Clean Run - April 2014 - 42

Maybe you are thinking, "Do i really want to know about all of this?
surely all this scientific stuff isn't relevant to me. it's hard enough finding
time to train, let alone learn any science. Why should i take the time?"

So, when the exciting new sport of dog agility came along,
what were we poor unenlightened people to do? How were
we going to train our dogs to do all these wonderful new
tricks associated with this sport? The answer was obvious!

Well, what I now know is that I really wasn't doing okay. There
was and still is a better way. And, yes, it does involve just a
little knowledge of that "science stuff " of which I was, at first,
so ignorant and subsequently afraid.

We just pulled our dogs through tunnels and dragged them
over A-frames on a leash, planted ourselves in front of them,
shouting "wait, wait, you wait!" at the bottom of contact
zones, and otherwise coerced them (gently, of course) into
performing all kinds of non-dog-like behaviors in the name
of our sport. At the end of each exercise, and because we really did love our dogs and considered ourselves positive trainers, we rewarded them (in retrospect for putting up with our
strange and abusive behavior!) with toys and/or food.

But wow! What a difference that science has made to my
life, my dogs' lives, and to the standard of competition I can
now personally achieve and help my students to attain. The
only amazing thing to me is just how long it took me to find
that better way-and how, initially, I had to be dragged kicking and screaming before I allowed my eyes and mind to be
opened to the possibilities that could be achieved with just a
little bit of scientific knowledge.

Of course, it wasn't all as bad as that-and, at the end of the
day, most of us really weren't trying to be cruel to our dogs.
We just didn't know any better ways to achieve the results
that we desired.
Now please don't misunderstand me. I am certainly not sitting here in judgment. As I have already admitted, I was one
of these people who leash popped, scolded, and expected
full compliance to my will along with everyone else. That's
what I had been taught. I knew no better. And I was doing
okay, wasn't I?

I know that for some people this all just sounds like a blast
from the past since many trainers have certainly moved on
and in general dog training is a long way from where we used
to be. But, as with all things, there is still plenty of room for
improvement! My aim, as one of those "old timers," in writing
this series of articles is to spark your interest in the science
and help you to make the links between the theory and the
practice that will make your training and competition experiences much more enjoyable and productive. D

Originally from England, Lynne Stephens has been living in North Carolina since 2004. Her passion for dogs and dog training has spanned more than three decades,
during which she has achieved the highest levels of competition in both the U.S. and U.K. The highlight of her agility career in England was being picked as a member
of the British team for the 2003 and 2004 FCI Agility World Championships. In the U.S., she has competed at the USDAA Cynosport Games four times with three Border
Collies and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Her Cavalier has also earned his MACH and finished 23rd overall in the 12" class at AKC Nationals. Lynne trains and teaches
using purely positive methods and recently qualified with distinction as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She is known for her patience and sense
of humor. Lynne currently competes with two Border Collies (Turbo and Bizzy) and a Cavalier (Tynamite). She is the agility specialist, trainer,coach, and co-owner at
DogLogic in Statesville, North Carolina. She can be contacted by email, lynne@doglogictraining.com, or through her website www.doglogictraining.com.

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Clean Run - April 2014

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