Yesterday it was about giving your animal partners time off. Today it is the concept of “self training”. I don’t mean training at home on your own. (Though that can have issues too – nothing like some objective eyes to help keep you moving forward) I mean the concept that the dogs trains themselves. By magic. Without your input. The Miracle Method, Passive Training. I don’t care what you call it – it isn’t going to work by and large.
Osmosis is one thing – but there has to be something to build on, and from.
Playing Training is a partnership. A dance. A dialogue.
It’s’ relationship, engagement, call it what you will Dogs and horses cannot possibly figure out what we want and train themselves.
Yes lots of what we build on is instinctive ( sports like barn hunt and herding are obvious – but the concept is much bigger – moving away from pressure, wanting to be with us are just two examples) but without a facilitator to explain the rules how on earth can the team work as a whole? They can’t.
Period. Full Stop.
If you expect ribbons and glory – heck if you just expect specific behaviour it’s YOUR job to invest time in making sure that behaviour is known, cue-able and fluent, Your JOB I tell ya. Hope you are listening!
