Theory....An Over-Thinker's Paradise

While in Canada, I was reminded that I have not "trained" much with Scott Glen.  "Trained" in the fashion of starting a young dog , laying a foundation and building the dog from the start with Scott's unique vision.  My journey with sheepdogs, with a focus on USBCHA trials, began with Patrick Shannahan.  A few years later, I met Jack and Kathy Knox and I would say that those three people and their methods are the foundation for my training style.  I have indeed taken a few (okay THREE) shedding clinics and a handler's clinic with Scott, in addition to some private lessons.....all of which the topic was my handling of my dogs....with a few discussions on training thrown in for good measure.  Though I heard the training insight, I never really understood what was being shared or the importance of the training's application.

When I start a new video project, the months and days before the first "roll" are filled with anticipation and excitement.  Much like starting a new book that has received rave reviews....the first line unfolding into a paragraph; the words tasty morsels.......that is exactly how I feel as I slip the headphones over my ears the first morning and tiptoe quietly into the world of a person and their thoughts, just as they occur, while a dog finds its inner calling and begins to understand.  I often find myself lost in the moment...amazed at the crisp picture of the dog and sheep...unedited words describing what the sharp eyes of the reviewer is seeing.  Lost in the dance as it unfolds....trainer to dog...dog to sheep.....the whys and hows and what ifs all bringing forth understanding and confidence.

I can't help but stumble out of my trance and find myself changed a little, looking for some of what I saw through the trainer's eyes, while working my own dogs.  As I left my 10+ hours of filming behind me, I headed into a couple of lessons with Scott, me personally seeing my dogs just a little more clearly then I did when I had arrived.  Both lessons, one with Nell and one with Gyp, were discussions on handling but the thrown in training made so much more sense to me.  I will confess much of my lessons were discussion about my "stop" and how I use them while running Nell.  Gyp is pretty much a clean slate right now.....I've not addressed "feel" or "method" much with her.  I was fascinated working her with a little bit different style of training while Scott talked me through what I was seeing. 

I'm home now...although it looks like the crisp cool weather grabbed hold of my bumper and caught a ride with me. I've spent some quiet time thinking over methods of training dogs: similarities, radical differences, styles of dogs, end results.  Scott's parting words from my Gyp lesson were something along the lines of  "it would not be good for a dog to be trained in one method one month and switched around to another method another month."  There are many great and successful methods to training up a dog...as proven by all the top handlers that train different from each other and yet their dog's work great.  The secret to success is consistency, understanding, and accurate assessment of the dog's response, or lack there of, to the training. I'll continue to sort and weed and plant as I find my own method of training.....while being thankful for the help of those graciously willing to invest and believe in me and my dogs.

Seize the Day!