Well Harry went to his first gundog training lesson, well more of an assessment really just to show the trainer how far I'd come with him, and it wasn't good. Harry has picked up some bad habits, by me of course. Gundog training is a world away from puppy training that he's going to at the minute and to be honest I learnt more in an hour than 4 lessons at puppy school and that's by no way being critical of the puppy school it's just that a bit training one to one and someone who really understands Cockers is far more beneficial than say a class of 10 dogs, all at different levels and more importantly all different dogs.
Already with 10 mins training this morning his retrieving has improved and with not one treat being given. The trainer emphasised the importance of bonding with my dog, not in the way I thought I was bonding but a totally different way, it's kinda hard to explain in a few words but it made sense to me. For instance recall. Harry was great at recall in his first weeks off the lead and heres me thinking I've got it sussed, when especially in the last few days he won't recall at all, it's because I've given him the freedom and now he's getting a bit braver, more confident and now he can say 'sod you, I am not coming, you've let me free, so I'll come when I want'. I've got to work on creating myself as the person he really wants to come so she's given me some tasks to do, which I'll try this afternoon. Training isn't about sit, give a paw etc, it's training the dog to do precisely what you want the dog to do. Once the dog relises he can get a treat if he sits, he'll do it, but your not necessary 'training' him, hes just learnt that if he sits he'll get a treat and when he doesnt, he'll learn that too, and refuse to sit, so your back right to the start. If the training is good your dog will respond as Harry already has, albeit in a very small step.
No more puppy classes for Harry now.
