Page 42 - Bristle Up Magzine

BY GREIG TONKINS
DOG TRAINING TIPS “If your foundation training is solid, then it will show”

the dog is controlled until it has earned your trust.
Training pigdogs is something we often take for granted, If your foundation training is solid, then it will show Cage them around stock or wildlife, long lead attached
especially when running teams of dogs. We can be through the pups confidence in itself and in you. Trust when they’re let off the ute, run them with no other
fortunate enough to have those naturally keen pups or is a massive factor for dogs, and if they trust you have pups or young dogs to lead each other astray and
young dogs with good pack drive to just follow along and their back, then distractions will minimally affect them. having older dogs they are familiar with are a few
do as the older dogs do, but realistically the majority of Remember to set yourself up for success by choosing factors and steps that will once again be in your favor
them will need some forms of structured training to assist when you train your dog. After a 3km run or after their for a positive outcome all round. Dogs just aren’t born
them in their life’s journey. So where do we start?? The first main meal isn’t the best time, but when you get home from pre-programmed like a computer. They are a sensitive,
step to training any dog is to find out the dogs motivation. work and the dog is excited to see you is a great time highly intelligent animal that reacts according to the
Generally, it will be either food, a play toy, or affection for a training session. Its all about motivation remember. environment around them or situations they’re put
from you. You can set up tests with all three in front of Using their favorite motivation and reward will make the into. A rock-solid foundation of training is your best
the dog and see what they will consistently choose first; learning process positive, fun, and therefore, they will be asset to creating a well rounded, emotionally stable
then you use that as their primary reward as it obviously eager and keen to learn. Once a dog joins the dots of and balanced dog that is a pleasure to be around not
means the most for the dog! Now we start to set the pup or the learning process, they will engage with you quicker only at home but in the field or out in public. I know
young dog up to succeed out in the field, by establishing and seek out to learn more from you. A highly motivated we all want to hunt our dogs as quickly as possible
the behaviors we want to see out there, right here at home dog raised in this way will always give you more effort and Im in the same boat believe it or not. A wise
in your own backyard. This helps the pup or young dog to than one not being trained with positive reward-based bush fella and trainer once told me that if you “take
learn and progress quicker because they are in a familiar motivation methods. Always remember though that they the time it takes, it takes half the time!” This means if
environment where they feel confident and relaxed. Start are individual animals and will all have their own little we are patient and put in the extra effort at the start
with the basics that every dog needs, a recall, a sit, and a quirks along with their good and bad points. Try as we of the pup or young dog’s life, then we will be able
stay. Master these three behaviors at home and then start might there is no perfect dog, they all have their flaws no to enjoy hunting a lot more out in the field. This will
to add distractions such as other people, other dogs, and matter how small, it’s the positive traits we like to bring save us trying to fix problems in the field and wasting
animals or sounds and situations to test how the dog can out. After the basic foundation has been laid, then the time that could have been solved in the yard. Happy
cope with some pressure. entry into the field will be a smooth transition provided, hunting and happy training folks! 41