09/05/2022
While many understand how to communicate when your dog is doing something you don’t like, handlers often don’t fully comprehend the more important thing—how to tell your dog when he is right.
Once dogs are committed to working most handlers employ a teaching system that incorporates some form of influence or pressure yet, many undervalue or misunderstand the critical part that leads to success, the release.
By immediately releasing when your dog tries to do what you're asking, you’re telling him he’s right…
Practicing this, with consistency and through repetition, your dog becomes keener to figure out what you’re teaching and importantly, enjoys his work more.
Many commonly used words in sheepdog training can be quite subjective such as, ‘power, presence, directness, eye, forward, strong,’ (to name a few) and the same is true for ‘pressure or release’. They can take on many forms and be misunderstood depending on your training style, your dogs age, maturity, mental fortitude and temperament.
Pressure generally involves the handler influencing behavior and may include:
Having your dog walk slowly
Square flank
Widening your dog
Work with precision… and numerous others.
Release also varies and often includes “giving your dog the sheep”.
It may look different, depending on the situation and can include:
Letting your dog go to balance point
Work without commands
Walk onto sheep quickly
You walking backwards….and many more.
When you immediately release your dog and allow freedom when your dog gives the response you're asking for, he knows he’s right and the teaching is more intuitive.
It fosters his trust, self confidence, understanding, enjoyment and empowers your bond as partners.
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