Well thats a good thing and I support them in that. There is no place for 'instruments of torture' in dog training. Kind, reward based methods and building a bond of trust with your dog might take longer but the results are much nicer to see. I would much rather have dog that recalls enthusiastically because it wants to be with me, than have dog that slinks back in fear of the consequences if it doesn't do as its told. I hope a lot of people and dogs will benefit from the seminar and look forward to hearing back from them.
The moderators have fiddled about with my above post so it makes no sense-just ignore please! Ive been looking at the COAPE website and one of the speakers "Jacqui Jones" doesnt mention any experience of working with wolfdogs at all. How can the course on one hand say these dogs have special requirements and on the other the trainer mentions no experience of them? This isnt to denegrate her experience with Akitas, Rotties etc but a bit of hands on experience with a wolfdog would be more helpful no? On the other hand shes quite a good looking lady from that pic
I quite agree about all these techniques. With a true wolfdog or high content wolf then it is even more important; however there are still some people (including in the USA) who support some of these methods even with wolfdogs. Motivating a wolf to come enthusiastically on a recall might be a bit of a tall order (whatever method you choose), especially if next doors cat wanders by... Longterm hands on experience of these dogs would be essential to be able to impart any form of useful knowledge. Experience of high drive dogs will only get you so far. Don't forget we are talking about those who are teaching the teachers.
I agree with you regarding the 'tall order' of an enthusiastic recall with a high content wolfdog, but the seminar will be dealing not only with these but with the wolf lookalikes too, which it should be possible to get an enthusiastic recall from. It will be interesting to see what the teachers are teaching the teachers though.
What an eye opener I enjoyed it so much, the speakers were very knowlegeable, and it wasn't a negative seminar or slating the dogs or owners. Did anyone else go?? Now whether to get a Saarloos, CsV or British Inuit??? (jokes!:twisted: )
Well they went into what makes a hybrid, the origins of the breeds etc. Things we need to be aware of in why these breeds are different, and insurance limitations. (There are insurance comapnies that cover them in classes but not the standard ones trainers seem to use) Shoshone Kennels were also there with a load of dogs.....CsV's, Saarloos, Huskies, B.I etc The owner seemed really, really knowledgable about her breeds, and definitley passionate. I felt a bit uncomfortable about how many she had, but I get the impression that for a successful breeding program like she has you need that many breeding bitches to make the new lines. So it was really interesting to meet the dogs first hand, and me being me asked them questions on the fag breaks and was generally quite nosy. What a LOT of work trying to get them socialised as puppies though! I haven't got my notes so can't remember which breeds it was that were much harder work than others. They don't give handouts and I can't really cut and paste all my notes, plus I think I'd get in a bit of trouble.... Also if anyone is in contact with the owner(s) of Shoshone I really hope that THEY got a positive experience from it??
Yes you're quite right....there was another couple that came with them and I think they were theirs, they might have even been Malamutes actually. Apologies!
Where were the dogs, in vans? I'm a bit lost, was part of the meeting a session in a field with some kind of training session?
Yep in their vans. No it was all lecture and discussion based, the kennels came to stick up for themselves and keep an eye on what was said I think! (Might have been another reason I didn't ask) They weren't asked to bring the dogs afaik, but it was interesting for me that they did as I'd never seen one in the flesh. Now I just have to harass Tupac into letting me meet hers
i would of done the same too;-) ;-) petrina.... Tupac(csv) is at work everyday with me,its only norbury,a straight line from yours!;-)