Page 16 - C:\Users\Keita\Documents\Flip PDF Professional\Autumn 2023\

Is Anyone There?

By Sue Lindsay and The Mezanda Keeshonds
Cert Ed
A while ago now a friend said that she enjoyed watching me showing my
dogs as they always looked like they wanted to be with me above all else.
That got me thinking, as lately on social media there seems to have been
an increase in people getting frustrated while trying to train even the
basics such as house training because their dogs just aren’t getting it,
especially when they have taken on two at the same time.
As an active trainer and behaviourist who has taught and examined the
subject (amongst others in animal management), my first question is
always:

“What has already been formally taught?“.

Time and time again
the answer covers things
like sit, and down, but
dogs seem to be
expected to automatic-
ally know what we mean
by good boy or girl and
when to pay attention!
Then, added to the
confusion is ‘white noise’
for example:
“Come here, over here,
come, you, here now, sit
,sit, sit, down, sit… “.
...No, I am not making
this up! Meanwhile said Disney demonstrating how to grab the attention of
a crowd at a show whilst I am trying to give them
dog has totally switched sensible breed information over a microphone.
off.
So: Rules of engagement - because you cannot expect what you want
to happen to actually happen if there is no reliable attention; something
that needs to be taught formally alongside a consistent reward word.
Reward training is simply linking or pairing a special word with a strong
motivator. Luckily with our breed most are ‘foodies’ but equally it can be
a favourite toy or something they enjoy.
I use “YES“ for this as good boy/girl are two words and something we all
use a lot .

16