Let's Talk Foundation ONE MORE TIME!

Actually, this is not the last time. We or you will be addressing your foundation the entire time you work your dog. Or at least, that is what I believe is necessary to keep you successful and strong.

Everyone wants to jump ahead, make problems more difficult to be ready for the callout. Yes, this does need to happen, but without the fundamentals you will struggle more than you need too. 

It does not matter what the terrain, length or age of a trail is if you cannot find your start! Or, that you believe your dog when they find it or do not.

Yes, important to know what your dog looks like on, even more so when they are off!

And do you believe your dog sticks to one odor? The one you asked them to find?

Here are three items you have covered in your foundation. Different trainers may cover them a little differently- but a competent trainer covers all three. 

So, if you question any of these with your dog- start, off/on, or scent discrimination- then work your foundation!!!!!! A harder problem will not fix it.

The best of handlers works these skills constantly to understand and believe the ability of their dog.

How do you work these skills?

!. Start drills. The start drills cover all three. You can read a below post about a few different start drills if you need a few ideas.

2. KNOWN PROBLEMS!!!! Working known problems lets you see your dog work!!! Builds trust in what your dog can do.

SIDE NOTE ON WORKING KNOWNS:

Working known problems can be a skill set all on its own. Learning to be patient and work out the problem not push your dog forward because you know where it is. Known problems also teach you to work out the problem the same every time. As I call it muscle memory. Here is a test- run a known problem about three blocks, now run a similar one blind. Now, if the known took less 0than half the time of the unknown or blind there is a good chance you are not working them the same. You must learn how to do this. If you trust your dog on a turn on the known, why did you not trust them on the blind? If it took four minutes to find the start on the blind and 30 seconds on the known- did they really have the start on the known?

Yes, the knowns are there for you to see all that your dog can do, and to see where you need to help them out. The knowns are also handler training. Learning and practicing your response so you can put it in to play the same way on the unknown.

3. Intersections. Working a trail with a few intersections- 90 percent known to build the skills. Then test your team! ON the 10th trail run it blind- how did it go? Yes, I do believe we will run a few blinds in our foundation. I believe it is part of your foundation! If you cannot find someone in two blocks, why are you running a mile trail? And, even if you have run that blind 2-mile trail or have had a find- keep up your skills running a couple short trails.

ANOTHER SIDE NOTE:

Running these shorter trails also keeps your dog versatile. They will never try and guess the length rather just work it till they find the subject. Yes, this happens! 

Keep the foundation in every week of your training! And, if you have struggles go back! To keep strong- go back! To build trust work your foundations!!!!!!

Now go find the trails!