Clean Run - December 2011 - 63

Competition obedience is the venue that taught me what I know about being solidly connected when working with a dog. I was taught to hold in my mind’s eye what an enthusiastic working dog looked like and to never lose sight of that mental image. I’m not talking about the typical robotic obedience dog with his head cranked sideways, dull-eyed and bored. I’m talking about when a dog looks at his handler with pure intensity and is absolutely and undisputedly connected. My mentor, Pat Cook, takes pride in taking the non-traditional working breeds to the highest expectations of “the utmost in willingness,” words taken from the obedience regulations. She would not allow her students to ever bore their dogs during training. Their enthusiasm was built up as carefully as one would nurture a small delicate flame when a large fire was needed and the last match had already been used. The dogs were not worked if the enthusiasm was not there in the first place or could not be mustered up with one or more of Pat’s drive-building methods. The fact is most people can’t even imagine the extreme level that Pat would take that one idea to—the idea that if the dog was not in the correct frame of mind she would not ask him to work. Period! To illustrate the extent of her belief in her method, I want to share a true story with you. A few years back we entered the prestigious Golden Gate Kennel Club show. It is one of the last benched shows in the U.S. and is held in San Francisco, California. Pat drove from Oregon to show her hot new prospect, Buzz, a Jack Russell Terrier who already had posted some perfect 200 scores. She won her class with a 198 and tied for high in trial. Pat declined to perform in the runoff, not because she wasn’t keen for the challenge of competition but because she felt her dog’s attitude had been a bit off during the initial performance. I questioned her judgment and she said, “Why would I risk his changing his mind about loving to work in the ring? I have nothing to gain.” Being the trophy monger that I am, I said, “But check out that huge silver plate for high in trial!” Pat replied, “I would prefer to be proud of his future performances than to have a silver plate today.”
December 11 | Clean Run

Buzz had worked beautifully for Pat that day. If you watched the video of that performance you would deem her crazy, but Pat did not have the connection she requires from Buzz. She requires the level of connection that will serve a dog’s performance throughout a career, not just a year or two. She protects and nurtures it and all else comes second. She also puts her money where her mouth is. If the dog is not in the frame of mind to give her the ultimate in connection, she will not show the dog. I have seen her pull from a competition, not being willing to risk stepping into a world that might suggest to the dog that it is okay to work any way but one way, the connected way. I hope I have proven to you that people can and will go to great lengths to achieve and maintain a high level of connection with their performance dogs. And, yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and there are dogs out there that were not born with the natural ability or desire to stay connected at this optimum level and that have learned how to remain connected. But those dogs have determined, dedicated handlers that take full responsibility for that training and they will not settle for less.

Taking Responsibility for Your Connection
Here are some things to remember in your quest for a better connection with your dog.

· Disconnection creates disconnection. Connection creates connection. Be criti-

has a and an · Connectionneitherbeginningnor the ending and the dog

cally aware of the amount of connection you are offering your dog. I often see the dog disconnect before my student sees it. That can only happen if the student disconnects from the dog first.

disconnect · Expecting the dogatprone to times is a not to disconnect certain waste of time and energy and leads to disappointment. Expect nothing, just keep working toward the goal of having that connection.

handler should be confused about that. What specific cues do you use to “turn on” your dog? Which cues give your dog permission to disconnect?

is a · Every training sessiondog!fact-finding mission: Listen to the Do not
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Clean Run - December 2011

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