Training The Pointing Labrador

In today's late winter episode, I describe exactly what the plans are for the YouTube channel.  It should be open for viewing in the very near future.  It is the story of Faith, from birth to her life of competition and hunting.  How does the early neural stimulation work on performance pups work, what is it and why do it?  It will continue to all the critical early training steps; the walk, early retrieving, early relationship building, bird introduction and its continued development.  I have literally spent my life trying to learn this aspect of the dog world, and Faith, her owner and I will take you on the journey with her, seeing and experiencing it all yourself.   This audio podcast will remain, so for my noncomputer folks, you will be included, you just won't be on the walk or in the upland field with us.  This is going to be the most fun project I have ever undertaken.  Hope you join us!

An introduction to the latest podcast/YouTube combined project, showcasing from the very beginning the steps of raising a pup, including the early mental stimulation of a tiny pup.  From roughly 8 weeks on you'll get to watch the approach to creating a "good dog", how to adjust what you do to fit the animal, and the importance of the right kind of time and effort into your new family member.  Should be an absolute blast. 

In this Groundhog's Day episode, I have a personal note to a few folks, and a list of Spring Tests in the APLA.  We also welcome Texas to the venues holding tests, as they have one planned for 28 February this spring in Inez Texas.  At that event there will be a seminar for any new or interested folks, to learn more about what this is and how to do it right.  More tests this spring than ever - going to be a great season! Texas contact info: Chris Wray  cwray079@gmail.com Tigh Leibel Seminar info:  teighleibel@gmail.com Test Entry information:  www.huntsecretary.com 

In this final section of being as prepared as possible for the highest level of dog competition, we talk a lot about marks and blinds.  How do you prepare for the setups you will encounter, the ones you didn't set up?  How do you optimize the chances of passing? There is a little science to this.

How do you get your dog to do very hard things without knowing they were hard?  There is a way to do that.  Listen in.....

In this year's preparation for your Big Game, this episode breaks down ways to prepare for the unexpected in a weekend test or the big one.  How to prepare yourself and your dog for dragback, unexpected sights or sounds, weird setups and other mishaps.  It's all about your basics and your preparation (as always).  Here are some ideas to help you get ready for the unexpected.

Today's January episode is aimed at the serious folks who plan on running their National this year, whether that be the Grand, the Master National or the Triple Crown.  Success at this level is not so much based on how many triples you can run this year; it is more on how much you and your dog are prepared for whatever comes your way, expected or unexpected.  How do you get out of your own way, and your dog's, when in the high stakes competition?  It might be different than you think...

In this final series about raising puppies, we discuss the importance of maintaining the right balance between control and focus, retrieving and upland work.  Upland dogs can run blinds without hunting, do hard marks, and still be confident and accomplished in the upland field.  It takes time and experience to learn the nuances of bird hunting, scent, feel, etc.  Allowed the opportunity to acquire the skill of bird location, the well-balanced dog can run the Triple Crown and Master National in the same time period - with complete success. But it's all about the balance....

4th in the puppy series, the upland part.  This is often an unpredictable phase, where dogs do what they do, and not always what we expect or want.  With a good balance between the control of retriever work and the independence of the upland hunt, a youngster can learn to be an adept and confident partner in both.  It is a process, and it takes time; entirely defined by the way your pup's little head works.  It is one of the most fun aspects of dog training I have ever experienced.

In today's episode on developing the retrieving skills of a puppy, we break down the small but very important details to create a confident, accomplished partner in the games you and your dog will play together.

In this 3rd podcast in the series, we break down the importance of the simple but powerful requirements of respecting your personal boundaries, not using noise to express their emotions and how not to become an Iditarod champion.

In Part 2 of Puppy Raising, we talk about the importance of seeing the traits of your pup honestly and using those to design your approach to teaching your pup.  Letting them just "be a puppy" is avoiding the responsibility of bringing your pup up in a manner that is in the long-term interests of you both.  There are a few simple things, which when undertaken thoughtfully, make the rest of your lives together much better.  Promise.

In today's episode, we breakdown the importance of puppy raising.  It has been found that the earliest years of a human infant carry extreme significance to the ultimate well-being of that person.  It is also very true with our canines, and all of them, not just the performance dogs.  This is the first in a series of puppy raising aspects all too often ignored.

In this 2-part podcast, most of the RMPLC members who make up the Triple Crown attendees talk about their experiences, and how it impacts their lives, families and dogs.  Each one has at least one or more TC2 dogs, some APLA HOF dogs and one of the only 3 TC3 dogs in the galaxy.  Turns out it's not just a great dog, or a gifted handler.  It's hard, hard work, dedication, surviving failure and just loving these animals enough to keep going.  Hope you enjoy it!

Going into the more personal side of the dog training and competing experience, the TC group tells about the  ups and the downs, the victories and the hard to take defeats.  And, the meaning of the dogs in their lives.

In today's post season episode, we break down the causes of most failures on the line at events.  News flash:  It isn't the dog.

Finishing off last week's episode on taking a dog fresh with the tools, through beginning handling on land, we discuss doing this on water.  The journey from "knucklehead" to "Big Leaguer" is a giant teaching process, and a very fun one at that.

In today's episode, aimed at my clients for whom I put the dog through the T and swim by, we discuss how to take the dog from developing the tools to handle on land and water - to learning how to run good blinds.  There are lots of ideas and approaches out there, best way to is develop a strong partnership with your dog, based on consistency, clarity and trust.

In today's post TC episode, I discuss the nuts and bolts of upland training for the retriever.  There is lots of discussion about how to upgrade our testing criteria.  The talk is only about the marks and blinds.  But what about the upland.....

This was recorded at the APLA National, known as the Triple Crown.  Troy Benson, APLA President, Justin VanDeHey, board member, Blake Haddock and Ryan Pasman, trainers all and 2 Triple Crown judges, sit down after a day of competition, and talk about this part of the retriever world.  Sit down and join in!