Have you ever watched those incredible dogs on television? They might be sheepdogs, gundogs, police dogs, or tracking dogs. These animals are all remarkably close to their trainers and can anticipate what is expected from them at any given moment. This is not magic—it is training. It is no surprise that the best-trained dogs have usually been with their handlers for a long time and know the routine inside out.
The Importance of Consistency in Dog Training
The key to their learning is consistency. But that includes owners too. Nothing will confuse your dog more than unpredictability. Therefore, it is a good idea to make a list of your training plans. I once named a young puppy Teal. She was a smart little dog, but she would not always respond when I called her. It was very frustrating for both of us.
A Personal Training Challenge
I bought her as a puppy from a breeder in Scotland and was very excited about her potential, but if I could not get her to come to my command, we were going nowhere. After another frustrated training day, I called her breeder, who listened to my long tale of woe. "Have you tried bribing her with treats?" he asked. I nodded my head.
"I think she could be deaf," I told him, just as his wife appeared on the phone. "Tell me what she does when you call her name?" she asked. "Sometimes she comes towards me; others she just stands there looking like she has no idea what to do." "What did you call her?" She asked. "Teal", I replied. "Mmmm… don't you think heal and Teal sound too much alike?" She asked.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared in my brain, and I promised I would call back later. I shot downstairs, slipped a lead on Teal, and walked her to the training field, calling her to me with my whistle—which she did perfectly. I then tried calling her by using her name and got no response at all. And there it was: Poor little ‘Teal’ just did not know what to do.
Learning from Mistakes
Her name was immediately switched to ‘Lilly’, which she accepted almost right away. It taught me never to use names that can be easily confused with others. Thanks to a very smart lady, Lilly and I became a great team in the summer gundog competitions.
Vic Barlow's Extensive Experience
For the past 32 years, Vic has trained dogs of all shapes, breeds, and sizes. More than 4,500 have passed through his training academy, and he says working with them has been a privilege, and they have taught him as much as he taught them.
Vic says: "After all this time communicating directly with dogs, I can honestly say I have never met a dog I could not help. Owners, however, are a little more difficult and need to learn how dogs really communicate. It means getting into the mind of the dog and really understanding. That insight will open a new world to you."
You can contact Vic anytime by texting 07590 560 012. Follow him on Facebook for daily last-minute class updates.
