If it's true, I've had an incredible run of luck. I've found it rare, even among the pet and X breed population, for a dog not to respond to praise, both physical and verbal. What I *do* see all the time are owners who haven't a clue how to praise properly and are too worried about looking silly to give the dog what he needs.
Maybe you misunderstood me. I did not say most dogs do not respond to praise. I said 1 in 1,000 dogs respond to praise only. If you do not agree please show me a dog that preformed well at a SchH competition that was trained with neither food nor toys anytime in it's life. The key to obedience is Compulsion - Drive- Compulsion. A very small small percent of dogs could rebound high enough after compulsion by praise alone. This is very basic stuff I have a very hard time believing that you do not agree. It is more likely that I did not explain myself correctly.
There is a direct relationship between the level of precision needed with the level of compulsion/drive needed to accomplish that task. Ex the difference between come (come somewhere close to me) and heir (come quickly with a front sit). Praise alone is probably suitable for the first but very rarely the later.
If its really true that only 1 in 1000 dogs responds to praise only when training for Schutzhund, then thats another indication that Schutzhund has and continues to evolve into something it was never meant to be.
I agree with your comment but disagree with its cause. If you had to work and not get paid, would you. Maybe but maybe not. In a SchH obedience competition a dog has to listen reliably for around 15 minutes while heavily distracted by others dogs and cheering crowds. The dog has to focus all of this out and concentrate only on the job at hand. How is this done? In two ways: Drive and compulsion. Now as I stated earlier there is a direct relationship between the two. The drive to please its handler is not high enough to bounce a dog back from a solid correction. After consistent corrections over time the dogs willingness to work will diminish. But a dog with a high prey drive can bounce back from the same situation. I am becoming a broken record but the golden rule of SchH is Drive-Compulsion-Drive. I'm sorry but it is very very very rare for a dog to have a pack drive as high as a dog who is super crazy for the ball. Not now and not 30 years ago.
Then I have been fortunate to have dogs that have been very, very, very rare. I use praise as a reward and my dogs will happily work all day, every day for me. I take them as often as I can to places where there are lots of distractions. Rowdy high school football games are a great test. I don't train for Schutzhund or any other sport, maybe it would be different if I did. Because I only give them praise as a reward doesn't mean that their willingness to work diminishes. In fact, the opposite occurs. Over time the bond gets even stronger and their willingness to work even greater.
I think it just boils down to how you see the dog. If rewarding with a ball or some food works for you then more power to you. However, its wrong to say that its necessary or makes for a dog that will work harder or be better at what it does. That is patently untrue. It probably stems from the fact that many people don't know how to properly praise their dogs.
I have to disagree with you. I am 99.999% sure that if you and I went to a field with distractions you could not do a 15 minute obedience routine with your dog without praising your dog. This is not aloud in a trial. Remember that we are not talking about sitting and downing we are talking about a complex and deep concentrating routine. Yes most dogs can do basic obedience through praise alone but the difference between that and a SchH trail is the difference between playing flag football with the guys and playing against a professional football team. Trust me on this one.
I'm not speaking of basic obedience, but advanced obedience, agility (not the competition sort), tracking and protection. You would be both correct and incorrect in your assumption. The 15 minute obedience routine with distractions is not a problem. Of course I wouldn't have sport precision but no matter. However, to me there is no point in working your dog without praising it and 15 minutes of obedience on a field with what I'd call minor distractions doesn't prove much. I wouldn't do that to my dog.
I'm not trying to get into the sport vs. real debate here. I just do what has practical application for me.
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Top
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
