08/01/2025
Starting dogs can be full on! Are you prepared to embrace the chaos? It's all for a good cause - you can't steer if you don't have momentum, and enthusiasm is that momentum 😁
Trainers that make lots of corrections with young dogs, including not letting them be tight, fast, etc. often believe their dogs should “push through” even when their body language isn’t keen for the work, usually in an effort to accelerate the training.
The problem with this is, you cannot recreate initial enthusiasm. For some young dogs, the resentment for the phase of work that was forced upon them, stays with them and could have been avoided if the handler had changed their approach.
If you try to shape or push your young dog and he gets reluctant, sniffs, goes unusually wide, is master conscious, turns tail or comes back to you for reassurance, he’s telling you that you’re spoiling his enjoyment.
It’s his way of letting you know he’s not ready for the pressure you're applying or doesn’t understand your way of communicating—It’s not ever normal or acceptable that a dog should quit working.
Sometimes handlers mistakenly interpret this and blame their dog, rather than recognizing something about their training approach has a bullying mindset rather than a teaching mindset.
Watch your dogs body language and demeanor. If he’s not enjoying what he’s doing, he’s probably not ready for the next step and/or he needs you to revise your approach.
Once he is enthusiastic and confident, try the next step and make adjustments based on his response.
Take the time it takes, to be certain your dog fully understands and enjoys a new training concept before you set expectations or make the task difficult.
Patience is one of the best gifts you can give your young dog to empower his confidence and development.
macraeway.com
Stockdog training in northern Victoria. All breeds and levels of experience welcome. I have worked with a variety of breeds at all levels of training.
