Training the Pointing Labrador

One month out from this year's Triple Crown we talk about some good ideas to get yourself and your dog ready....

In today's episode, we break down the mental benefit of teaching sit thoroughly and as early as you can without detracting from the desire to retrieve.  Including pointing retrievers.  It is a taught response that will be highly valuable in more advanced training, but we rarely look at it that way.

Join my discussion with Troy Benson, trainer, breeder, hunting guide and APLA President.  We talk about why he does what he does and how he sees the organization now and going forward.  Definitely a good listen for serious pointing Lab folks!

In today's very delayed podcast, we discuss the oft ignored aspect of a dog - it's mental health and well-being.  This is tied directly to physical health as well, and is usually diagnosed as "stubborn", "stupid", "crazy",etc.  Developing a well-balanced dog begins when you bring them home, and for the breeder, in the first 8 weeks. Mental health for humans is often overlooked or undervalued, and...

Sit down with us as Tigh explains his view of dog training, competition and what the most important thing in all of this is.  He discusses his training philosophy, the why behind the how, and what is actually important in this dog game.  Great conversation with a very good guy.   Tigh can be reached at DiamondbackKennels.com and on facebook at that name as well.  He has educational information and...

Dog training and handling is a process, not a destination.  Training effectively and efficiently requires a great deal from the teacher, and it is an ongoing process.  There is so much more to successfully managing this, it's hard to put into words.   We break down some of what I'm talking about here.  It's not about doing what someone told you to do.  It's about teaching and operating from a clea...

Apologies for the silence for the last few weeks, explanation contained within.  In today's episode, we talk about raising your pup with the long-term goal in mind making all of your training much smoother and easier on both you and your dog. Many of the small details in your daily life add up to making training require more pressure and force, or the exact opposite.  Some food for thought in pupp...

Based on some questions from our recent Handling Seminar, we address the question of planting birds in the upland field.  The assumption that there is 'a way' to do it is not entirely correct.  There are a number of considerations before training an upland dog and determining how to plant each training session.

In today's episode, we talk about how, when and why and electric training collar can be invaluable.  There are so many off-base ideas about the use of these collars in dog training, let's break it down on the dog's level....

This episode is for the dogs and owners coming to the Northern California Pointing Lab Club Upland Seminar held on April 17.  So you know what to expect, how to prepare if you're bringing your dog, etc.  These seminars are always so much fun, watching the light come on (in dogs and people!)  Looking forward to seeing old friends and new converts...

In this episode, 2 people take the role of the dog in blind running.  On a search for a large chocolate bar, they learn the job of the dog is a lot harder than they ever knew.  Blaming 'That darned dog' is so much easier than understanding this from their perspective.  An excellent exercise to undertake.

In today's episode we talk about the importance of starting a future upland hunter on the best foot possible.  Often, we approach this work like they already know they are upland dogs, and we try to rush in the training.  Upland work is a logical, linear process, which when done in a manner that suits that pup, results in the beautiful upland hunters who do not need one note of instruction.

This shorter episode is a discussion of the Handler's Seminar the RMPLC (and I) are hosting April 6, at the club lease just north of Brighton CO.  This will be for all levels of handlers at retriever events, Junior, Started CP to Finished and Master.  Handling a dog well is exactly equivalent to a good athlete having an okay coach or a coach really suited to them and very knowledgeable in their co...

In today's "The season is upon is" episode, we talk about how to bulletproof yourself and your dog before you step up to the line and ways to avoid the "She never does that in training" phenomenon.  You can't get rid of nervousness, but you can work around it.  There are ways to help you, that will wind up really helping your dog.

In today's episode (using computer for sound, not podcast microphone), we discuss two more issues dog folks can occasionally encounter.  The first is pointing retrievers creeping on a point, a problem often treated with pressure and correction, a dangerous thing to do to a dog with its live bird.  The second is the difficult issue of mouth problems on retrievers.  Mishandling in retrieving takes t...

In today's episode, I break down two "dog problems" I helped with.  One a dog with solid basics of handling choosing to not get into the water on either marks or blinds; the other a puppy who refused to retrieve any puppy bumper but its' own.  Addressing behavioral problems is never about what they should be doing, but what you've done that allowed the problem to generate.  Interesting study...

We address the more advanced training in this discussion.  The more advanced training can be accomplished by staying in the most fundamental aspects of the training.  Dogs learn more and have substantially more confidence not by practicing all the hard things, but by consistently practicing the components of the 'hard things'.  It is a powerful tool for those with the patience to use it.

In this episode, we discuss how training your dog is a process, and your expertise is something that should continually progress - it is not a destination you reach with no further learning required. Our dogs continuously reflect us right back to us, if we are wise enough to perceive that phenomenon. With curiosity and strong enough self-evaluation tools, we can become accomplished to a level equi...

In today's episode, we break down one of the biggest causes of training problems:  looking right through your student.  We often take our timelines and recipes and then stick the dog to them.  This can work, but what do you when it doesn't, and how do you go about preventing problems by created by fitting your square peg into a round hole?  Read on....

In today's episode, we talk about the reasons early and appropriate bird introduction is important, sometimes critically so.  We often believe that "pointers will point" and "flushers will flush", but it can be problematic if they've been taught to be very concerned with you when they are performing their ancestral work of hunting birds.  Emphasis on what is most important on the developing brain...

A recent discussion with a world class athlete reminded me of the importance of our attitude toward daily training, regardless of what you are training to accomplish. It is a good thing to have lofty goals and ambitious attitude, but the secret to the success of the best trainers in the world isn't the desired "trophy".  It is the appreciation and love of the daily process that actually gets you t...

In today's episode, based on a question I received, we breakdown why it is very possible to train upland and technical retriever work at the same time in a consistent routine retriever training process.  Done correctly, upland hunting does not "ruin the retriever work", and retriever work should only enhance control in the upland field.  The key is to approach this balance in light of what the dog...

In today's off-season episode, we talk about the elements necessary to run blind retrieves successfully.  Dogs aren't robots that should 'go straight' and 'take every cast'.  They are living creatures basically having an ongoing conversation with you on their way to get the retrieve they didn't see.  A program that builds their trust in what you are telling them and assures they are very clear on...

In today's episode, we break down the elements that go into having and training a dog in its optimal state:  healthy, willing, understood and living the life it was bred to live.  A dog that can't always fit into the round hole we want it to, but if we learn about the nature of our dogs, we can just adjust the hole to fit them.

Blake Haddock, pro trainer from Greenville NC is running for the first time for the Board of Directors. Having had a good deal of success and experience in the pointing Lab world, he talks about who he is and why he is running.