need to understand the practical purpose before he will apply himself. I have said before he is tough to teach but quick to learn. We very quickly came to agree that our common purpose was to get ducks in the boat. After that he did an awful lot of learning on the job and he progressed in this type of learning faster than any Lab I have owned.

I had a Flatcoat like this, she saw little point in dummy training, stopping to whistle, etc., but once out picking up it all clicked and we became a team.

[Nickheref]

I once had a springer who was the same, dummy work was undertaken with happiness to do it because I had asked but no more than that and it was only when we moved onto game that he really understood and tried his hardest.

Whilst I completely agree with the article in the way it is intended there are "mistakes" and mistakes,the only issue I see it is that it will be seized upon by those whose dogs are out of control (the he is good enough for me and I don't mind him running in on every bird shot etc brigade ) and used as an excuse that the young dog will improve by making these "mistakes" but we all know that a young spaniel that is starting to hunt hard and fast for itself will not improve as a gundog but will become an even better gamefinder for itself but no one else and a young lab who starts running in will not suddenly become steady due to making the "mistake" of running in.

[CockerCanuck]

I once had a springer who was the same, dummy work was undertaken with happiness to do it because I had asked but no more than that and it was only when we moved onto game that he really understood and tried his hardest.

Whilst I completely agree with the article in the way it is intended there are "mistakes" and mistakes,the only issue I see it is that it will be seized upon by those whose dogs are out of control (the he is good enough for me and I don't mind him running in on every bird shot etc brigade ) and used as an excuse that the young dog will improve by making these "mistakes" but we all know that a young spaniel that is starting to hunt hard and fast for itself will not improve as a gundog but will become an even better gamefinder for itself but no one else and a young lab who starts running in will not suddenly become steady due to making the "mistake" of running in.

Yes Nick I agree. I like the authors approach to bringing along a pup slowly and allowing them to make mistakes, in as close to a real world environment as possible, when it comes to learning to cover ground and to hunt. However there should be no negotiation on the basics. Here means here, right now. Sit means sit, until told otherwise.

[Cass]

I enjoy watching a dog mess up and correct itself. It lets you know the dog really learned the lesson.

[Naj]

I don’t see any issue. If you’re teaching a spaniel to hunt close then that’s best done in a similar environment to that in which it will be hunting when working, and much easier if started from the get go. I’d see the parallel with the article being that of schooling spaniels to quarter on bare grass, or with ball lanes, for months and months and then everything goes to pot when the dog is finally introduced to game and gamey ground.

Years ago I knew a guy who ran a lot of training classes and who aimed for perfection. His dogs were drilled to Within an inch of their lives and he bragged that there was no situation in a working test that he hadn’t trained for so they could cope with anything. But they were as boring as ditch water to watch because they were bored to tears. Some of the best dogwork in the field comes out of imperfection in a dog reverting to initiative. That’s what the partnership is about, finding the balance.

Naj