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New Dog or Puppy … Where Do I Start?By Jeremy Moore The answer is easy – in the beginning. Not only is it the best place, it is the only place to start when talking about training a dog. It makes logical sense, yet the question “where do I start” is often one of the most common I receive. Before we get into where the beginning is for training a dog, what it looks like and where it leads us, let’s talk about why. You may have noticed I used both the word “dog” and “puppy” in the title of this article. More often than not, there is a reason for just about everything, and this is no exception. I think there is a lot of confusion when it comes to what the difference is between a puppy and a dog. That confusion is then compounded when new owners start to map out where to begin with their training. If someone brings home a 7-week-old puppy, it’s usually easy to understand – you have a puppy. But what about someone who just adopted the 7-month-old coonhound mix that already weighs 55 pounds? Or maybe you just brought in a year-old black lab that’s tipping the scales at 110 pounds and looks like he still might have some room to grow into those oversized paws? Although each of these examples vary greatly in both age and size, they all may have one thing in common – very little or no understanding of basic obedience. So, how do you know where do you start with each of those scenarios?
Mental, not physical, developmentTo clear things up right out of the gate, I called all three examples noted in that last paragraph puppies, even though two out of the three certainly look more like a dog than a puppy. I think there is a big misunderstanding when it comes to what makes a puppy a puppy, or a dog a dog. And I don’t think it’s always completely black and white. I often see folks out there who think they have “dogs” because they look like grown dogs physically, but mentally – which we can’t see and oftentimes don’t truly understand – they are still very much so puppies. However, because they look like a dog we often think we need to take a different approach to training them, or as I prefer to call it, raising them. I think it’s important to understand that just because they look like a dog and appear physically mature, we need to be aware that mentally they are likely still immature. It takes a lot longer for pups to “grow up” mentally than physically and at times, they will give us reminders of that. Those moments when their coordination and agility, or more accurately their lack of, shines through. There are those times when their feet just don’t line up with what they are trying to do in their mind, and they can appear downright clumsy! We see this more often than not with kids, particularly in sports. Just because a 15-year-old kid is 6’ 7” tall and weighs 220 pounds doesn’t mean he plays basketball with the same level of understanding and decision making as would a similar sized 28-year-old, 10-year NBA veteran. Just because that 15-year-old kid looks like a man, it’s not realistic to expect him to make all the other life decisions with matching maturity. It takes time for both dogs and people to truly “grow up.” Our patience and understanding is usually there when it comes to humans, but greatly overlooked with canines. You will hear me refer to any dog under the age of 2 typically as a puppy. As a general rule, that’s around the point where I start to see dogs really make the turn when it comes to growing up.
The foundationFoundation is where everything starts. If you have aspirations to build anything that will perform well and last, you need to be sure you put in a solid foundation. When it comes to dogs, the nice part is the foundation you need is relatively simple. Does simple mean easy? Not necessarily. When I say simple, I mean it’s not complex. Regardless of your aspirations both in the field as well as in the home, you will need to start at the same point. Heel, Sit, Stay and Here or Recall. In order to do any kind of complicated drills or lessons in an attempt to develop a fine sporting dog in the field, you need a few capabilities to be there without fail. That’s where these foundation skills come into play. For example, there will come a point in training that I want to extend my dog’s ability to make retrieves at a distance of 100, 200, maybe even 300 yards or more. I certainly cannot throw a bumper out that far, so how can I get the dog proficient at extending its lines? One of the most effective ways I know is by setting up a trailing memory. I simply heel the dog out to a predetermined area or point of fall. Pitch the bumper, turn around and heel the dog back incrementally making maybe 50-yard jumps in the length or distance over three or four repetitions. Quickly and easily I can go from a 50-yard retrieve to 200 yards and with a lot of success. But, in order to do this drill I first need the dog that can heel without any issues. If I can’t get a dog to heel well throughout the trailing memory setup, I will be fighting just to set up the drill, and the chances of success in the end are slim to none. In order to build on any and all of your training, you will need to scale drills and lessons by incrementally adding complexity. If your foundation isn’t sound, you simply won’t be able to add to the drills. It’s like asking a kid to write a book. Before you can expect them to do so, you first have to teach them how to write a complete sentence, and before that they will need to be able to spell and use words correctly. Even before that, they need to learn the alphabet and what actual letters are. That makes a lot of sense to most of us. The same idea needs to make just as much sense when it comes to raising and training dogs. Over the years I have come across plenty of issues, problems or struggles with the dogs I’ve worked with, and I can say the great majority can be traced back to, and remedied by, simply strengthening the foundation. The good news is that the answer is simple. It all starts in the beginning with your dog’s foundation. In the next issue of Badger Sportsman I plan to break down the foundation – Heel, Sit, Stay and Recall or Here – even more in depth. Until then, best of luck to you in your training.
Jeremy Moore has trained dogs for more than 15 years. His approach to training is to maximize a dog’s potential without using force and to bring out their natural abilities. He created the DogBone training products line, which is designed to allow dog owners to successfully train their own dog by combining the right tools with the information to put those tools to use. Visit www.dogbonehunter.com or FB, IG, Twitter and YouTube @dogbonehunter for more information. The post New Dog or Puppy … Where Do I Start? appeared first on Morning Moss. from http://morningmoss.com/new-dog-or-puppy-where-do-i-start/ SPY Optic General Realtree Camo ReviewInspired by the one and only Dale Earnhardt Jr., the SPY Optic General sunglass is built for performance. These glasses look tough, feel tough and are as solid as any pair that I’ve ever worn. The Spy Optic Realtree camo sunglasses look cool and come blanketed in Realtree camouflage with the SPY Happy Lens. The pair shown in the photos here have the grey lens, but these sunglasses come with the grey, green or polar. Read more of the SPY Optic General Sunglass review. Spy Camo Sunglasses ReviewThe General sunglasses are Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s signature sunglass made by SPY Optics. The glasses are wide are large and will cover your eyes and block out 100% of UV rays. Featured on the inside of the glasses is the number 88 and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s signature. The frames for this particular sunglass are matte black with Realtree camo on the inside of the frames and the tops. Dale Earnhardt Jr. SunglassesWhen I first tried on the SPY General Sunglasses, I noticed that they were really comfortable. There is rubber that goes against your temples and nose and it doesn’t itch or move a lot when you are. The lenses are really good too. Very clear and block out a lot of light without distorting the outdoors. Dale JR. Camo SunglassesSPY Optic’s Happy lens comes in these glasses and I’ll tell you that this lens is incredible. We wrote more about it in our review of the SPY Angler sunglasses review, but the lens really makes you feel better and see clearer. It would be very tough to find a better lens that looks great and actually helps you see and feel better. SPY General Realtree CamoObviously, the best part about these glasses is that they look cool. There’s nothing better than the matte black against Realtree camo. These would be the perfect glasses for fishing, hunting and enjoying the outdoors. Duck hunting would be perfect in these and no birds are going to spot a shiny glare from the sky. SPY Realtree Camo SunglassesYou can get your SPY General sunglasses here on their site, or order the SPY General Realtree camo shades on Amazon here. See more of the latest hunting and fishing gear reviews here on MorningMoss and read our great Outdoor News. The post SPY Optic General Realtree Camo Review appeared first on Morning Moss. from http://morningmoss.com/spy-optic-general-realtree-camo-review/ Morning Trail Mix 10-8Another Trail Mix kind of day! Be sure to check out the great hunting gear reviews we have on MorningMoss! The post Weekly Morning Trail Mix appeared first on Morning Moss. from http://morningmoss.com/weekly-morning-trail-mix-23/ Duck Hunting – Shells To Use!A great article from Wide Open Spaces! See below! The post Shotgun Shells To Use This Season appeared first on Morning Moss. from http://morningmoss.com/shotgun-shells-to-use-this-season/ Potential State Record Musky Caught in WashingtonIt’s been a big year for big fish in the state of Washington and we may be able to add another record fish to the books. A potential state record tiger muskie was caught on Curlew Lake, Washington, one of the state’s best Tiger Muskie fisheries. Earlier this year a new Washington state record walleye was caught as well. Fisherman David Hickman caught this 37 pound, 14 ounce Tiger Muskie on July 25th. The fish was 50.37 inches long and was weighed on a certified scale according to the Spokesman Review. If all is approved by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the muskie will top the current record of 31.25 pounds that was set back in 2001. Muskie fishing is a sport of it’s own and features some of the most hardcore anglers in the world. Tiger muskies are a cross-breed of female muskies and male northern pike. They are a sterile fish and they are stocked in Curlew Lake in Washington without fear that they’ll take over, since they can’t reproduce. The giant muskie that Hickman caught was 12 years old and was planted in the lake back in 2002 along with 335 others. Washington state fishery biologists were not surprised about the catch and Bill Baker said that he thinks Curlew is one of the fastest growing and most robust tiger muskie fishing spots in the state. According to Muskies Inc., an organization promoting muskie conservation, Washington produced eight of the top 13 all-tackle tiger muskies officially recorded in the U.S. in 2013, and eight of the top 10 in its fly-fishing category. We’ve seen some great muskie photos coming in lately and the hot season is creeping up. What’s the biggest muskie that you’ve landed? The post Potential State Record Musky Caught in Washington appeared first on Morning Moss. from http://morningmoss.com/potential-state-record-musky-caught-in-washington/ Mega Buck Down!Congratulations to Jeff on this amazing 222” stud! Shot in Morgan County Ohio! The post Ohio Mega Giant! appeared first on Morning Moss. from http://morningmoss.com/ohio-mega-giant/ Monday Morning Trail MixBack to work, but it’s only 4 days and you can be back out on the lake. The post Weekly Morning Trail Mix 10-1 appeared first on Morning Moss. from http://morningmoss.com/weekly-morning-trail-mix-10-1/ |
ABOUT MEWhats up. Im Todd. I like my dog, boats, the open water, the American flag and guns. Some might describe me as a "basic bro", but I'm really just a down home country boy. And a country boy can survive! Im usually out on the water in my fishing boat or canoe with my dog drinking a beer. Stuff on here is stuff I like. Cheers. Archives
May 2019
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