concept or connection training

Concept or Connection training what is it?
Dogs personality can be broken down into 4 sections,

1. Optimistic or a pessimist
2. Impulse control, has it or struggles
3. Flexible, change how they behave to situations, can have it or lack it
4. Tolerant of Frustration, yes or no
5. Thinker or Doer

 
We can use these sections to access our dog’s weakness and strengths, the use of games to change their personality, games that give them the help to make good choices. When you think about it you can see how powerful this is. Games that can change that shy timid dog to a confident one. Games that can make an over excited pup be able to calm itself and start to listen.
This method was not just thought up, it has been researched and proven by one of the top Vet Behaviourists in the UK. He topped his year at the Understory of Bristol, with class honours in Animal Welfare and Behaviour, following that came a degree in Vet Science. He has collaborated with international experts in canine behaviour and neurology and his own contribution to these fields include published research projects. His name is Tom Mitchell and his book on concept training is worth a read.  This is a proven method that gets amazing changes in a dog.
Just because we have working dogs does not mean we do not need to include this early training. We need it more than ever as it creates a better pup to take to the training ground, it gives the pup a better chance to reach its full potential. With this method shy confident pups are no longer at a high risk of shut down. There is many games and yes some don’t suit the working dog but that is the beauty of this, these games have been tried and found effective for the working dog by Kaden’s. You can even add games that you make up, but it must have a purpose, it must involve you as the main interest and it must achieve a result.
 
 
Here at Kaden we have implemented this sort of training in our first 10 months. I call it Connection Training. Then we went one better and took the tools we learnt from the games training and added them into our working dog program. Abandon the old ways of rake pushing, stick waving and banging, correction and negativity.  Once we did that the results have been amazing.
No longer do we have problems like pups running away, dogs working for themselves and not listening, shutdowns, bad habits in our work like slicing etc, We have learnt to break down behaviours and find solutions in a positive way. No more yelling, stress and feeling like it is all too much with little reward.
​This way of training will make better dogs and empower handlers to work with confidence. Rewards will come.
 
Denise Hawe edit.