Category: Common Problems, Advanced Stuff, Performance Events ¤
  Author: Sue Ailsby ¤
   Title: Trouble Shooting a Problem (Using the Retrieve as an Example) ¤

"His retrieve is no longer consistent.  He stops to pee, sniff and he
overshoots the article.  What would be your response? "

I'd proceed by asking myself these questions, and then, according to the
answers, repairing the problem:

1.  Did I go too fast?  Did I add too many distractions too early?  Did I
add too much distance too early?  Did I put the chain together before the
dog thoroughly understood each part of it?

2.  Is there a cue attached to this imperfect behaviour, if so, why?

3.  Where in the process did the dog stop (if he ever was) desperately
volunteering to perform the behaviour, and when did my idea of what was
necessary take over, thus putting the whole thing into a force situation?

A dog who is "not interested" or is trying to change the subject is NOT a
dog who needs to be corrected but a dog who needs to be taught.  The
explanation isn't over, or he'd be doing it the way she wants it done.
The power and energy and enthusiasm should NEVER come from the handler, it
comes from the dog or the training situation isn't right.

Sue eh?