After two full days of Master Class handlers learned an awful lot about their dogs and even more about themselves.
"My dog can't/won't do that," was a cry that turned out to be false over and over again.
Absolutely no one thought a little Chihuahua would swim: wrong, she swam like a torpedo. When we asked owners to recall their dogs across 150 yards of open field through a line of (my) dogs many owners believed it impossible yet every dog came straight back to their handler.
Owners who said their dogs would never stay while other dogs ran by were proved wrong again.
Over the two days they realised that their negativity was responsible for their dogs' poor behaviour. If I know a dog understands the command I always assume they will comply. I don't get anxious in anticipation of failure. That helps the dog relax and my confidence feeds into theirs.
That's how it works with animals. Anyone who competes in horse events knows this. At some point your dog (or horse) relies on you to give him/her confidence. If you don't have confidence think about something in your past where you succeeded against the odds and project that feeling.
My top dog Murphy is approaching 12 years of age and totally deaf. We've developed a sign language that works for both of us. Sometimes sudden sounds occur that the Pack respond to and he looks to me for guidance. I have to respond with confidence or he won't know what's going on.
Cattle charging from behind will cause the pack to bolt forwards and Murphy needs me to remain calm and simply guide him to safety. He relies on me for direction and I trust him to follow it.
He seems perfectly happy with the arrangement and has learned to avoid looking at me if he knows I'm about to ask him to do something he doesn't want to do (like coming out of the reservoir).
In Murphy's world a problem shared is all mine.
If you need help with your dog just go to www.vicbarlow.com or text me on 07590-560012.
