getting bit in heeling?? - Page 2

You are right there Steve, to err is human, I just wish I was a little less human at times .


Margaret N-J

If I was walking out onto a field where I couldn't control the environment, they'd be on a leash, dragging, but it would be there so I could limit them, but I don't start training that way.  I've had more than enough judges that judge Germany, Belgium, America and everywhere else comment on my dogs.  I think I do ok.  A woman I train with has won at the national level in Ring and much of her early work is done without a leash or collar.  There are a thousand ways to Rome.  I fully believe in limiting mistakes so you don't create bad habits.  I also believe that sometimes some mistakes are worth making and letting the puppy/dog learn that he doesn't want to make those mistakes.  

I have no need to correct a young dog, they have so much to learn and they're usually trying their asses off to figure out what I want and when they figure it out on their own it seems to stick much stronger.  It's not like we're letting dogs run roughshod all over to do whatever they feel like.  After years of yanking dogs all over the field to keep them in position in keeping a spotter in front and a "line" man in back I finally said "fuck it".  Dropped the leash and made the dog be correct.  Not by me, but by THEM.  This was of course a dog I could verbally stop at that point from going to do what they wanted, but THEY had to put themselves in the correct position to get what they wanted. 

I then decided to do the same with puppies, they figure it out, they figure out where to be, they figure out how to focus or everything stops and they go away.  It's so simple and powerful.  The leash is used though, just not early on anymore.  and for ob, it's just a short tab that just hanging there 95% of the time.  Bitework is different.  The long line is there to create conflict and frustration as much as anything, I think that's part of doing good bitework.

 

All i can say is what is good for the best handlers in Belgium is good enough for me but saying that it is the norm over here to work a dog on the short leash in heeling and obedience and as said later on a little off leash. IT WORKS just look at the results of Belgium in the last 20 years WUSV. you cannot get away from  facts. Plus no matter how old and good a dog is, he or she will not perform all the time 100% of the time but if you have him on a short leash you can correct immediatley because 5 seconds after the dog has made a mistake and not been corrected then you are too late the dog then does not know it made an error at all, and by being corrected does not mean giving the leash a hard yank, just a little gentle nick with a finger on the leash with a verbal is enough and the very next sequence the dog does right a good praise and pat with a verbal well done as well,and  that they never forget. Still what works for one is not for everyone? No one i know off bothers to what others may think of them by working there dogs on leash but it is those self same Guys who will be competing for there country come the WUSV championships
Steve1