Classes
**Click titles for more information**
Motivational Handling Skills
Here we learn
to use motivation as our main training tool instead of
coercion. We learn how to devise and execute a training
program that constantly increases our dogs desire to
participate. We use non verbal communication and
handles to motivate and hold our dog's attention. More
importantly, we learn to "watch" for what our dogs are
communicating without language. We become aware of what
our dog "hears" us saying instead of what we think we
are saying.
Most importantly, we become the training tool, the resource our dog looks to, the pack leader. We earn our position in our dog's life by demonstrating our ability to make positive things happen. We learn how to demonstrate all the advantages of bonding with our family and community.
Most importantly, we become the training tool, the resource our dog looks to, the pack leader. We earn our position in our dog's life by demonstrating our ability to make positive things happen. We learn how to demonstrate all the advantages of bonding with our family and community.
Handling/Obedience
All the skills
normally associated with obedience courses are
developed in our Handling class. There are three
scenarios: Down with Recall, Moving Together and Moving
Away. These three scenarios build the foundation for
all obedience training. We build "obedience" skills in
social groups, with distraction, off-leash.
Teaching with leash correction
Traditional obedience classes are all about using correction with a leash to coerce dogs into reacting to verbal and or hand signals. What the dog is "taught" is broken down into pieces that fit into opportunities to use a leash to either coerce the dog into a specific response or correct for non compliance if the desired response does not occur.
Good leash work is very difficult to master. In our many years of experience using these traditional methods, we found many dog handlers never master leash correction techniques. Moreover coercive training builds a negative reservoir of fear and doubt in our dogs that creates a whole new set of challenges. Motivational training in this environment is very difficult as the handler must over come the negative effect of all the coercion.
Teaching with real motivation
The WolfBrook Handling class focuses on hooking into instinctual, socially oriented drives that are very motivational. Our methods involve building a reservoir of positive motivation in a socially competitive and supportive environment. Our dogs are instinctually driven to pursue prey in very organized and communicative social groups. We teach handlers to stimulate the natural drive to pursue prey and then lead their dog to the shortest most stimulating way to satiate that drive.
We do not ignore the leash. Each handler has the opportunity to familiarize themselves with proper use of a leash in each class. We just do not encourage the use of a leash as the primary training tool. We believe a handlers main training/control tool should be something they are never without, good motivational handling skills.
Teaching with leash correction
Traditional obedience classes are all about using correction with a leash to coerce dogs into reacting to verbal and or hand signals. What the dog is "taught" is broken down into pieces that fit into opportunities to use a leash to either coerce the dog into a specific response or correct for non compliance if the desired response does not occur.
Good leash work is very difficult to master. In our many years of experience using these traditional methods, we found many dog handlers never master leash correction techniques. Moreover coercive training builds a negative reservoir of fear and doubt in our dogs that creates a whole new set of challenges. Motivational training in this environment is very difficult as the handler must over come the negative effect of all the coercion.
Teaching with real motivation
The WolfBrook Handling class focuses on hooking into instinctual, socially oriented drives that are very motivational. Our methods involve building a reservoir of positive motivation in a socially competitive and supportive environment. Our dogs are instinctually driven to pursue prey in very organized and communicative social groups. We teach handlers to stimulate the natural drive to pursue prey and then lead their dog to the shortest most stimulating way to satiate that drive.
We do not ignore the leash. Each handler has the opportunity to familiarize themselves with proper use of a leash in each class. We just do not encourage the use of a leash as the primary training tool. We believe a handlers main training/control tool should be something they are never without, good motivational handling skills.
Down with Recall
This is a the
first Handling class exercise from which we build
skills commonly found in obedience classes. A reliable
down and recall will see us through just about any
situation. The down and recall work naturally together,
one complimenting the other.
The down and recall are usually broken into many steps and are not put together until advanced classes. We find that working them together from the earliest stage of training makes them much easier to pick up. This exercise sets training presidents that carry many benefits into all aspects of the relationship. Foremost among these benefits is setting in our dog's mind that it is being allowed to participate not forced. The natural drive of canines to move with a pack is very strong. We believe in hooking this drive firmly early.
The down and recall are usually broken into many steps and are not put together until advanced classes. We find that working them together from the earliest stage of training makes them much easier to pick up. This exercise sets training presidents that carry many benefits into all aspects of the relationship. Foremost among these benefits is setting in our dog's mind that it is being allowed to participate not forced. The natural drive of canines to move with a pack is very strong. We believe in hooking this drive firmly early.
Moving Together/Heeling
There is a
great deal of research into the significance of canine
body language, particularly body position in relation
to other pack members. Now we begin to learn a mutual
language. Building on the eagerness to get to us that
we established in down with recall, we begin to
orchestrate movement together. This lesson, like all
our lessons, flows from the lesson before, becoming an
extension of its predecessor.
Moving Away
There will come
a time when we want our dog to move away from us but
still react to instruction as if we were there.
Teaching our dog to move in the direction indicated and
down when commanded builds the foundation that we
need.
Puppies
Many training
programs require that class attendees either meet
minimum age requirements or attend special puppy only
classes. We can all certainly understand that puppies
should not be subjected to the kinds of coercion that
are frequently used in adult training programs.
Coercion is much more likely to cause long term
motivational or "spirit" problems when used on puppies.
For this reason many breeders caution puppy owners not
to attempt training their youngster.
At WolfBrook, the motivational nature of our training methods is especially suited to puppies. We have raised many puppies to become very succesful competition dogs. We are confident that our methods will increase motivation and spirit instead of diminishing them. We believe that many owners miss a window of opportunity with puppies that once missed is not re-attainable. Focusing a puppies drives on appropriate handles and behavior will dramatically improve all aspects of it's relationships with other dogs and people. Puppies are especially eager to mimic the social behavior of adult dogs so we work them around and with trained adults.
At WolfBrook, the motivational nature of our training methods is especially suited to puppies. We have raised many puppies to become very succesful competition dogs. We are confident that our methods will increase motivation and spirit instead of diminishing them. We believe that many owners miss a window of opportunity with puppies that once missed is not re-attainable. Focusing a puppies drives on appropriate handles and behavior will dramatically improve all aspects of it's relationships with other dogs and people. Puppies are especially eager to mimic the social behavior of adult dogs so we work them around and with trained adults.
Scent Work
No human device
or sense can fathom this canine ability. Still, we can
observe that the information our dogs glean from this
ability is often given precedence over even the sum of
other sensual information. Providing direction and
focus for this canine ability is a very powerful way to
improve our mutual ability to communicate.
Air Scent
Human theory concerning scents generally recognizes two main categories of scents. One theory is, molecules falling from or across objects carry scent that disperses in and gets distributed by the surrounding air. This "air bound scent" is generally considered to diminish rapidly in moving air.
Ground Scent
A second type of scent, ground scent, is thought to be caused by the disturbance of the grounds surface. A disturbance of the ground crushes organic matter. Crushing this matter is known to cause chemical reactions that may continue long after the ground disturbance occurred. The chemical reaction caused by the crushed matter releases molecules into the air. The theory is these molecules contain recognizable scent. Since the chemical reactions instrumental in this theory may become stronger well after the ground disturbance occurred, ground scents are generally considered to remain recognizable for longer periods of time.
One of the difficulties in scent work is, we more visually oriented handlers tend to try to manage our dog's work by our visual cues instead of letting the dog locate and work scent.
Air Scent
Human theory concerning scents generally recognizes two main categories of scents. One theory is, molecules falling from or across objects carry scent that disperses in and gets distributed by the surrounding air. This "air bound scent" is generally considered to diminish rapidly in moving air.
Ground Scent
A second type of scent, ground scent, is thought to be caused by the disturbance of the grounds surface. A disturbance of the ground crushes organic matter. Crushing this matter is known to cause chemical reactions that may continue long after the ground disturbance occurred. The chemical reaction caused by the crushed matter releases molecules into the air. The theory is these molecules contain recognizable scent. Since the chemical reactions instrumental in this theory may become stronger well after the ground disturbance occurred, ground scents are generally considered to remain recognizable for longer periods of time.
One of the difficulties in scent work is, we more visually oriented handlers tend to try to manage our dog's work by our visual cues instead of letting the dog locate and work scent.
Fear/Aggression/Protection
Fear and
suspicion are among the toughest emotional responses to
put a handle on. Most of the inappropriate behavior
connected with fear and suspicion can be corralled by
mastering these training scenarios. We start with a
"turn on turn off" exercise, which we build the concept
of emotional control from. Actual experience dealing
with suspicious and antagonistic behavior from third
parties builds confidence in dealing with these
difficult situations. During threats canine pack
members draw from the confidence and courage of their
pack leader. These training exercises build human pack
leading skills that enable us to provide a positive
example. Once we begin to deal with these situations
from strength and confidence instead of fear most
problems melt away.
Those who are comfortable dealing with these highly emotional training scenarios rarely run into actual social situations that tax them. We recommend this training to just about all our members. We caution all interested parties to only train these scenarios with support from responsible, knowledgeable people who's first priority is confident control in the face of these strong emotions.
Those who are comfortable dealing with these highly emotional training scenarios rarely run into actual social situations that tax them. We recommend this training to just about all our members. We caution all interested parties to only train these scenarios with support from responsible, knowledgeable people who's first priority is confident control in the face of these strong emotions.
We believe interaction between dog and handler teams of
differing ages, experience levels and temperament is
beneficial preparing them for real life social environments.
We offer one obedience class progressing through interactive
scenarios. Since each team works individually on the level
scenario they are on no one holds any one else back. The
scenarios listed above proceed in the order they are
presented, each building on it's predecessor.
Times
Handler/Obedience classes are
held at 10AM on Saturdays and 7PM Wednesdays. Call first as
space is limited. Other classes are scheduled at such time as
the required number of attendees is reached.