By Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels - Home of Drake the DU Dog

The Process

A well-rounded hunter retriever is best developed when provided a balanced diet, not only in the food he consumes, but also in the training experiences he encounters. The art of retriever training includes striking a productive, logical, progressive balance in a dog's training regiment. Dwelling exclusively on just one skill for extended periods can diminish other previously established skills. Furthermore, this oversight will likely result in a bored dog displaying lackadaisical performance. Successful training methodology involves balance in its structure.

First, let's review a few of the previously established basic truths about dog training methodology:

• Dogs learn best through causal relationships established through consistent repetition (the learning chain - parts of the whole).
• Dogs have better retention through positive reinforcement, not force.
• Training should enhance/complement natural ability, not disguise it.
• Training is teaching, not testing. Dogs don't learn from failure.
• Dogs do learn through group dynamics.
• Training involves four phases: yard, field, transitional and hunting

These assumptions have been established in many of our Wildrose training articles. Now let's add balance in training structure:

• Training is not a program; it is a process.
• Dogs learn best when instruction is cyclical.
• Training sessions should involve both primary and counter skills.