Training the Pointing Labrador

One month out from this year's Triple Crown we talk about some good ideas to get yourself and your dog ready....

In today's episode, we break down the mental benefit of teaching sit thoroughly and as early as you can without detracting from the desire to retrieve.  Including pointing retrievers.  It is a taught response that will be highly valuable in more advanced training, but we rarely look at it that way.

Join my discussion with Troy Benson, trainer, breeder, hunting guide and APLA President.  We talk about why he does what he does and how he sees the organization now and going forward.  Definitely a good listen for serious pointing Lab folks!

Apologies for the silence for the last few weeks, explanation contained within.  In today's episode, we talk about raising your pup with the long-term goal in mind making all of your training much smoother and easier on both you and your dog. Many of the small details in your daily life add up to making training require more pressure and force, or the exact opposite.  Some food for thought in puppy rearing...

Based on some questions from our recent Handling Seminar, we address the question of planting birds in the upland field.  The assumption that there is 'a way' to do it is not entirely correct.  There are a number of considerations before training an upland dog and determining how to plant each training session.

In today's episode, we talk about how, when and why and electric training collar can be invaluable.  There are so many off-base ideas about the use of these collars in dog training, let's break it down on the dog's level....

This episode is for the dogs and owners coming to the Northern California Pointing Lab Club Upland Seminar held on April 17.  So you know what to expect, how to prepare if you're bringing your dog, etc.  These seminars are always so much fun, watching the light come on (in dogs and people!)  Looking forward to seeing old friends and new converts...

In this episode, 2 people take the role of the dog in blind running.  On a search for a large chocolate bar, they learn the job of the dog is a lot harder than they ever knew.  Blaming 'That darned dog' is so much easier than understanding this from their perspective.  An excellent exercise to undertake.

In today's episode we talk about the importance of starting a future upland hunter on the best foot possible.  Often, we approach this work like they already know they are upland dogs, and we try to rush in the training.  Upland work is a logical, linear process, which when done in a manner that suits that pup, results in the beautiful upland hunters who do not need one note of instruction.

In today's "The season is upon is" episode, we talk about how to bulletproof yourself and your dog before you step up to the line and ways to avoid the "She never does that in training" phenomenon.  You can't get rid of nervousness, but you can work around it.  There are ways to help you, that will wind up really helping your dog.

In today's episode, I break down two "dog problems" I helped with.  One a dog with solid basics of handling choosing to not get into the water on either marks or blinds; the other a puppy who refused to retrieve any puppy bumper but its' own.  Addressing behavioral problems is never about what they should be doing, but what you've done that allowed the problem to generate.  Interesting study...

We address the more advanced training in this discussion.  The more advanced training can be accomplished by staying in the most fundamental aspects of the training.  Dogs learn more and have substantially more confidence not by practicing all the hard things, but by consistently practicing the components of the 'hard things'.  It is a powerful tool for those with the patience to use it.

In today's episode, we break down one of the biggest causes of training problems:  looking right through your student.  We often take our timelines and recipes and then stick the dog to them.  This can work, but what do you when it doesn't, and how do you go about preventing problems by created by fitting your square peg into a round hole?  Read on....