May 19, 2011
The Schutzhund club I train in does not allow me to train my dog while she is in season. I think that dogs should learn to work all the time. Do you agree?
Full Question:
Hi Ed,I have a fantastic bitch that is doing really well, and is exactly where I want her at this stage. However, when she goes into heat she is banned from all club events and training (except trials) for three weeks. I have always thought that just because your male smells a bitch that it is no excuse for them to go stupid. When she is in heat I shorten her training sessions, but other than that I do nothing different. I guess my question to you is...Am I off base on this?
Rich
Cindy's Answer:
Your logic may seem right but unfortunately you are missing the point.
It is true that dogs should learn to work around distractions, but the order of training is to go through a learning phase, a correction phase and a distraction phase. What you expect club members to do is work their dogs in the distraction phase based on when your bitch comes into season and not when the dog being trained needs to be exposed to distraction. It would be unfair to expose a dog who is in the learning phase to this kind of a distraction.
I would not allow you to bring your bitch around my dog unless it was ready for this level of distraction.
It is true that dogs should learn to work around distractions, but the order of training is to go through a learning phase, a correction phase and a distraction phase. What you expect club members to do is work their dogs in the distraction phase based on when your bitch comes into season and not when the dog being trained needs to be exposed to distraction. It would be unfair to expose a dog who is in the learning phase to this kind of a distraction.
I would not allow you to bring your bitch around my dog unless it was ready for this level of distraction.
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