PUPPY TRAIN BLOG

Video is one of the best ways for you to get needed information about your personal training with your puppy-dog.  I use video all of the time (I don’t save all my video), I go over the video immediately after I am done with my training session while everything is fresh in my mind, including all the errors I make.  The thing video does for me more than anything is to help me with the mistakes I am making as a handler, as well as much needed information about being able to read my puppy, that aids me in training.  I have used video for years, I believe it is my study of my video right after a training session while things are fresh in my mind, then visually seeing it over and over, that help give an edge in how to do things different the next time.  You then are testing your ability to read your puppy-dog and the communication or lack there of, by what you change and do the next time, if it produces positive results.  There are times I get stuck myself, then rely on a master trainer to help me with things.

I changed things with tracking for Brena, I really made things hard laying a small sch 1 track (regular close steps), but for a reason.  I wanted even more insight to my pup… I knew as long as things were kept happy and her reward (tug play) was at the end, she would like it no matter what.  For me, it told me several things about Brena that I wanted to know, like is she driven to track?, would she get frustrated and give up?, if she lost focus could she be started back on track again?  does she listen to the verbal approval when she does things right?.   Then I would look at myself, ok, what can I change to make this next track be a success all the way around, add heavy stomped in turns for longer distance once the turn is made?, add more food in areas I feel she starts to loose focus?  the words I use to encourage, she responds to this better than that?.  I then set my plan for the next track I lay, and if I was reading things properly, this puppy-dog should look pretty darn good, on the next sch 1 track… I think I learned a lot about my puppy..  time will tell on the next track ..:-)

Try videoing your training for yourself, no matter what the area tracking, obedience or protection… see where you can encourage yourself and your puppy-dog to be better.