Training with Your Dog – Teaching or Learning?
Sasha was 14 months old when I first met her. Her owner, a 70 year young pediatrician, had called me after having been referred by her veterinarian. Doctor Elliott and Sasha had both been in training with a professional dog trainer for almost year. The trainer finally gave up on Sasha, telling Doctor Elliott that while Sasha was, basically, a good dog, she was simply too much dog for her.
I remember well our first get together. Sasha was on a leash inside the house because she jumped on everyone who came into contact with her. “We’ve tried to teach her to not jump on people, including myself,” Doctor Elliott told me; “she’s really quite difficult to teach.” “Doctor,” I answered, “that’s the problem. It’s not about teaching; it’s about learning. And the first axiom for learning is proper focus. You see, if we can’t gain Sasha’s focus, then learning is impossible. If one student in a History class is looking out the window during the professor’s presentation, guess which student isn’t learning about the Battle of Hastings?” And so I began showing Doctor Elliott my approach to helping Sasha to learn. Were we successful? Well, let’s let Sasha tell us in her own words.
“I was one of 11 pups and was most successful in getting plenty to drink. My first trainer described me as very strong-minded and feisty. I went to puppy training and was crate trained and housebroken early. I grew rapidly and became a strong, happy 80 pound dog. From the choke collar, I went to a pinch collar and still lunged in friendship at dogs and strangers and pulled to chase rabbits and squirrels. It was hard for my owner who was some 70 years young. We walk 3 to 4 miles, 7 days a week from 5:30 – 6:30am. There are no exceptions – ice storms, rain, sleet and, yes, even hurricanes. Now I walk perfectly without the leash. My first trainer left me when I was 12 months old and Mr. Ray McSoley came to my rescue. He felt I had potential even though I had never in my life been off a leash, even in the house. Within days I stopped jumping on people, walked well at the heel, passed cats, rabbits, wild turkeys, dogs and people, no trouble at all. I could be “free” in the house and then in the yard. I still have a few things to accomplish, but my owner now has a dog she can enjoy and be proud of.”
Sahsa, owned by Richard Elliott, MD & Marion Elliott, MD Plymouth, MA*
*Reprinted by permission (Spring/Summer 1998 Tri-Tronics magazine)
Thank you for those kind words, Sasha. Remember, dear reader, teaching is nothing but wasted effort unless you can get your dog to, first, focus on you. Without proper focus, teaching is merely a word.
