shade whitesel wrote:Detlef, I have learned many things from Les. He is an experienced trainer and I value his opinion. We respectfully agree to disagree when it comes to talking punishment or how to keep a dog "clean" in the blind. I am lucky that he still respects me enough to work my dog how I want, which is not what always happens when people use different methods.
hi shade,
good for you that Les respects you so much, this is telling me something about you! :) I talked to Scott as well and he told me also great things about you and your training. I always have in mind that you already made it to the nationals, and of course there is got to be a reason why, ..... you are a good dog trainer no doubt about it.
about the training technic's of several very successfully teams in germany I just want to admit, that using these method's it seems to me it is important to imprint the dog in this way, because it is not that easy to change a dogs behavior just by throwing something out of the blind. heuwinkel dogs learn from the beginning (as a puppy) to dominate the helper by showing barking based on aggression. the main reason for them to do that is not to wait for someone to throw a bite pillow or something. that would be to easy!! on the other side, using a negative stimulus for a limited amount of time just to teach the dog were he is going to feel more comfortable does not means to screw him up! it just makes it black and white, so he can adjust his behavior in order to be successful.
anyways, I am sure you will find your way and maybe you will be able to post a video of one of your training sessions.
greetings to washington, a beautiful state with lot's of rain!!
detlef