15/07/2025
A very apposite post … again 👏👏👏
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16k6Z92nj7/?mibextid=wwXIfr
There are very few shortcuts that don’t cost double later—
The key to training success isn’t found in achieving the perceived next step, employing a more sophisticated technique or trying a new gimmick. A dog achieving his best, directly correlates to the quality of his foundation training and your mindset.
When trainers don’t see the progress in their dog they expect or desire, they sometimes get frustrated; their response is often to press harder, hyper focus on the specific area or force their dog….the exact opposite of what many dogs need.
We see this with young dogs or when teaching a new concept.
Specifically, handlers believing when their dog makes a mistake, it is the chance to ‘correct’, instead of recognizing, it is the chance to teach.
While everyone knows it’s not reasonable to correct for something your dog doesn’t yet understand , handlers can, inadvertently, do just that.
Whether it’s a shout, a yell, a “no”, or other correction, when a dog doesn’t yet understand a concept, doing this isn’t productive and can be detrimental.
‘Correction’ is defined as a rebuke or punishment, assumption of comprehension to know differently/better.
It doesn’t offer explanation, foster understanding and worse, it can deliver the message that trying (offering behavior), has negative consequences.
Dogs can develop an unpleasant association with the behavior that was ‘corrected’ such as:
a wrong flank direction, attempt at the shed, heading the sheep, shape of the flank, lifting off of a person, turning back, the list is endless.
It can affect overall enthusiasm, enjoyment, understanding and the willingness for a dog to want to try.
While the intent of the ‘correction’ is to speed up the learning, it can actually slow it down and cause many additional problems.
It’s ok and even productive, to let your dog be wrong when learning a new concept—
and also important he understands, it is not a big deal.
Instead of correction, employ connection; it’s a teaching opportunity.
Dogs, and trainers alike, learn from being allowed to make mistakes.
Training epiphanies are not common; the majority of the time the ‘sudden improvement’ is actually a reflection of the body of work that preceded it, which includes being wrong.
Mistakes aren’t the opposite of success, they are part of it and overcoming them helps develop confidence and mental fortitude.
Every dog learns at a different speed and the training time is dependent on the individual.
Understanding mistakes are inevitable and ultimately, pave the road to excellence empowers your bond and partnership.
macraeway.com
