Mission Control: How to train the high-drive dog

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Jane has lectured at University in Canine Behaviour and had recognised teacher status in Canine related subjects to Level 6 with Hull University during this time. Jane also delivered COAPE’s Level 5 practical weekends on their OfQual Regulated Behaviour Course for 3 years. Jane is a member of the Coape Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers (CAPBT), The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK) Membership no. 1058 and a Registered Animal Trainer with the Animal Training and Behaviour Council (ATBC) Throughout Helen’s career she has always been involved in the teaching, training and assessment of learners. This began as a Regional Trainer, and then progressing to a teacher/trainer in a Further Education College where she developed her skills and knowledge and successfully achieved a Certificate in Education in Business. Owning 7 field bred working spaniels has taught me a lot about drive, specifically environmental arousal and prey drive. I will share with you how to support these dogs using positive reinforcement techniques by forming habits and creating the right mindsets.

Chapter Three: BUILDING A REWARD SYSTEM Primary reinforcement; Secondary reinforcement; The components of reinforcement; (Motivational component; Learning component; Liking component); Choosing the right reinforcement method; What is rewarding for your dog? Creative use of food rewards; Creative use of toys; Reward placement; Social communication; Putting it together. Jane’s passion is positive reinforcement dog training, helping people with working breeds in pet homes, gundog training and dog to dog reactivity.What’s rewarding gets repeated so, in time, your dog will learn a new way of behaving. The two of you will work as a team and because you are the fun person who allows him to access all the good things in life, he will try his heart out for you! But you can get a good idea of … if you take a Spaniel into an environment, the environment is going to trigger probably scent-type behavior patterns, where the dog's head is going to be down on the ground, where if you have a herding breed, for example, they're going to be visually scanning the environment. So you've got different traits. But again, they all have certain traits, they're all designed to grow those behaviors as they mature. I think in all dogs, really, they come with these traits, and the environment switches on these genes, and then the dog just behaves impulsively, based upon its genetics. Melissa Breau: Awesome. Is there anything else you want to share about the webinar or let people know in advance?

Today I have Jane Ardern here with me to talk about training high drive dogs, training gun dogs, and release cues in particular. The mother of Louise's current dog, an American Akita, gained her Kennel Club Good Citizen Award Gold certificate and was a registered Therapy Dog who loved nothing better than getting out to meet people and bring a smile in exchange for 'sweeties'. Jane Ardern: Yes. I've booked a whole week dog-training holiday for gundog training, working the dogs in a shoot environment. So yeah, we've booked a little week away. I've taken the three young dogs. Really, it's for exposure and experience. I live in the city, so it's quite challenging for me to get opportunity to expose them to a working environment. Jane owns Wagga-Wuffins Canine College. Jane has been training dogs for over 20 years and has been working full time as a professional for over 10 yearsI am currently working with my three youngest, which is Letti, who's 13 months, Pebbles, who is 18 months, and Huey, who is 3. I'm currently working with the three dogs, training them to be working gundogs so they can go out and work in the field.

And really, the more and more that I learned, the more and more I started to change what I do. I was never very good at punishing dogs. It really quite sat uncomfortable with me, and I always felt that I just wasn't very good at dog training. But actually, as I progressed, I learned that I just wasn't very good at punishing animals.That’s great! A motivated dog is fun to work with, and clearly enjoys the challenges you are setting. But do you sometimes wish you could reign in some of that enthusiasm and produce the results that you both deserve? Jane Ardern: My big thing is really getting people to understand that they're teaching the dog a skill, often rather than behaviors, especially when you have dogs who are excitable in high arousal. For me, it's not just about having a behavior and putting it on cue. It's about the skill for the animal to be able to perform those behaviors and for them to be reliable. I ended up going to the library, and I got a book out of the library. It was the only dog-training book in there. It was by a guy called John Holmes, and it was just called The Obedient Dog. I popped down to the pet shop and I got myself a choke chain, as recommended in the book, and off I went and trained my dog. I then moved on to training with an ex-police-dog handler. So really interesting in that I could have been a positive trainer from day one, but I didn't. I went down the traditional route originally, and that worked for me at the time.

By using a progressive series of interactive games she shows you how you can teach your dog to control his impulses and make ‘good’ choices that he will find rewarding.

Vicky Payne MRCVS Vet and Behaviorust at Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care

Mission Control is essential reading for trainers and handlers in all sporting disciplines, and for those who simply want to get the best from their companion dogs. In 2012 Jane graduated with an honours degree in canine behaviour and training from Hull University, achieving the highest grade ever given in the advanced instructing module. She was invited to return to the university to teach on the foundation degree course, and went on to study for a level 3 award in education and training. She was also given recognised teacher status up to level 6 in canine related subjects. Jane has lectured for COAPE, the internationally course provider for animal behaviourists. In 2012 Jane graduated with an honors degree in canine behavior and training from Hull University. She was invited to return to the university to teach on the foundation degree course, and went on to study for a level 3 award in education and training. She was also given recognized teacher status up to level 6 in canine related subjects. Jane has lectured for COAPE, the internationally recognized course provider for animal behaviorists, teaching level five practical behavior modules. Jane Ardern: When I did my previous webinar, I think there was quite a few questions on me talking about teaching different release cues for the dog. That's where this came from.