Some Thoughts on Training Your Dog Before You Start Training Your Dog! Kris Kotsopoulos - Von Forell Australia

Some Thoughts on Training Your Dog 
Before

You Start Training Your Dog!

Kris Kotsopoulos Von Forell Australia      www.vonforell.com        www.precisiontrackingdogs.com

For some time, I have been observing and working with dog trainers and the results they achieve. From these careful observations and from discussions with many, my observation is that the root of the confusion that most dogs seem to have is that they are unsure of what is expected of them and or are simply genetically unequipped to meet the training demands. This confusion is also a result of a trainers lack of awareness and or the inability to work with the inherited reflexive mechanism that dogs operate from.

Consequently, I have long questioned the wisdom of conventional breeding and training methodology and ultimately developed insights into dog breeding and training that will give breeders, trainers and handlers a strategy to develop and then teach their dogs how to deal with an emotionally charged mindset.

The result is an idea that illustrates what can be accomplished when modern canine training technology compliments scientific learning theory cultivated from deep behavioural analysis. It paves the way for a training system that least complicates dogs and their handlers.

This dog training idea has come to light with careful consideration for the fact that we humans are limited in our roles as trainers. We do not have the capability to fully comprehend what an emotionally charged “canine” mind is processing let alone conditioning it appropriately to serve our intended application whatever it may be.

Training a dog is unlike training any other animal. I believe that most people assume that training would be natural for most dogs, and that training should, in fact, be simple. Although we may assume that training is natural for dogs, the reality is that without the right dog, a skilled handler and trainer; a successful outcome is seldom possible.

The ‘handler and trainers’ task is to observe and read the dogs behaviour and have an organised method of assisting the dog in re-establishing mental homeostasis so that the dog is able to achieve drive fulfilment  The principles of dog training are a team effort from both the handler and the trainer beginning first and foremost with the appropriate canine selection.

From my standpoint as a canine trainer, my Seminars / Workshops are geared towards the apparent complexity of the process. This complexity can be simplified when the correct steps are taken to ensure that all components that make a quality dog and training are in place and in the right order. 

To the dog handler, it is my hope that these educational forums will give a better understanding in the area of breeding, selection and the training of dogs that has never been quite fully understood before providing a deep inquiry on how we get from the nest to a dog that is full of instinctive expression harnessed by thoughtful scientific training models.

The information presented is philosophical as much as it is technical and is orientated to all elements that must be present before complex training can commence. Each and every training session must be a structured and a positive occasion for the dog and handler with the idea that thoughtless forced learning will only lead to resistance and make application of these systems almost impossible.

For if all the correct behaviours are not instinctively  present, our job of mental and physical preparation is impossible for any application. The correct dog is also as critical for a quality result.

Additionally, care needs to be exercised so that the dog is not over stimulated negatively as its cognitive function will be impaired as much as if the dog is experiencing anxiety and fear. The chemical imbalance in the brain reduces cognitive functioning and poor learning results in the dog:

Furthermore;

I am convinced of a basic philosophy. No matter what quandaries we face be it business problems, health issues, and relationship difficulties, as well as the great scientific, social, and cultural challenges of our time - there is always an idea that can enable us to prevail.

Furthermore, we can and should seek that idea. And when we find it, we should implement it. Rather than simply accept compromised training recommendations or limited guidance. I have sought to understand the true nature of animal learning with the focus on canine learning and to apply all of the ideas that I could gather to overcome canine training problems. I am satisfied that my aggressive pursuit of these ideas has enabled me to overcome many of the these challenges, yet I must confess that there are many that still remain.

Often the “good idea” that overcomes a problem is not a single idea at all but rather a set of ideas, each of which chips away at the challenge until the problem is resolved. For example, there is no single silver bullet for teaching your dog to avoid making mistakes (at least not yet). There are many ways of teaching drive development, an out, building searches , heeling, sit, down and stand, etc. Our military does not go to battle with only a single weapon. They harness all the tools available to ensure success and I advocate the same. I feel as canine trainers we should all fill our tool bag with as many tools (training tools) so that we can set up and create the best possible outcome with a primary focus on error less learning.

In addition, the good ideas you apply to solve a problem don’t have to be your own ideas. There are hundreds of world class animal trainers around the world who are advancing our knowledge in the area of genetics, breeding and optimal animal performance, and the real challenge is finding which of their ideas apply to your individual issues and goals.

The theories and methodology discussed in my Seminars may be a good start for anyone seeking to overcome or simply not create training problems, and to achieve and maintain optimum performance. If there is a single message that I would underscore as most important, it is that you make the commitment to improving your own breeding and training philosophy.

However, there are few assumptions that we need to acknowledge the existence of in social systems which add to the difficulty in reading literature alone.

They are;

a)      Information is evenly distributed amongst society

b)      Humans behave rationally

And assumption they are;  as I find this human condition of “behaving rationally” to be “far from reality” and  it is well known that;

a)       People act on incomplete information

b)      There are gaps between perception and reality which don’t just last days and weeks  but can last for decades

c)       Common sense is an unreliable reference claim

d)       People have different views of what common sense is

e)       Common sense changes over time

f)        Common sense is not clearly stated or documented

I personally don’t believe information is enough to come to rational decisions; simply because you have to interpret the information, in order to have to make judgement about what is about to happen and what is going to happen depends on your judgement. Therefore it is not something to be known, it is something to be decided which is governed by your bias, which then manifests itself and this in itself is a reinforcing process, so you can see how you can dig yourself into a very deep hole.

Actions alone are also not enough as they have unintended consequences: Science has proved that there is a half second time lapse between what has actually occurred and what you see half a second later due to the fact that it takes that long for your mind to process the information.  There is also a well known process in which one’s ability to use prior knowledge to plan a strategy for approaching a learning task, take necessary steps to problem solve, reflect on and evaluate results, and modify one’s approach as needed. It helps learners choose the right cognitive tool for the task and plays a critical role in successful learning called Metacognition.

Metacognition refers to awareness of one’s own knowledge - what one does and doesn't know - and one’s ability to understand, control, and manipulate one’s cognitive processes (Meichenbaum, 1985). It includes knowing when and where to use particular strategies for learning and problem solving as well as how and why to use specific strategies.

“Metacognition is the ability to use prior knowledge to plan a strategy for approaching a learning task, take necessary steps to problem solve, reflect on and evaluate results, and modify one’s approach as needed”. Flavell (1976), who first used the term, offers the following example: I am engaging in metacognition if I notice that I am having more trouble learning A than B; if it strikes me that I should double check C before accepting it as fact.

Cognitive strategies are the basic mental abilities we use to think, study, and learn (e.g., recalling information from memory, analyzing sounds and images, making associations between or comparing/ contrasting different pieces of information, and making inferences or interpreting text). They help an individual achieve a particular goal, such as comprehending text or solving a math problem, and they can be individually identified and measured.

In contrast, metacognitive strategies are used to ensure that an overarching learning goal is being or has been reached. Examples of metacognitive activities include planning how to approach a learning task, using appropriate skills and strategies to solve a problem, monitoring one’s own comprehension of text, self-assessing and self-correcting in response to the self-assessment, evaluating progress toward the completion of a task, and becoming aware of distracting stimuli. So, being aware of the metacognitive process is very important in all aspects of life and is imperative when training dogs.

Furthermore, I have been thinking about a phenomenon I have never really been able to express until recently.

Since 1997 I have discussed this phenomenon in many of our seminars /workshops and with many of my colleagues.  Most agree whilst others glare at me with a look of anguish. Reflexivity is a concept that has been around since the 70’s in social sciences and anthropology and I have been discussing it within working dog training circles specifically since 2005.  I believe it is what was missing in my teachings and perhaps may be of interest not only for training dogs but the betterment of our dog world and everything in it.

To date I have had tremendous problems is attempting to describe what I am observing during my time working with dogs and like anyone who strives to better understanding between man and dog relationships, I am always looking for a better way of describing learning systems and the mechanics of behavior.  I guess this is only possible because of  relentless enthusiasm and analysis by many.   My view of the world or epistemology is that sophisticated management comes from a better understanding of reflexive connections; a notion of one behavior hitting another and then bouncing back again into each other. Think about what is happening around the World today and in our case think about your working relationship with your dog!

I must also point out that I am not one to believe that I am always right and I am also very aware that extreme rigidity in beliefs and dangerous illusions can work against you; hence I am very interested in engaging in future discussions with all, because for me the concept of knowledge is continuous learning.

All misunderstandings that occur as a result of reading any other dog trainers writings is a clear example of the difficulty in trying to describe how to train dogs. However by adopting the process of irreducible complexity one can deduce what is required to be in place for a canine training program to work logically and in line with a dogs instincts. 

Irreducible complexity is a term used to describe a characteristic of certain complex systems whereby they need all of their individual component / parts in place in order to function. In other words, it is impossible to reduce the complexity of (or to simplify) an irreducibly complex system by removing any of its component parts and still maintain its functionality.

An example is a mouse trap, remove one component and it won’t work.

Dog training is that way in design and once you understand this concept, it becomes incredibly clear of how to better train your dog to complete any task. Of course training dogs takes understanding of learning systems and experience and realizing that imperfect understanding is a human condition and that there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes.

Hope to see you in one of our workshops. If you are not able to attend one, please feel free to contact our office directly for private consultation for all your canine requirements.

Kris Kotsopoulos

Von Forell Australia

www.vonforell.com

www.detectordogs.com.au

www.precisiontrackingdogs.com

www.k9security.com.au

Further information:

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