|
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
|
| News |
|
|
|
|