About training tools...

Had about an hour long talk with two dog behaviorists who are starting a "K9 Games" business in town here (I posted about it elsewhere.) In the course of our discussion I brought Rocket Dog in for them to assess. I explained Rocket Dog's backstory...

My older MH pretty much lost the verve for hunt TESTS and training, (though she is a superb hunting dog.) So I researched pedigrees until I found one that had a bodacious amount of steam in it. And I got my money's worth. An incredibly intense, retrieving machine. But, all that wonderfulness has its downside and I told them that I wanted a dog I could take out in public. I explained that she has a hyper-greeting style with people, and reactivity to strange dogs. They felt they could certainly help me out.

But I say all that to say this: I explained that RD is trained for field, and that she is therefore collar conditioned, and was force fetched, and that we use a lot of indirect pressure on her... and denial. I waited for their hair to spontaneously combust. But the two gals were very cool about it. They said they use the tools that are most effective, end of story. She understood that field people pioneered the use of the e-collar because they train dogs at long distances. She also offered her opinion that over time, e-collars looked like the simple cure for all dog issues, that they found their way into the wrong hands with the consequence that the tool got a bad reputation.

They were also willing to customize an approach to her problems that would not interfere with her field work. (For instance, one approach to people letting their dogs come up into her face would be to step in front of her. Well... that doesn't work, since RD just keeps shifting to stay with her shoulders by my leg.) I'm looking forward to working with them.

Let us know how she progresses!

The gal I bring over for workshops is the same way. She's all for working w/ the tools that work for the dog. That's a good trainer, to come w/ a complete toolbox, not just a wrench...

Even I recognize that the e-collar is probably neither necessary nor appropriate for what I want "on the street". I think there are things I can do as a handler to increase her comfort around other dogs. She has come far enough that she knows she does NOT have the liberty to pro-actively protect herself against strange dogs. However, I don't think she trusts me to protect her and her personal space against encroachment. So there is much both of us need to learn.