Expectations

​Expectations, we always seem to set them high. It is not hard to be disappointed in a dog or our ability to train if we don’t see the results we crave for.
Many shutdowns and behaviour problems come from having way too higher expectations. So how do we keep this in check? I believe knowledge is the best solution. Knowledge gives us the ability to understand how much a dog can learn and take in. A pup has a concentration span of between 1 to 3 minutes. I guess in that amount of time we really should not expect too much. Also, there is so much to learn.
A good idea to keep our expectations in check is to always have a plan. Think about your training for the day, never put in your plan we are going to learn to cast 60m. By thinking this and wording it that way we will expect that result. Remember everything you teach has to be broken down into elements, so if you are teaching a cast, put in your plan, lets start on depth training today. This lowers your expectation of a completed cast, takes pressure off the dog and gives you a reasonable chance of achieving a good result. If you aim too high and the dog doesn’t deliver you feel that horrid frustration building and the thoughts of failure start emerging. It is no wonder this leads to shutdowns as a reaction is likely to follow and it is usually in the way of raised voices or worse still going over and over the exercise hoping for a success.
Also try and post notes around your office or room, I have Tom Mitchell’s quote, “Learning is more powerful the slower we take and the more we break it down”. I love this quote and look at it all the time. Anything that inspires you to be patient, be positive and to keep those expectations at a more reasonable level is good.
I know this is hard, sometimes when I have spent many days teaching a certain behaviour and thinking to myself today is the day she will get it. Then only to be disillusioned by yet another unsuccessful try, you can get very frustrated. If we stop at that point and rethink. Start by asking, Why?? Am I teaching this in a manner she is understanding? Have I broken down the behaviour into enough elements or am I trying to teach everything at one time? Instead of disappointment look at it as a challenge to your ability to be flexible in training. Your ability to find solutions. Rethink the exercise and approach it in a different way. Maybe you have moved too fast forward, there is no shame in going back a couple of steps. It is all about getting a result, not how quick you can do it.
Expectations are good as long as they are achievable. Last bit of advice, put the expectation on to yourself, in other words not that the dog will achieve great things but you will make more time to train, you will make sure you plan your training sessions better, you will include bonding into your day and most of all expect to have fun with your dog. Now that is an expectation I would hold high.