#dogmanship

A tool is a tool. It doesn't matter the quality of a hammer or drill, it matters the quality of the craftsman.

I can pick up that drill, and do a fairly disastrous job of making kitchen cupboards. But hand that drill over to a skilled craftsman, and they will all look a whole lot better. Is it the drill that was flawed? Should I buy a different brand?

Dog training tools are the same. It doesn't matter if you use a halti, no pull harness, buckle collar, pinch collar, clicker, or whatever you want to use to teach your dog to walk nicely on a leash. If your skills are lacking, so will the end behaviour be. Trying to buy bigger and better tools isn't going to help you until you look inwards and realize that it is indeed you, yourself, who is lacking the skills. There are some exceptions to this rule, but they are truly exceptions!

This is the fascinating part of dog training. All come to me needing skills, but many are unwilling to work on themselves. They expect the dog to change, transform, while they stay the same. It doesn't work that way. Your relationship with your dog is just that; a relationship. What you do will affect what he does.

But change is difficult for us. It is stressful. It requires us admitting flaws, and being vulnerable. If we rise to the occasion in training our partners, we will end up better people. However, it really is much easier to either a) stuff more food in the dog's face, or b) pound on the dog some more.

Have some people lost the ability to dig deep, to improve themselves?

Some days when I look around, I feel that the art of dogmanship is becoming a lost art. I see my peers, who are veterans in dogs, and they all possess what I speak of. They might all be different from each other in the tools that they use, but they are craftsman. They can take the equivalent of an old, rotten piece of wood and with love, and pride, turn it into something beautiful.

So please remember, it isn't the tool, it is you.

Can you calm your mind? Can you loosen and control your muscles, and control your breath? Do you have the right feel on the leash, for each dog that you work with?

If not, it is time to work on your dogmanship.

Monique Anstee

Victoria, BC

@athreegermansproduction 

i’m going to compile and tag everyone’s responses to “what do you use to write up training plans?” so they’re all in one place for me/others + I’ll toss in what I’ve made with all the suggestions

please forgive if i’m just bulleting, and please correct me if what I’ve gotten out of your response was wrong! I’m also listing the pros and cons to each suggestion as I feel about them personally. and thank you all again for sharing!

@twobigears​ / original response here (includes plan)

more go with the flow, would use excel or word to write things down

(mostly mental) list of the top three main priorities and secondary priorities for each dog

include criteria for each goal and steps/plan, or else name of games

Pros: I like the flexibility of this and how priorities can be used to split up training time, as well as the quick criteria notes. 

Cons: I think I might end up lumping, and would want to keep a more permanent and flexible record (word or excel as mentioned)

@dogitmayconcern / original response here  (awaiting screen caps excitedly!)

Spread sheets

excel document, separate file for each dog

check off what was done at end of day/ make color coded notes

more informal training 

pros: separate files for each dog, notes and checking off 

cons: (I need to be better at routines.) but really this is so solid as to what I was looking for

@athreegermansproduction​ / original response here (includes plan samples)

weekly checklist in word with broad criteria and broken down into specific exercises

one for heeling, tug game, and retrieve (I’m assuming these are the three current exercises being worked on) [the criteria is crazy detailed]

blank templates printed weekly and added to training binder

look over checklist before sessions, checking off after sessions 

easy to work with, over higher tech options

other reference worksheets in bider as well 

heeling footwork

reward placement

new exercises are broken up in a new checklist

exercise lists thrown in but not usually used

pros: super easy to make into a routine and combines flexibility and focus really well. the detailed criteria definitely will be more helpful in judging progress, and having a binder to throw references and logs in as well as digital copies will be perfect (and the majority of the responses were “I agree with @athreegermansproduction!!!” because you guys are just amazing so theres that)

cons: ??? got nothing. other than I’ll probably add in broad goal lists before the checklists they’re broken down into, and leave space for notes so its not just a mental list after i’ve looked at the checklist. (I remember things much better by writing them out)

@guardianofalostsoul / original response here 

dislikes tedious time logs

loves written plans

start with list of “end goals”

add criteria and steps to each goal (esp complex behaviors)

grouping and pen-checking

folder, whiteboard, training log on computer (for supporting documentation purposes), and calendar

whiteboard- ref for current exercises and to jot reflections, short term checklist

folder- long-term checklist, known commands, finished steps in plan

(I’m assuming the training log is on the computer and records what was done each day as was marked on the calendar?)