How does Bernhard's method translate into a dog that will be kept in the house? With his dog Itor, who stays in a kennel unless he is working, I can see how it works; just have the ball every time you have the dog out. What do you do with a house dog? Do you have to keep the ball with you all of the time?

My dogs live in the house with me, and no, I don't carry a ball around all the time. I do have them scattered all over the place and if I want to 'work' on something they are never far away.

There does come a point where obedience is merely obedience around the house though. Both of my dogs are sufficiently happy with a verbal praise or into the arms type reward around the house.

Bottom line is that if you have a clear relationship in training AND around the house you will be fine. I have convinced both dogs (and especially the bitch) that I can produce a ball at any time, so the need for them to see it in order to perform is not necessary...

Deanna is right, it's all about the relationship on and off the training field.

Itor is with Bernhard almost all the time. He is not only his sport dog but his police dog, and is laying in Bernhard's office at the police station with him during work , riding in the police car or running next to his bike when he does a bike patrol.

Bernhard and Itor were at my house for a week last summer and Itor lays down next to the table when we eat dinner...it's obvious that they have a mutual respect and affection for each other and I think that's probably why we all got into dogs in the first place.

I don't use 'trial commands' for any of my dogs unless I am prepared..i.e. ball, leash, collar, etc.. house manners are necessary but precise obedience is for the training field, not in the house. I think many people who train dogs do this (if they allow their working dogs in the house, that is!)

Does Bernhard take Itor with him to all his seminars? Will he have him with him at the Oct. seminar? I would like to see him I just hear a lot about him(maybe thats because I'm fairly new to this working dog world.)Brandon

Originally posted by Brandon La Mere:
Does Bernhard take Itor with him to all his seminars? Will he have him with him at the Oct. seminar? I would like to see him I just hear a lot about him(maybe thats because I'm fairly new to this working dog world.)Brandon he doesn't take Itor to all his seminars, but he will have him in Wisconsin in October. He is showing him in Reno at the National Police Dog Championship the weekend after the seminar.

This is probably obvious to all here..

I was english commands for general purpose, that way my wife and our friends can get my rottie pup to follow instructions around the house, at the horse stables or on a jobsite. For Trial ob I use the German. The difference is mostly in the accuracy I insist on, whether using the ball, tug or food.

Dennis

I asked Flinks this question at the seminar in Virginia as it pertains to your conduct towards a dog being trained for competition. he said that he is consistent with all his dogs. consistent meaning when you are on the field and you tell the dog to sit, the dog sits right away and doesn't move until you tell him to. that applies in the exact same way in the house: if you tell him to platz while you are watching tv, and then 5 min later the dog gets up and wanders to a different spot and you don't correct him, then you are training the dog that your platz command means nothing. everything is connected, so if you give commands in the house, you have to be as consistent with them as you are on the field. at the same time, petting the dog or telling him good boy for doing nothing is the same thing as praising him on the field for doing nothing, which has the effect of lowering the impact of your praise. as cindy wrote, it's all about a relationship of trust and respect. the dog is your working partner, not a fluffy pet you fawn over all the time.