Opening Communications
Rod Roberts

In conjunction with
Dave and Jenny Olley (Dip CABT)

In over twenty five years of instructing I've seen people who no matter how hard they try just cannot seem to connect with their dog, I've heard other instructors say.

"Praise your dog" "Fuss your dog" "Play with your dog"

But nobody tells them how!

I too have been guilty of this but there never seems to be an appropriate time, in a class situation it would hold everyone up, on a one to one there always seems to be more pressing problems.

Opening Communications is a workshop designed to address these problems.

Three of the most basic skills in dog training are Praising, Fussing, and Playing with your Dog. When these skills are mastered enhanced Relationship, Motivation, and Concentration will ensue.

A dog's confidence is normally event specific, with these skills that confidence can be lifted to the point where it becomes Self Esteem which is a confident in life.

When you have created self esteem and increased motivation, and concentration your dog will be happy to work with you to a level rarely previously achieved.

We will be working on improving your observational skills, increasing your understanding contextual or micro body language which is the dogs way of communicating with you.

Opening Communications uses the precept that the meaning of a communication is that which is taken from it, not that which is meant by it.

The Skills Learned at an Opening Communications Workshop will allow you to communicate with your dog at an altogether new level.

Rod Roberts

Next opening communications
Weekend workshop 6th and 7th December, 2008.
9.30am to 4.30pm, Cost per student (with or without dog) £140.00.
At Pet Dog Training Centre, Stonham Barns
Pettaugh Rd, Stonham Aspal
Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6AT

All places must be pre-booked and pre-paid.
Tea, Coffee and biscuits will be provided
Pre-booked, Home-cooked two course dinners @ £5
Phone Margo on 01394 411763
Or email Diane on diane.ling@fwag.org.uk

Cheques should be made payable to Dog Friendly and sent to;
Margo Brothwell, Scotland House, Boyton
Woodbridge, Suffolk. IP12 3LE

Opening Communication
The Concept

Opening Communication as a concept started by my realization that a lot of handlers work with their dogs without any apparent mental connection being there. The handler struggling to school the dog to do the simplest of exercises with the dog only grasping what is required as a vague response to muttered or shouted commands and a definite lack of understanding being present.

Because verbal communication is limited in the range of its vocabulary to relatively few words of command, which in themselves are little more than triggers used to create pre-trained actions.
Our options are:~
(1) The tonality of our commands, praise and disapproval.
(2) Tactile or touching interactions.
(3) Using interactive play and other skills to enhance and build rapport and allow the handler to manipulate the dog's mood states.

One of a dogs innate skills is being able to read persons mental state. This comes from an instinctive ability to read and react to a persons body language. This is a survival skill which allows the dog to react appropriately when faced with anger, fear, aggression, strength and weakness.
A dogs body language can be incredibly diverse, at one extreme a curled lip or a wagging tail to at the other extreme a just perceptible change in the dilation of the pupils. Sometimes a curled lip can be a placatory grin and other times a severe threat
How the dog wags its tail can mean a multitude of different things from pure pleasure to threat.

Timing

Dogs have incredible speed of reaction, you only have to watch 2 dogs running and playing in woodland to realize they have a fantastic speed of reaction, they can be playfully barging each other while running at very high speed, jumping over obstacles and dodging round trees and bushes, watching for a few minutes will make it become obvious that the dogs reactions are faster that the fastest of people.
If a dogs reaction is so much faster both mentally and physically than a person how is it possible for a very good trainer to appear to have almost perfect timing. The answer is simple the very experienced trainer will be anticipating the dogs action and reaction before they occur, this will enable the handler, although much slower physically and mentally to arrive at the point in time at the same time as the dog.

An Opening Communications workshop is formulated to improve and enhance the handlers understanding of Canine body language and appreciate the effect of their own body language on the dog they are training.
To promote the handlers ability to interact with their dog by touch, voice and activity………. Communication
In Fact improve communication between dog and handler.
Throughout the Workshop I will be ably assisted by Dave and Jenny Olley who have helped me throughout the development of this approach to enhancing Dog handler relationships.

Rod