Comments for Toronto Dog Training Blog http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com When Hounds Fly Blog Wed, 09 May 2012 20:30:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Border Collie? Malinois? I Don’t Need One!! (Or Do I?) by whenhoundsfly http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/border-collie-malinois-i-dont-need-one-or-do-i/#comment-96 whenhoundsfly Wed, 09 May 2012 20:30:25 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=158#comment-96 That does remind me, of course Helton brought up "Our Gang" and Pansy, the American Pit Bull Terrier. Family dog 100 years ago and now "vicious killer" today - all because of breed selection considerations. Physical characteristics are basically the biggest reason why dogs develop the stereotypes they do. Daschunds are hard to train (Not the ones I've had in class - but it's so hard to even tell when they are sitting) Standard Poodles are really smart (Maybe, but they have goldilocks size characteristics) Pit Bulls are vicious (Because dog fighters take them and train them to be) That does remind me, of course Helton brought up “Our Gang” and Pansy, the American Pit Bull Terrier. Family dog 100 years ago and now “vicious killer” today – all because of breed selection considerations. Physical characteristics are basically the biggest reason why dogs develop the stereotypes they do.

Daschunds are hard to train (Not the ones I’ve had in class – but it’s so hard to even tell when they are sitting)
Standard Poodles are really smart (Maybe, but they have goldilocks size characteristics)
Pit Bulls are vicious (Because dog fighters take them and train them to be)

]]> Comment on Border Collie? Malinois? I Don’t Need One!! (Or Do I?) by whenhoundsfly http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/border-collie-malinois-i-dont-need-one-or-do-i/#comment-95 whenhoundsfly Wed, 09 May 2012 20:22:16 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=158#comment-95 They are built for fighting is not the same statement as they are vicious. They do have physical characteristics that make them suitable for fighting though, which is why people that enjoy dog fighting seek them out for that purpose. The lecture was around physical characteristics that affect selection template, and if I wanted a fighting dog, I'd want one with a flat face, wide mouth, and more ocular overlap. They are built for fighting is not the same statement as they are vicious. They do have physical characteristics that make them suitable for fighting though, which is why people that enjoy dog fighting seek them out for that purpose. The lecture was around physical characteristics that affect selection template, and if I wanted a fighting dog, I’d want one with a flat face, wide mouth, and more ocular overlap.

]]> Comment on Border Collie? Malinois? I Don’t Need One!! (Or Do I?) by Sarah http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/border-collie-malinois-i-dont-need-one-or-do-i/#comment-94 Sarah Wed, 09 May 2012 20:09:39 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=158#comment-94 I really enjoyed this article and I have to agree - intelligence and ability has a lot to do with environment, not simply genes. The only thing I was put off by was this: "If you’re looking for a fighter, we’d want a dog like a Pitbull. They are built for fighting." I realize that was the breed's original use, but as dog lovers, we have an obligation not to perpetuate the stereotype of Pitbulls being "vicious fighters". How about instead we focus on their tenacious attitude and heartiness which allows them to do incredible feats like weight-pulling? Pitbulls are lovers, not fighters. I really enjoyed this article and I have to agree – intelligence and ability has a lot to do with environment, not simply genes. The only thing I was put off by was this:

“If you’re looking for a fighter, we’d want a dog like a Pitbull. They are built for fighting.”

I realize that was the breed’s original use, but as dog lovers, we have an obligation not to perpetuate the stereotype of Pitbulls being “vicious fighters”. How about instead we focus on their tenacious attitude and heartiness which allows them to do incredible feats like weight-pulling? Pitbulls are lovers, not fighters.

]]> Comment on Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) by Border Collie? Malinois? I Don’t Need One!! (Or Do I?) | Toronto Dog Training Blog http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/why-cant-my-dog-stay-on-task-the-vigilance-decrement/#comment-93 Border Collie? Malinois? I Don’t Need One!! (Or Do I?) | Toronto Dog Training Blog Wed, 09 May 2012 12:49:18 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=145#comment-93 [...] Post navigation ← Previous [...] [...] Post navigation ← Previous [...]

]]> Comment on Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) by Danielle http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/why-cant-my-dog-stay-on-task-the-vigilance-decrement/#comment-90 Danielle Tue, 08 May 2012 13:31:36 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=145#comment-90 Really great post Andre:) I'm so wishing I had the money to be there! Glad we can learn a little from what you learned..woot! Really great post Andre:) I’m so wishing I had the money to be there! Glad we can learn a little from what you learned..woot!

]]> Comment on Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) by Katherine http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/why-cant-my-dog-stay-on-task-the-vigilance-decrement/#comment-87 Katherine Mon, 07 May 2012 14:32:08 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=145#comment-87 Andre, what a spectacular blog post! I thoroughly enjoyed it and just read it aloud to my training partner as we drive along - we're both intrigued. We look forward to your next post from this conference! Andre, what a spectacular blog post! I thoroughly enjoyed it and just read it aloud to my training partner as we drive along – we’re both intrigued. We look forward to your next post from this conference!

]]> Comment on Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) by Monisa and Beaker http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/why-cant-my-dog-stay-on-task-the-vigilance-decrement/#comment-85 Monisa and Beaker Mon, 07 May 2012 03:20:54 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=145#comment-85 Excellent post Andre. Thank you. I personally loved the formula but I'm a big nerd. I have noticed that Beaker has a longer attention span now that he is a bit older. Perhaps he has more energy to dedicate to "thinking" now that he isn't growing quite so rapidly! Excellent post Andre. Thank you. I personally loved the formula but I’m a big nerd. I have noticed that Beaker has a longer attention span now that he is a bit older. Perhaps he has more energy to dedicate to “thinking” now that he isn’t growing quite so rapidly!

]]> Comment on Creating New Reinforcers – Kathy Sdao Seminar Pt.1 by Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) | Toronto Dog Training Blog http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2010/10/creating-new-reinforcers-kathy-sdao-seminar-pt-1/#comment-84 Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) | Toronto Dog Training Blog Mon, 07 May 2012 02:46:40 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=31#comment-84 [...] of Information = This is just creating good reinforcers, to make sure that our cues are worth paying attention to and acting [...] [...] of Information = This is just creating good reinforcers, to make sure that our cues are worth paying attention to and acting [...]

]]> Comment on Don’t Phone It In – Make Class Count by Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) | Toronto Dog Training Blog http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2011/05/dont-phone-it-in-make-class-count/#comment-83 Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) | Toronto Dog Training Blog Mon, 07 May 2012 02:04:27 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=75#comment-83 [...] or subconsciously, will cause performance to drop quickly. So that’s why we follow good training practices to train with high intensity and make it easy for the dog to focus and preserve mental [...] [...] or subconsciously, will cause performance to drop quickly. So that’s why we follow good training practices to train with high intensity and make it easy for the dog to focus and preserve mental [...]

]]> Comment on Preparing for Rally Trial – Week 3 by Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) | Toronto Dog Training Blog http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/2012/05/preparing-for-rally-trial-week-3/#comment-82 Why Can’t My Dog Stay on Task? (The Vigilance Decrement) | Toronto Dog Training Blog Mon, 07 May 2012 01:53:23 +0000 http://blog.whenhoundsfly.com/?p=141#comment-82 [...] start “daydreaming” or focusing on off-task activities increase as resources decrease. Just like in my last post – where Petey only noticed the bowl of food in the training area at .... Ignoring distractions requires frontal lobe capacity – going for the food bowl is a [...] [...] start “daydreaming” or focusing on off-task activities increase as resources decrease. Just like in my last post – where Petey only noticed the bowl of food in the training area at …. Ignoring distractions requires frontal lobe capacity – going for the food bowl is a [...]

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