TRAINING

My overall approach to training and behaviour management has been formed over a life time living with dogs and other companion animals. And for the last 53 years from attending Courses, reading books, talking & listening to my peers, on many areas of training, behaviour, instructing etc. and above all learning from the great dogs that have been a part of my life. So after all this, I have reached apart of my life where I am comfortable with what I believe in, and what I do. I remain open minded to every new idea that comes along but feel that I don't need to agree with every 'new expert' or 'method' just to keep fashionable.

It was with my first GSD Kim that I became interested in training - that was in 1966. At that time there were very few dog training clubs and if you were lucky enough to find one then predominantly competitive obedience handlers ran them and those instructing were mostly ex-service dog trainers from the Police, Army or RAF.

The training for both owner and dog was very much based on achieving a high standard of accuracy and success in all exercises. This meant that every dog and handler was trained in the whole range of competitive obedience exercises as if they were aiming to compete in top-level obedience competitions. This regimented method of training was all there was whether you planned to enter competitions or not.

When I joined a class, I learnt from the Instructors, that 'Come' meant get here fast and sit straight in front - 'Stay' meant do not move until I tell you, you can. 'Heel' meant walk close to my left leg with your front leg in line with mine - in short the training for both dog and handler was very much based on discipline- obedience - respect. When I became interested in becoming an Instructor I was advised by these experienced trainers never to instruct an exercise, I had not trained my own dog(s) to do. And never advise methods or give advice that I couldn't justify a reason for offering.

The dogs seemed to enjoy the training and the owners appreciated the results that teaching in this way produced. I never saw a dog abused or injured by this approach (saw some handlers shouted at!). Over time many owners have become less interested in the accuracy that these classes aimed for and a more casual response from their dog has became acceptable - with many just wanting a dog to 'Sit' 'Roll Over' 'Give Paw' and 'socializing' with other dogs.

We should all believe in letting our dogs having fun and freedom - but for this to really happen I believe that we first need to training our dogs in the 5 basic control exercises  at least.

"If you don't correct you accept"

 My love and compassion for animals in general and dogs in particular is unquestionable and

I  share the views of Tom Buckley of the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers

"The past three decades has also seen the arrival of the Behaviourists Psychologists, Counsellors, and related talkers, writers, and listeners. A Degree appears to be de rigueur if you want to be able to command large fees in any of these specialisms. Mentioning money, a great deal has been made by some very enterprising people who have clever marketing techniques to popularise new versions of old established training aids. They have been interesting years with more books, magazines, videos and the world wide web pumping out dog related information as if there was no tomorrow. But has it all produced better trainers? I really do not know. Has it produced any more definitive knowledge of how a dog's mind works? I doubt it. I must have spoken to hundreds of dogs in my lifetime but not one of them has spoken to me. Only when one does will I really know that my interpretations of their actions are correct - not pure surmise...

 A TRIBUTE TO MY DOGS

The spirits of all my dogs remain with me - truer more constant friends than I have or will ever know.

All have vigilantly been by my side as I passed through the sunshine and shadows of the years.

They taught me more about life and how to be a friend than all the words in all the books.

They have been my best friends, my counsellor, protector, confidante, playmate, workmate and soulmate.

By the sharing with each other of our friendship, knowledge and love we have become a integral part of each other.