Tuesday, March 22, 2011

One-Man Dogs and One-Trick Ponies

Years ago, hunters would train their retrievers to be both one-man and one-job dogs. They thought that anything that detracts from the dogs loyalty to the hunter, or distracts the dog from its desire to find and retrieve birds, would produce an inferior hunting dog. There is some merit to this way of thinking if you want your dog to be a field trial champion, outperforming hundreds of other dogs in specific tasks.

But while many modern retrieving breeds are engineered (if you will) for hunting, they tend to be very human-centric in their psychology and serve equally well in alternative roles: household pets, therapy dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs and more. The question is, can they do more than one thing for more than one person well? In my experience, the answer is yes... with a few caveats.

It isn't necessary for a general hunting retriever to be a one-man dog. However, it is a good idea to establish a primary (not exclusive, just primary) loyalty to the hunter. To accomplish this, the hunter should be the primary (again, not exclusive, just primary) provider of food, training and direction for the dog. This is especially true for the period in which the dog is receiving basic obedience and hunting training. Once the dog is well-trained, other family members can play a more active role in the dog's care and management without putting its field dependability in jeopardy.

It also isn't necessary for a good, solid hunting dog to be a one-trick pony. Just as an engineer can be phenomenal in his field of endeavor, that same brain that allows him to excel can also be used to make him a great writer, singer or airplane pilot. Dog's are intelligent creatures; while it's fine for them to have a specialty, it isn't necessary to limit them to just one ability.

I'm absolutely in favor of making sure a hunting dog is well socialized, solidly obedient and knows every trick in the book. Dog's minds are a lot like human minds in that they retain flexibility longer when exercised thoroughly.

And remember, don't forget to praise your dog lavishly and tell her what a pretty retriever she is when she gets something right. Flattery will get you everywhere.

For more dog training tips and information on obedience classes in Denver, Colorado, visit the  FetchMasters website or email Tom directly.