ROBO-DOG by Rick Smith & Sharon Potter ave you ever seen a dog that don’t know about you, but that’s not pens when we give a physical cue goes through the motions how we want our dogs to work. and are heavy-handed with it, using Hof hunting, does everything So, how do dogs get that way? a lot more than is needed to get the right, rarely ever makes a mistake, There are two things from a train- desired response. It can be some- yet has no style or enthusiasm for ing standpoint that can and will take thing as simple as a lead correction the work? Just going through the the style and enthusiasm out of a - for example, when a very light tug motions, they work like some sort dog: pressure and overtraining. Of would have done the job, but instead of Robo-Dog, mechanically and me- course, other things like poor condi- a hard jerk is used and it throws the thodically, and when on point they tion, heat, exhaustion, and the like dog off balance. It can also be an stand perfectly still, but with no in- can make a dog look uninterested, e-collar correction on too high a set- tensity. There’s no joy in what they’re but in those cases, the dog usually ting, which is why we recommend doing; it’s just a job. If you look at a isn’t doing too much right. We’re that you always use the minimum, photograph of such a dog on point, talking about the dog that has got it go up a bit if needed, then promptly it would look like a picture of a dog all - except enthusiasm. dial back down as soon as the cor- just standing still. There is very lit- Pressure and overtraining can go rect response is given. This keeps a tle - if any - animation, the expres- hand in hand, a “cause and effect” dog working at the lowest possible sion is pretty ho-hum, and the tail sort of relationship, or they can level, giving the dog a chance to is relaxed. The dog is doing what’s work individually. do things right rather than scaring expected from a training standpoint, Pressure in a training situation can it into submission. There are few but doesn’t look the least bit excited be physical (a leash, collar, e-collar, things that will knock the style out NO ROBO-DOG HERE! THIS DOG HAS STYLE, INTENSITY, or happy to be doing it. checkcord, hands) or mental (when of a dog faster than bad e-collar use, AND YOU CAN JUST TELL THAT IT LOVES WHAT IT’S DOING. It’s not unlike people and jobs. a dog feels the need to think and and it can ruin a dog permanently. You know that old saying, “If you find a way out of an uncomfortable Isn’t pressure the same thing as 2019 © MASOTTI PERRY love what you do for a living, you’ll situation). Even birds can cause a overtraining? Yes and no. We obvi- never work a day in your life”? If level of pressure, depending on the ously use pressure during training, is directed and dictated. If you have less-critical boss. It’s not much dif- arm signals non-stop, telling the dog you enjoy your job and look for- dog’s mental state. Of course, we and as we said above, it certainly can a job and have a boss, imagine how ferent with dogs - except they can’t to go toward that tree line or that ward to doing it every day, it just need some level of pressure to train, be overused. That’s where pressure much you would come to hate it if quit and go find a new job with a patch of cover and now check out doesn’t feel like work. But if you go but it’s carrying the pressure beyond and overtraining go hand-in-hand. your boss never left you alone to better boss. that clump of grass over there and to work and watch the clock all day training or learning and into venting However, overtraining can happen complete a task. Rather, he leans Overtraining translates to over- now go over to this one ... and on just waiting for quitting time, you anger and frustration that sucks the without the overuse of pressure. over your shoulder constantly, mi- handling, too. A classic example of and on and on. count the hours until the weekend, joy out of a dog. So exactly what is overtraining? cromanaging every move you make, overhandling (and we’ve probably This kind of handling shows no and are doing the job because it’s a Two of the most common pressure- Simply put, it’s micromanaging ev- and criticizing every effort. We don’t all seen this) is the handler who partnership or teamwork and no paycheck and you have to do it, then related issues are overcorrecting and ery single move the dog makes, and know about you, but we’d likely turns the dog loose to hunt and then trust in the dog’s nose and ability to it’s just a job, with no joy in it. We poor timing. Overcorrecting hap- includes overhandling. Every move be searching for a new job with a is yelling and whistling and giving find birds, and is usually the result 6 Versatile Hunting Dog • www.navhda.org October 2019 October 2019 Versatile Hunting Dog • www.navhda.org 7 RUGGED TRAVEL GEAR of handler insecurity or inexperi- flect your attitude. As we said, in the ence. Then, if the dog actually does field, this shows up as a dog that goes TO PROTECT YOUR stumble across a bird, the next thing through the motions with no style or that happens is a string of loud, enthusiasm. They lack desire and PRECIOUS CARGO “Whoa... whoa... whoa” repeated the spirit to even try to do anything ABOUT over and over again, even though without direction, because they feel THE AUTHORS the dog isn’t moving. like they’re always wrong. Join Tyler Webster of Buds, Booze and Buds podcast and A really big sign of overtrain- One point we’d like to make in Dakota 283 in helping our fellow NAVHDA member and ing happens at home. A polite dog clarification: Different dogs and chapter president Craig Jones in his battle with cancer. that’s a good citizen is something breeds have different styles. Don’t Hall of Fame member Rick Smith has Order Dakota 283 products using the code B3CFJ and we should all strive for. However, expect a slower, close-working spent a lifetime breeding, training there are dogs that rarely ever get breed to show the same intensity and handling National Champion- Craig will receive 20% of the proceeds courtesy of both ship bird dogs. His highly popular any time off, meaning every second and style as an Open All Age point- Tyler and Dakota 283. Help us help Craig! that the owner’s around, the dog er or setter. Neither is better nor seminars teach his “Silent Command is being told what to do, where to worse than the other - they’re just System” to dog owners world-wide. be, how to move, and is corrected different personalities. Based in Virginia, Rick raises his constantly. They’re told to go lie in Also keep in mind that a softer, exceptional line of Brittanys and their dog bed or crate, only allowed more sensitive dog can end up be- spends a good deal of time on the road, both teaching seminars and to move from that spot when told, coming overtrained and downtrod- Use code B3CFJ to donate 20% of proceeds to Criag Jones | DAKOTA283.COM | 866.595.4332 and have no freedom to just be part den a lot faster and easier than a making public appearances. Rick’s of the family. tough minded, high-energy dog. contact info can be found at: While a well-trained dog is a joy Training and hunting with a good www.huntsmith.com to have around, the overtrained bird dog of any breed requires a dog is seen more as a possession or team effort. Treat your dog fairly, a tool. It’s a lot like that old saying teach it what is expected and what NAVHDA that children should be seen and not the job description is, and then trust Sharon Potter has made a lifelong heard. While we want our children it to do the job it was trained for - let study of animal behavior, training ANNUAL MEETING to be polite and respectful and we it go be a real dog, not a Robo-Dog. both dogs and horses, and has bred January 24-26, 2020 sure don’t want our kids to run wild When the two of you head to the and trained several National win- and be rude, we also don’t want field together, the dog’s job is to go ners. An avid hunter, she spends Portland, Maine them to be invisible. Same goes for where you go, find and point birds, most of her fall and winter months our dogs. Polite and respectful is and bring ‘em back after you shoot either hunting or guiding, while the The Westin Harbor View Hotel good. We like to see each dog’s per- them. You each have your job to rest of the year she runs a busy dog 151 High St. | Portland, ME Hosted by NAVHDA Sr.