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[FONT=Tahoma]Can you overtrain?[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma]A question I asked myself only recently was am I training too much; is the dog becoming too familiar with training the same old exercises; and should I break from routine and introduce new and totally different things which are not usually associated with the type of training I do to make life more interesting for the dog? I am fully aware that the secret, if you can call it that, is to keep the dog motivated when training to maintain its interest, focus and drive, but is there something more we can do to make training more fulfilling for the dog?[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma]I train quite a comprehensive regime; Obedience, nosework, bitework, and agility. Should I introduce other things such as fly ball, competition agility, and substance detection, or other disciplines? They’re all based on the same principle as the exercises I already train of course, but how would you, or indeed would you; introduce something different to maintain and increase the dog’s mental dexterity? [/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma]How often have you trained an exercise and thought he/she is just not getting this, only to wait a few days and come back to the same exercise; do exactly the same thing, and the dog does it perfectly? Was this initially an off-day for the dog or you, and possibly you were you conveying the wrong message/feeling, or did the dog just need a break from training; a rest so to speak?[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma]Before anybody comes up with the word anthropomorphic.......I can assure you I do not place human values or expectations on a canine, but I would be interested in what other members think.[/FONT]
Peter
my trainer recently said the same to me so he said i have to change the task like with bite work less work on lead and more helper run away ending with a bite and add sinarios at the same time
roll playing and senarios are the best way to change it up because to have so many things u can do and end up with the same result and have a hell of a lot of fun doing it
Regards
Nathan
"Cave Canem"
[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Tahoma]Hi Nathan[/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]I agree and understand, but what I’m thinking of are other things which are totally separated from what we do already. I know its difficult to find something which is far removed from the usual exercises because the basis for that which we train is in these exercises, but would anything totally new/different expand the dog’s mind or benefit the dog in some other way, i.e. maybe switching lights on and off, opening doors etc as with assistance dogs. Simple, but different from the usual training, and has some practical benefit. (About the only thing I can think of at present which isn’t really connected with what my dog already trains) but I’m sure there must be more. I guess that this is still part of obedience in the case of assistance dogs, but the actual task is new.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]I understand about bitework and scenario training is akin to something new/different for the dog each time the scenario changes, but its still bitework. I’m thinking in terms of getting away (occasionally) from the usual training. Would it benefit the dog to have a change every so often? Of course you’d still maintain the exercises you’ve already trained and in fact vary and polish those, but could something different every now and then improve concentration generally, and make life more interesting for the dog? Are we utilising all of the dog’s capabilities?[/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]Maybe I’m just complicating things for the dog.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]Cheers[/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma]Peter[/FONT]
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My dogs get a huge variation in life , because they all partake in all the jobs here.They have to help me work stock, they all hunt when it is required and they have to protect family and property. Many of the principles overlap of course, but in such different settings and atmosphere. l think they grow more confident and can lighten up a bit , l whole heartedly agree that sometimes when you work so hard at one thing the dog bottlenecks on something . Give him a break from it and start again with a clean slate, the correct association seems to shine out for them, not clogged by the many wrong attempts maybe he was trying. l have a much more open lifestyle here, so a bit different for me, but l think you are on the money there Peter.
Tony
Hi everyone, I have had to speak to them at obdiance to change what they do each week and speed it up, my dog knows what she is doing but hates doing the same thing. I tried her at agility at the end of last year and she suddenly started enjoying obdiance again with a little agility to keep her interested but that wont last long. Now she realises he can jump the fence,lol.
To get more out of her I train her all over the place, at the river, in the bush at te park and at friends places and at school. With all these different places and distractions helps her to be more intrested and gives me more control over her.
They get sick of doing the same things and all we have to do is vary it and they enjoy it more.
But then I'm not a trainer, I'm a dog owner wishing to be trainer
Ena
As dog owners we do environment changes, mix it all up during the week at different places and different amounts of distraction down to absolutely none at all.They have time on their own to be 'dogs' and then come in to be 'pets' then some training most days. Simple routines like doing a platz with the dogs back to the Highway just for traffic sureness. Surprising the dogs with something new every now and again doesn't hurt to keep them keen and our dogs fast once per week.
I know this thread is old but I like the subject. I think it is a classic mistake a lot of handlers and trainers make.
When I first started I heard a saying “the quickest way to train your dog is do not train it"
I went away thinking it was some mystical saying that had a variety of meanings.
To me I found that it simply means “leave your dog alone.” I have found it more beneficial to give a dog a week or two to think about its last training session (hopefully ending on a positive). Then to train three of four times a week getting the dog into a routine.
Dog sports might be different, do not know. But in our business it is a great formula.
Vendo.
------ TALK IS CHEAP.... SHOW US YOUR DOG.
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