Many of us probably show up at the training ground with the expectation that the trainer will give us the many gems we are apparently missing, but what happens if we don't quite fit in? How many of us dare to speak out? And how do we feel if we don't get it done, but follow the flow of the other trainees? I was to experience those exact feelings myself when, as a new dog handler for the breed, I showed up for training for the first time, but did I also do the right thing myself...?
In fact, I had met the trainer before in another context and I was already somewhat skeptical about the training methods. But I had paid dearly for them and as a newbie, you also have to look around a bit and get a feel for what other people with many years of experience use in terms of training methods. There was a bit of a sloppiness with my clicker in my hand and the very loose collar hanging on the puppy. We were perhaps already a bit off, but my little model student followed along nicely at the level of the others and I was able to put my prejudices on standby. "Now put on your yes hat!" and it was now a nice experience for the first 20 minutes. Then the feeling came and it gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach. Now I won't go into details, but it was a far cry from the positive learning method that was used. I straightened my back and told myself that I should continue to see this as a learning curve. My puppy could, however, feel that the leash was getting shorter and more clicks and treats were coming his way, so he was probably fine with it 😊
The last 20 minutes went by quickly with more theory and the team had become more calm. I listened and I chose to talk to my breeder about the lesson we had just gone through. He is now a fantastic breeder and we made a plan together for how the training should go next time and where I should stand firm in my stance.
In any case, it wasn't going to knock me out and I just had to prove to the trainer and the students that there are other methods. So I was trusted to join the team all 7 times. I said no to the exercises that went beyond my limits and at the same time chose to keep my back straight. Once I fell in because I was tired and the puppy was difficult, as a puppy is now. And I am terribly ashamed that I fell in that time. But we both learned from the episode about where my limit is and when I should just acknowledge that a puppy is tired. So even though I didn't agree with the training methods, we still learned something new. In fact, several of the students also learned something and at the end we also received a thank you for the challenge and a pat on the back from the others. The yes hat is still on, but I have now found another more suitable team to join.
BUT my thoughts are still on all those who don't dare to speak up or who expect the trainer to know best and therefore don't listen to their gut feeling. Dog training is a science and is individual from person to person, and indeed also from dog to dog. So why do we let a single trainer with "many years of experience" still bring us down to a level that doesn't suit us? And why aren't more of us speaking out? I see more people who simply choose not to renew their membership rather than saying STOP in time. What is it that makes us most often let the dog be the loser in this game and either continue training or stop completely? I myself chose a middle ground, but who benefits from it in the long run? In the end, it's certainly not easy to be a dog owner, and especially not as a completely new or just new to the circle.
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger:
My name is Cynthia Jensen and my biggest interest lies in dog sports. My boyfriend and I have 5 dogs, all of whom are hunting dogs and who are with us (almost) everywhere for tests, exhibitions and not least on the hunt. I have previously written for "Vi med Hund" and am currently writing for "HUNDEN".
I am looking forward to coming on board as a Blogger at DogCoach and sharing my thoughts on dogs in everyday life as active working dogs.
Standing out on the training ground
Many of us probably show up at the training ground with the expectation that the trainer will give us the many gems we are apparently missing, but what happens if we don't quite fit in? How many of us dare to speak out? And how do we feel if we don't get it done, but follow the flow of the other trainees? I was to experience those exact feelings myself when, as a new dog handler for the breed, I showed up for training for the first time, but did I also do the right thing myself...?
In fact, I had met the trainer before in another context and I was already somewhat skeptical about the training methods. But I had paid dearly for them and as a newbie, you also have to look around a bit and get a feel for what other people with many years of experience use in terms of training methods. There was a bit of a sloppiness with my clicker in my hand and the very loose collar hanging on the puppy. We were perhaps already a bit off, but my little model student followed along nicely at the level of the others and I was able to put my prejudices on standby. "Now put on your yes hat!" and it was now a nice experience for the first 20 minutes. Then the feeling came and it gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach. Now I won't go into details, but it was a far cry from the positive learning method that was used. I straightened my back and told myself that I should continue to see this as a learning curve. My puppy could, however, feel that the leash was getting shorter and more clicks and treats were coming his way, so he was probably fine with it 😊
The last 20 minutes went by quickly with more theory and the team had become more calm. I listened and I chose to talk to my breeder about the lesson we had just gone through. He is now a fantastic breeder and we made a plan together for how the training should go next time and where I should stand firm in my stance.
In any case, it wasn't going to knock me out and I just had to prove to the trainer and the students that there are other methods. So I was trusted to join the team all 7 times. I said no to the exercises that went beyond my limits and at the same time chose to keep my back straight. Once I fell in because I was tired and the puppy was difficult, as a puppy is now. And I am terribly ashamed that I fell in that time. But we both learned from the episode about where my limit is and when I should just acknowledge that a puppy is tired. So even though I didn't agree with the training methods, we still learned something new. In fact, several of the students also learned something and at the end we also received a thank you for the challenge and a pat on the back from the others. The yes hat is still on, but I have now found another more suitable team to join.
BUT my thoughts are still on all those who don't dare to speak up or who expect the trainer to know best and therefore don't listen to their gut feeling. Dog training is a science and is individual from person to person, and indeed also from dog to dog. So why do we let a single trainer with "many years of experience" still bring us down to a level that doesn't suit us? And why aren't more of us speaking out? I see more people who simply choose not to renew their membership rather than saying STOP in time. What is it that makes us most often let the dog be the loser in this game and either continue training or stop completely? I myself chose a middle ground, but who benefits from it in the long run? In the end, it's certainly not easy to be a dog owner, and especially not as a completely new or just new to the circle.
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger:
My name is Cynthia Jensen and my biggest interest lies in dog sports. My boyfriend and I have 5 dogs, all of whom are hunting dogs and who are with us (almost) everywhere for tests, exhibitions and not least on the hunt. I have previously written for "Vi med Hund" and am currently writing for "HUNDEN".
I am looking forward to coming on board as a Blogger at DogCoach and sharing my thoughts on dogs in everyday life as active working dogs.