I am curious why you disagree with my statement. You can only learn so much from a book! Hands on is being with the dogs. Learning their behavior. Handeling them. You can teach someone all you want on how to train dogs. But until they touch them they still know nothing about dogs!! Dog training is not rocket science. It can not be learned in a classroom. Reading only does so much. You don't know crap until you try to put it to use. For police officers. For a rookies first day, a senior officer tells them to forget everything from the acadamy. Why? You don't learn until you do it!
I just disagree with the way you said the ONLY way to learn is to do it. Of course the "practical" side or physical side of training is important, but it's only half. Training is as much a mental exercise as physical, perhaps more. Knowing HOW to break an exercise down so the animal can learn it, knowing HOW to reward so that he can make the association with the behavior you want, knowing HOW to solve your own problems, these things can/should all be learned away from the dog. Take advantage of the thousands of researchers, scientists, and yes, dog trainers who have gone before you and learn in a matter of months from books what others will spend their lifetimes trying to figure out by hands-on training of one dog at a time.
I would like to stress at this point that theoritical knowledge alone is not enough to be a good helper, practical experience in dog training is the second absolutely necessary requirement for a good helper. On the other hand I believe that theory helps to prevent many mistakes in practise, it helps to reach training-goals more directly, plus it is easier to develope techniques than only through trial and error. Helmut Raiser
Not only do I believe this applies in helper work but handler work also. Both are trainers.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle. You need both. A knowlege of theory and plenty of hands on experience to become really effective. The hands on experience is where you will make your mistakes and it's from your mistakes you will learn the most.
Robert VanCamp Webboard User Reg: 11-28-2001
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Knowledge of theory is good, so is experience. Talent is more important than both if you wanna really do it as a profesional. Without it yer gonna suck no matter what you do. . .
I have an issue with the book thing. Here is my anology.
I just read a book on how to fly a helicopter. Who wants to go for a ride???
You need to be around the dogs. You can't read about it. Especially since there are so many books and none agree. (BTW, I have read over 200 dog books). All they do is give me new things to talk about in class. Books are nice...however, you need to mess with the dogs.
As far as Dog Trainers schools...IMNSHO the jury is still out. How you can go and learn all you need to about the different psychology's with each dog in a small amount of time. Tom Rose as an example. You train 4 dogs. You pick them out yourself. Yes you help classes and so forth, but still very limited.
I have had 2 expereiences with Tom Rose grads...lets just put it this way, neither one works for me...
I will go for a ride! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You made my point Todd. Yes reading will help. But you never know until you see if it works for you. Someone elses methods may not work for me.
Good analogy with the flying. Because the first place you start with flying lessons is in the classroom reading not only about your particular aircraft, but perhaps more importantly, the theory of flight. How it is possible, what makes it work. Not just where the controls are in your own personal aircraft. That way when you change planes, you have a strong foundation laid and only need to master the intricacies of this new aircraft.
No different in dogs. If I only learned by handling dogs, it would take a lifetime and I still wouldn't know half of what science has to offer for me, cuz it took those scientists decades and thousands of animals to identify the processes/behaviors that were going on. And most folks aren't professionals; they will handle maybe 5-15 dogs in their entire lifetime. How much knowledge could they accrue if they only learned from those few experiences?
What's a Light Bulb?? I think everyone knows that the K-9's are much easier to train then the Trainer/handler.
I know my dogs are much smarter then I, this is what me wife tells me, better memory also. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
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