Training in the U.S vs. Training overseas - Page 1

For those that have experience training, working with dogs here in the states and abroad, do you feel that here in the U.S., handlers/trainers are a lot more softer than handlers/trainers in other countries?  If so or if you don't  can you tell me why?

From what I hear from some people, it seems like here in the U.S. we are a little more sensitive and soft when it comes to training than in others countries.  Any truth to that?

Ace
I agree that handlers overall tend to be
a little softer, but we also have a larger
compilation of inexperienced handlers.
The kind where you see the dog,
then the handler/owner and say,
'wow, what a nice dog! he/she could
really go places, but the handler-'

Factor in we have less actual really
GOOD training helpers, well, it can be
a mess at times. We do however, happen
to have some outstanding trial helpers!

I've seen a few National Competitions and visted a few clubs in continental Europe and everyone assumes that training/dogs/helpers from other countries are better than at home (my home being the UK).  I think there is the same ratio of excellent to average trainers/dogs/helpers (approximately 1:100) wherever you go.  The bigger the working dog community is in any given country, the more excellent trainers/dogs/helpers they're likely to have, but there will be a proportional ammount of average/poor quality stuff going on too (which makes up the vast majority of activity that you're never likely to see from outside).

Having a good close knit and talented team around you all working towards a common goal is what seems to make most champions I've seen, which can be achieved anywhere.  Its just harder when the sporting community is not so abundant and entrenched in certain countries.

While I'm very envious of the spectacular and consistent achievements of countries like Germany on the international dog sport scene, I'm convinced anyone can do the same with enough confidence to stand on your own feet and work hard with your team at home.  It doesn't give your own helpers confidence when all they hear is how good foreign helpers are and it doesn't promote quality local breeding or training to be reliant on importing dogs bred and trained from abroad.

Thats my optimistic opinion, anyway 

fozzie wrote:
"While I'm very envious of the spectacular and consistent achievements of countries like Germany on the international dog sport scene, I'm convinced anyone can do the same with enough confidence to stand on your own feet and work hard with your team at home."

Thats just it right there fozzie,
it takes a team effort to get to
the top, no one can do it alone.

I'm very saddened by the wasted potential of many experienced and intelligent trainers who are locked into the notion that they can't do something because they're not foreign.

People will actually do things like take their dogs to Belgium whenever they become mature enough to start bitework because [insert foreign helpers name here] is so much better than the helpers at their own club.  How does that make the home helpers feel?  Does it make them feel like turning up and working other peoples dogs all day when they're not trusted to work certain club members dogs because they don't have the words 'van den' between their first and second name.

That isn't to disparage the skill of said foreign helpers or to say that they're not better its just that our helpers aren't going to get any better if they're not trusted.

Dog training requires a lot of trust and it seems easier for most people to trust some foreign unknown entity because in their heads living on the other side of the fence makes you instantly magic.

Its also annoying when you hear people get very excited over a young dog from a famous kennel with a famous handler scoring high 90's in a schh1 club trial in germany but when someone from their own club achieves the same feat it goes by unnoticed.

Or when people want to invite a big name trainer over for a seminar at great expense but when you actually sit back and look past their name and at their scores/videos its not so impressive compared to what trainers are doing around you week in week out.

Maddening 

I'm sceptical of everyone in the dog world unless I can see with my own eyes what they can really do.  I've seen a handful of extremely good trainers and its always a privaledge to watch them, but I've also seen a few that have got very big names (perhaps based on long past achievements) but close up aren't that good.

Believe in yourself, your dog and your team.  All the seminars and all the little training excursions in all the world isn't going to make as much difference to your dog as the people who're around you at club every week year on year.

Good post Fozzie!!!