Monday, 26 November 2012

HOW IMPORTANT IS FOUNDATION TRAINING ? by Kris Kotsopoulos


HOW IMPORTANT IS FOUNDATION TRAINING ?

Is It Environmental or genetic?

We believe it’s 100% Genetics & 100% Environmental

From our observation, the average owner or trainer spends most of their time fighting long term unwanted behaviours.

Some of these behaviour can be traced to your dogs genetic predisposition, however for the most part they are learnt behaviours that have been reinforced time after time. In other words they are training problems that may have been taught.


 Drive Building Seminar German Shepherd Club - Kris Kotsopoulos

It is these unwanted behaviours whether in it be in a show, competitive training or simply at home that many tricks, gimmicks or pure frustration seems to spring into the dog world. These methods in general do not correct the problems but merely mask them.

In addition these quick fix solutions only add to the problems in training. Once the undesirable behaviours have developed, training is never as simple as it could have been.

At this point a very promising young dog has become nothing but a horror to live with.

 When did it all start?
       Was it as early as the first sit command?

Besides the fact that the dog will learn what behaviour to perform when it hears the word “Sit” it simultaneously learns how to learn, (Classical Conditioning – Feeling). This is where foundation training begins. What the dog has learnt during its foundation training will have a lasting effect in its performance, for better or worse. During stress or problem solving the dog will always attempt to access its foundation training as a point of reference. It is at this point in time where the dog and trainer learn to speak the same language or not!

This critical stage of training requires firsthand knowledge or animal learning, patience and numerous consistently taught lessons.

Forell K9 Education offers you foundation training opportunities via our workshops and seminars for any promising young dogs. We will show you how to reinforce the genetic potential in your dog with the most sound training systems available.

Our “Clear Communication Workshop” the foundation of many is specifically designed to bring about positive and permanent shifts in your quality of training. It is designed for you to view the training of animals with complete new possibilities.


Seminar in Western Australia 2012

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Von Forell K9 Education, an international training and development company, offering Workshops and Seminars that are innovative, effective training programs for creating extraordinary dogs and extraordinary handlers.

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Telephone from Australia                   03 5786 5388
Fax from Australia                              03 5786 5277
Head Office                                         PO Box 419 Greensborough 3088 Melbourne Australia
Internet                                                  www.vonforell.com             Email:    info@vonforell.com
                                                                                                               
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4 comments:

  1. After attending your lecture on the 19th September, I wish to convey to you how glad I was that I took the time to do so.

    I felt that I received exactly the information which I was after, delivered in a way which was easily understood.
    What you also conveyed, was a passion and love of what you do, along with a good sense of humor.
    Much needed when it comes to dogs, training and dealing with people.

    You catered for the different levels of experience within the attending group, so I’m sure that everyone there would have left with a positive feeling.

    Your presentation was professional and very well put together and all information was given in a logical sequence.

    In my opinion, my time and money on this occasion was well spent.
    Not something I have said after attending some other lectures on dog training.

    Regards
    Julie Urie GSDC Australia

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  2. Talent is nothing without coaching. Anyone who is involved in a high level of competitive sport understands that having a great coach is just as crucial as having talent. I am very fortunate because I have two such coaches.

    I remember when I first started my career in Schutzhund, I was a rough diamond with a thousand sharp edges, too ready to prove, too stubborn to listen. Kris Kotsopoulos and Jim Tokis recognized my burning desire and took me under their wings. Thinking back, in the three years I spent with them, they are a lot more than just coaches to me.

    They are my mentors, who harnessed my talent, showed me the ways to bring out the best of my dogs, and more importantly, they taught me the only way to be a winner, is being a winner in your heart.

    Tricks and trades can be copied, imitated, and impress some people, but being cannot be faked. Jim and Kris truly understand how to bring out the best of each handler and dog, not only in his physical skills, but in his mindset and attitude, to be the victor he dreams to be. They offered me a precious gift that I now have in the rest of my life. I highly recommend their system and teaching.


    Felix Ho

    Bachelor of Animal Science, La Trobe University
    Training Director, Canine Squad
    Trainer & Helper, Total Canine Sporting Club
    Field Writer, Australasian Working Dog
    Two times Australian Schutzhund National competitor
    Multiple High In Trial winner
    Handler, Owner, & Trainer of Malinois - Schwarzhund Marko “Corvette” SchH2,IPO3, 2nd in 2005 Australian Schutzhund National Championship 90 90 91
    The first, and currently the only person in Australia to bring up, train, and title a Belgian Shepherd Malinois to SchH/IPO3 level
    www.CanineSquad.com

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  3. Hi Kris,

    I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be able to attend your workshop in Sydney Australia. I was very happy with what I came out of the seminar with, your easy going approach to the world of dog training and your open mind towards it really created a great learning atmosphere. It made me feel comfortable as a learner that you would and were answering my questions and made it clear that no question is a silly one unless unasked. This made me as a student still very new to the world of dog training comfortable and it made learning easier due to this relaxed approach.

    I was happy with the way you were happy to pass on your knowledge in the seminar and not just give us the basics, I felt as if it was more in depth and that you revised so that people gained knowledge not just words. The beginning of the seminar on the first day was a little overwhelming, but when you went through it on the second day it all began to fall into place and my understanding of the many concepts that were being discussed grew.

    I am also impressed with the way in which you were happy to work with everyone's dogs no matter what level the dog or handler was at and changed your approach to suit the individual needs of the dog and their handler to suit. Your professional approach to handling others dogs was great, I would feel comfortable with you handling and working any of my dogs because of that.

    I am interested in the next seminar which will be run in Sydney 27th & 28th of April 2013 and was curious as to what topics you were planning on covering and will it be a further continuation on of the other seminar?

    Thank you

    Lainey Kemp NSW Australia

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  4. Hi Kris

    After attending a 2 day decoy seminar with yourself I though it only right to take the time to right a testimonial to your ability to share your life’s passion with others.

    Firstly I would like to take the time to thank you personally for sharing your knowledge in the way you do in such a powerful extraordinary way yet with such calmness and that is what made the 2 days. I have like many dog owners spent a fortune in time and money trying to broaden our knowledge and increase our understanding of our interaction with our dogs and how to bring out the best in them, yet you made it so simple, Reflexivity. The ability you have to read a dog is outstanding and something that has obviously taken you years to master at such a level. You had everyone in the room captivated when you presented the theory side which amongst dog enthusiast is not always an easy thing to do. You can tell you love what you do and is has been a lifelong passion just by the way you speak.

    The one point I would like to make to anyone that reads this testimonial is I had never heard of Kris until 2 days before this seminar and yet by the end of 2 days I felt I had known Kris for a long time and he has that no bullshit approach to training that I greatly appreciate. I would not hesitate recommending anyone who has an open mind and is willing to learn to invest in yourself and your dogs future by attending one of Von Forell’s training seminars.

    For those who still need convincing please contact myself.

    Neville Bennett
    Darksupreme Rottweilers
    www.dsrotts.com

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