I would like to very warmly welcome you all to the NewK9 Obedience Training Blog.
In an attempt expand my present dog obedience classes, Weelsby Dog Training Club, which I started up at 13 years old just over 5 years ago now. I have decided to create this blog as a fresh start to appeal to a wider audience of dog lovers, training enthusiasts and those who want to learn to appreciate the bigger picture of dogs and their management. While also projecting my knowledge and experience to a variety of followers whether you agree, disagree or somewhere in the middle I just ask that you respect the fact that these are my views and my views only.
I hope in the future to update this blog as regularly as possible. Any ideas and suggestions for my future posts will be greatly appreciated.
I would like to start off by saying that dog training in itself is an ever progressing field where constant revision and reflection on one's methods, ideas and theories is an absolute must to be able to see the 'bigger picture'. But more importantly, it is also about respecting that without differing views, variety would be non existent, leaving no room for experimentation.
It is only through trial and error we learn what works and what does not work and because our dogs are all individuals, just like people, we must experiment with each & everyone of them. There will never be a general method or idea that will work for the majority of dogs. Every method will have to be changed or tweaked in some fashion to suit your dogs size, temperament and level of drive.
It is through our love of dogs and our very human desire to improve and create that drives to achieve the goal of a well trained dog. Whether it be a faithful obedient friend you walk round the local park or a Crufts winner, our idea of a well trained dog is perceived through the standard we set ourselves to aim, which is unique to our own lives.
It is vital that we take into consideration both training & behaviour when trying to work with our dogs. Without training we cannot alter our dogs behaviour and without recognising clearly what our dogs behaviour is like we cannot train them.
Happy reading folks and I hope this fresh start becomes a great beginning!
Really looking forward to following this. As soon to be owners of a new pup (our first!)we are eager for our dog to be well trained for the sake of the whole family (including the dog) and the wider community. So, I've been reading/watching what I can, talking to people, trying to discover the 'perfect recipe' to follow to result in a well trained dog and this can lead to one getting a bit up tight which is not helpful for anyone (again, including the pup!), so it's really refreshing and reassuring to read that from your experience that "It is only through trial and error we learn what works and what does not work and because our dogs are all individuals, just like people, we must experiment with each & everyone of them." Our breeder has also said something similar. So... I'm gonna relax, do my best and enjoy this journey with this exciting new individual that we are bringing into our family. There, see...you are helping more people already! Keep up the good work (I know you will!)
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