21/03/2025
Itâs easy to get caught up in the exciting stuff when youâre working with a super high-drive, well-trained dog. Whether itâs a sport dog or an operational dog, we sometimes overlook the importance of reinforcing the basics â those seemingly mundane tasks that lay the foundation for everything we do.
When youâve had a dog for a while and know theyâve got a solid understanding of a huge range of skills, itâs tempting to focus on the more advanced work. After all, the dog âknows it,â right? But the truth is, those foundational behaviours are what keep everything running smoothly. Reinforcing the simple stuff â engagement, focus, and calmness â makes a world of difference when it really counts.
I remember going to a Mondioring competition once and seeing a hugely successful competitor training the day before his run. Normally, when you see people train the day before a competition, theyâre working on the more complex parts of the routine or fine-tuning the flashy stuff. But this handler was different. He wasnât phased about the advanced work. Instead, he calmly focused on reinforcing the basics. I watched as he spent time rewarding quiet engagement, simple focus, and basic position changes. It wasnât about drilling competition exercises â it was about ensuring the dog was happy, connected, and grounded in those core behaviours.
That moment really stuck with me. It was a brilliant reminder that no matter how well-trained your dog is, those fundamentals never stop being important. In fact, theyâre what make the more advanced work possible.
When was the last time you fed your dog for getting in the van? You might be thinking, âI donât need to feed my dog for getting in the van â he doesnât have a problem with that. Itâs something he should do without negotiation.â And sure, your dog probably should know how to get in the van, and it should be something thatâs easy and automatic. But thatâs not the point. The point is what happens in the dogâs mind when you reinforce those simple behaviours. The effects ricochet across the rest of your training.
Every time you reward those âsmallâ moments, youâre building value in your connection, sharpening engagement, and reinforcing the idea that working with you is always worthwhile â whether itâs a flashy exercise or a quiet, everyday task. Those ripples add up, creating a dog that is not only skilled but also confident and eager to work in every situation.
PD Angus after his mud facial.
