Trainers know that everyone is busy, so most won’t give you and your dog homework that is going to be difficult to fit into your schedule. Develop A Training Routine Between Classes By working with your dog during the week between classes, you’ll likely see an improvement in your comfort and skills with handling, which will translate to your dog’s skills. Our dogs watch us closely, so an important part of doing homework from your dog’s class is very likely as much for you as it is for your dog. Obviously, this is a slight exaggeration, but you might be surprised how often it was timing, position, or body posture that led to your dog going off course, missing the cue, or otherwise making a “mistake” while training or competing. There is a saying amongst dog people that when a dog makes a mistake in training that it’s usually on the handler. Taking your dog to class is as much about teaching you as it is about teaching your dog. By brushing up on tricks and behaviors throughout the week, you and your dog will be ready to return to class prepared and ready to learn new skills. Then, during the week between classes, it’s time for you to practice those skills introduced in class. Your trainer will be able to introduce how to teach new behavior and provide tips and support as your dog is learning. Think of class time as the opportunity to introduce new skills and behaviors with the support of your trainer-while the real work starts at home. Taking a class once a week can be fun and a good opportunity to learn, but unfortunately, it’s not enough time for dogs to solidify and master most skills. These are ideal skills to practice as “homework” with your dog during the week. If your trainer doesn’t give specific homework, you can also take notes during class and what activities you and your dog are struggling with. Most trainers will explicitly give you skills to work on with your dog before the next class. ![]() ![]() Trainers can (almost) always tell when a dog and handler team comes to class once a week but aren’t putting the practice time in between classes.īut doing homework isn’t just about impressing your trainer, it’s setting your dog up for successful learning. As with anything we learn, there needs to be practice, practice, and more practice to nail down a skill.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |