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The difference between what we do in training, verse what we would do at a test, trial or hunting
I think a very important thing to remember in the training of our dogs, is the difference between what we should be doing in training, verse what we do at a test, trial or hunting. Our goal at a test, trial or hunting is to have our dogs look as good as they possibly can. With the least amount of trouble possible.
This is not necessarily our goal in training. Our goal in training, at least in my opinion, should be to make our dogs better, NOT try to avoid challenges and problems. It is the working through these problems and challenges that make our dogs and us better. And in turn that usually transfers into better results at events and hunting.
At an event or hunting I would handle my dogs very differently than in training. At an event or hunting my goal is to handle the dog in a manner that will most effectively and quickly pick up the birds. In training getting the bird ( in most cases ) is secondary. Achieving a higher level of skill for the dog and myself at whatever task we are working on is the primary goal of training. Which in turn will likely lead to a better performance at events and hunting.
In training we should not to try to hide, ignore, or avoid our dogs and our weaknesses, but work to strengthen them. That is if our desire is to continually improve our dogs performance as well as our own.
If our goal in training is to make the dog better and not necessarily look good, the chances are good that our dogs will perform at a much higher level at events and hunting.
I have included a couple of links below for two short videos that will more fully explain this topic.
Click here for Video One
Click here for Video Two
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