MARCH 2010 TIP OF THE MONTH
Understanding What You are Doing
Recently, I was helping some people with their dog. I was attempting to describe the nuances of handling a dog while running a blind or doing casting and lining drills. As I struggled to find the language, the words that would communicate what I was trying to get across, I heard a comment I made right along with the folks I was talking with. When I heard it, it was a Eureka! moment for me as well as it was for my audience. I love when that happens, because it is some thought that is as new to me as it is to whoever else is hearing it, and I take it as my own, as soon as I hear it.
What I had said was that while running a dog on a blind, you are having an ongoing conversation with the dog. After I made the statement, I had to think about it. As I thought it about it, tested it and examined it for weakness, I instead found it to be exactly accurate – at least as far as I am handling a dog on a blind. When you are engaged in a control based activity with a dog, if you could watch the action in the form of a movie, complete with subtitles, it would indeed take the form of a conversation. I also think it may make the whole endeavor seem clearer and simpler if the person actually considered viewing it that way. Let’s break down running a blind retrieve with a dog into the form of a conversation.
Person: Okay Fido, look out towards the field, in the direction of that long row of green tufts. It’s that direction. Now, GO. (Back)
Dog: Okay, I’ll go get it. (Take off running)
Person: Whoa, not so far that way. (Whistle)
Dog: Yikes! What’s wrong? (Seated facing you)
Person: You need to get headed a little more westerly, but not a whole lot. (Gives a left slight angle back cast)
Dog: Okay, got it.
Person: Whoa, not so far that way either. Settle down, will you? (Whistle)
Dog: Now what? Can you make up your mind?
Person: Split the difference. Go just between where you were going before and where you just went. (Gives a right back cast.)
Dog: Gosh I hope I get this right…(heads off to the right so as not to go left again)
Person: Whoa, You are way off. What are you thinking you crazy dog? . (Whistle with indirect pressure on sit)
Dog: I can’t win. (Ambles off in a different direction)
Person: What is your problem dog?!?!?! (Blowing loud, frustrated sit whistle..)
Dogs don’t think in words and there may be a few expletives deleted here, or at least soon would be, but I think the point is made. All the while you are sending, stopping and casting, you are communicating with your dog. You may feel you are running a robot which should take every cast and every whistle with the same clarity you have in giving them, but that is never the case. You may give a cast which is 10 degrees to the left of back, but what the dog may hear is “Don’t go that direction!” So they turn hard away from where they were going, and then - you are mad. Once you are mad or frustrated when they are doing their version of their best, they cannot win and then neither of you will. You think the dog isn’t trying or isn’t very smart or trained very well, and the dog thinks you are confusing and something to be avoided, at least while blind retrieves are being run.
Instead, consider commands you give, body language you use (or don’t use), the tone of your voice and the intent in your actions as the script in your play. Are you saying what you really want to say? If a dog takes too much of a cast he or she either needs more practice, or you need to understand what the prior casts or commands you gave had meant to the dog. Listen. These aren’t robots, they are living things and when you interact with them, just as we humans do when together, there is a conversation, a dialogue going on between you. If the teacher in a math class won’t stop long enough to notice one student is waving their hand to ask a question because they are severely confused, they wouldn’t be a good teacher. If your dog is doing its version of waving its hand in confusion – notice that. Teach and understand instead of correct and reinforce.
I see this lack of ‘dialogue’ around the water most of all. Around water, most casts are either ‘get in the water’ casts or ‘get out of the water’ casts – in the mind of the dog. People, however, feel that dogs understand complex geometries and angles and subtle entrances and angles. Really advanced or mentally sophisticated dogs do after a long time practicing with a knowledgeable handler, but in general, dogs view water very simply. Either they are supposed to get in, stay in, or get out. If you converse with them in those terms, handling in water can be managed and even enjoyed by both. If you give a slight cast towards the shore and the dog hears “Hey, get out now.” so he heads for land, correction or punishment will teach the dog that he will never do the right thing and that water work is a game of survival, not one he can master and enjoy.
Engaging in a conversation while working with a dog does not mean the work is sloppy, slow or without high expectations. It means you pay as much attention to your dog and all that you’ve communicated to it while working – as you want the dog to pay to you. Stop and listen and the dog will tell you when it doesn’t understand, or when it just doesn’t want to work. You react differently to each of those. Teach when the dog needs it, reinforce when the dog needs to know it has to uphold its end of the training bargain. You don’t have to guess at which action you should take. If you are a good communicator – you will be told. And when your dog learns that you speak his or her language, they really open up.
Hey, it works with friends, family, coworkers and funny thing - it works just as well with dogs. Become a good conversationalist. |
