Training the Pointing Labrador

As promised, following the force fetch process, there is a substantial process through which a dog is taken which results in an enthusiastic and effective handling dog.  They can run blind retrieves or be handled successfully on marks, when they really understand what you are asking, and you have their full buy-in.   This episode begins with the first step past a good force fetch, the beginning of pile work.  Though it may seem trivial to us, for a dog to learn to repeatedly go get something they already got, the response can be difficult to get across.  We break it down into the smallest step to ensure the dog does 'get' what you are trying to do.

In today's midsummer episode, we discuss what 'fitness' actually means in our dogs, and how to assure the demands you make on your dog will do not do any damage and can be met efficiently.  There is a science to creating an animal fully prepared for challenging physical demand, but it takes some awareness, thought and understanding how important fitness is in any athlete. 

In today's special episode, we break down all the elements of running the American Pointing Lab National event:  The 2024 Triple Crown.  What does it require?  What type of things should you practice, what will a day look like?  Join in a practical discussion about what you will be asked to do, important rules and things to get yourself as ready as possible.  It is genuinely a great accomplishment to get to this event with a pointing retriever, and it is the ticket to the APLA Hall of Fame.  Listen in and make plans to be prepared for this National!

In today's fairly personal episode, the discussion covers how all our canines, in their performances and behavior, reflect back what they receive from their partners.  They are like the Divine Mechanism helping us to see ourselves.  When their performance and behavior is evaluated on this basis, it is both humbling and powerful in reaching the improvement we are looking for.

In today's episode, we discuss a couple different approaches to training a dog.  There is the 'teaching the right motions', the 'make them do it right', the 'repeat it until they get it' and then the one I like, teach them to give their best effort and reward that response.  Probably the last one is the hardest, because you have to pay attention the whole time, but it can certainly produce good results.  Have a listen....

In today's episode, we discuss the success of localized pointing Lab clubs and how we need to form more of these to help in educating more people about these dogs.  Where do you get a good pup, how do you train them with both retrieving and pointing aspects?  What should you do with a new pup?  How can you meet people to train with, what equipment do you need, how do you get help and how can you get a test in your region?  The PL world is expanding rapidly with the quality of dogs and trainers we now see.  I encourage anyone interested in participating in this expansion to contact me or anyone on the APLA Board so we can help get things going in more parts of the country.

www.Americanpointinglab.com

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Poor behaviors, new training problems, confusing troubles, generally stem from the dog being in a situation it cannot manage, is confused or is disheartened or distrustful.  But very few of us look at things this way.  Understanding the inner nature of your dog can often be quite useful in problem solving.

Today's episode is just a couple stories.  Stories of things that happened with dogs, not because of the training principles used, not because of any expert advice, but because the individuals really wanted it with their dog.  And when done with sincerity and belief, they did it.  Hugely inspirational to me over the years..

For those who test their dogs in any venue, we've all had the day when we were prepared, paid the entry, drove the distance, only to have our dog do something it has never done before.  We are dejected and mystified.  Here are a few ideas that might help in preventing the unexplainable.