Clean Run - November 2013 - 43

which way to head. The handler doesn't
really know the way; she might get
lucky and stumble her way there or she
might get really lost.

The Three Places to Take Shortcuts

What needs to be understood is that
taking mini training steps leads to solid
comprehension. When I consult with
folks struggling with a training issue,
the problem almost always is that the
trainer has missed some critical foundation steps. They took a shortcut. They
are usually very surprised at how far a
simple behavior can be broken down;
they just never would have thought it
necessary-and you can't do what you
would not have thought of doing.

The Beginning

©TODD VAN BUREN PHOTOGRAPHY

Learning how to break down behaviors
is a skill that every trainer should desire.
At the end of the day, these smaller,
easier bits of training are fast and easy
to practice and will get you to your end
goal quicker than trying to teach the dog
something that is over his head. Breaking
down your training into small bits can
actually be a shortcut, like when taking
the freeway might be more miles, but is
actually faster-usually much faster.

I see three places where shortcuts happen; some work, some don't. Those three
places are the beginning, the middle, and the end of the training project.
Taking a shortcut at the beginning of a training project (teaching something new)
can work if 1) the training that is done in the middle and at the end of the project is
strong or good enough to make up for the shortcut; and 2) no harm is done while
taking the shortcut.
An example might be teaching the dog to hold an object in his mouth. Not taking a
shortcut would be to shape the dog to open his mouth and put it around the object,
and then to build up to holding it longer and longer. A shortcut might be to open
the dog's mouth, put the object in, and convince the dog that it would be a good
idea not to spit it out. A mild-mannered dog might be on board with plan B and it
could be faster, but another dog could really resent it. In that case, your shortcut has
just set you back in time because you have created a negative experience for the
dog that will take more time to overcome. In this case the shortcut is a big gamble,
as they often can be.
The point I want to make is this, if the middle steps and the end steps of teaching a
solid hold are done well, either beginning could end successfully-unless, of course,
the shortcut makes the dog hate holding objects and the trainer gives up. This is why
you have probably been told to just skip the whole shortcut bit in the ﬁrst place. It's
not bad advice.
The Middle
You may get away with shortcuts in the middle of your project with the right dog
if you started with a solid beginning and know how to complete the training prop-

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Clean Run - November 2013

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