Rob wrote:

>>>Rick teaches a very different style of training to that used by most
Aussies, since we have until now generally followed the British style of
dog training. It will be very interesting to see the impact this seminar
has on future field trial performances in this country.>>>>

What was the main difference compared with the British style of training?

 

Torsti

Borta Med Vindens Kennel
www.rospigan.net

 

"Merciful God the Almighty!
Deprive me  my common sense
so that I can at least to some extent
accomplish my commitments as a
citizen of the European Union!."

I think I'll promote our Maurice to go to Oz to give a seminar on his version of
the West system.  Maybe next year or the next would be an opportune time. Maybe he
and Bill Gibbons could go together.  They have slightly different takes on athe
basic process.  Some VERY interesting stuff would be seen down under IMO. Quite
different from what you describe re Smith.  Though there is an aspect of what you
say in your first paragraph the proces is minimalist wrt equipment. Minimalist wrt
odedience as well.  It essentially conditions the dog in the field on or around
birds to produce desired responses to those common situations encountered on birds
in the field which result in a productive working partnership between man and bird
dog.  I would describe the process more as "progressively parallel" than
"sequential" and it actually schools the dog in multiple responses each and every
day to the extent that attention span doesn't fade and opportunity presents.

Jere

  

Main difference - I guess the biggest difference is that British teach
obedience then take the dogs to the field, while many Americans take
pups to the field, then teach obedience at 12 months.

British - most Pointer/Setter training can be/ is done with nothing more
that a lead, a whistle, some wild birds and maybe a couple of dummys (if
retrieving is required). The training programs, at least those I'm
familiar with, tend to be "instinctive" and retrieving, if required, is
done via the "natural" method.

American on the other hand tends to be very regimented. Do # step 1,
#step2, step#3, etc. The training process is not so instinctive, rather
it is broken down into small, regimented steps. American methods use a
lot more equipment, training tables, whoa posts (requiring 2 checkcords
and one or two collars per dog depending on what is being trained),
pigeons, e-collars (again as many two e-collars per dog depending on
what is being trained). Retrieving is done via some form of "force fetch".

Pointers/Setters crouching low on point or when backing, and sitting to
flush are not considered faults in Aust or Britain, however in the USA
they are a big NO NO. So there are differences in the training that
reflect that. Americans rarely teach Pointers/Setter to sit, while it's
one of the first things many Aussie teach.

Roading (dog self relocating on running birds) is a highly prized trait
on Aust Pointers/Setters, however again is a NO NO in the USA, so again,
there are variations in training techniques to reflect this.

Cheers,
Rob

Maud & Torsti wrote:
    

Rob wrote:
      

Rick teaches a very different style of training to that used by most
            

Aussies, since we have until now generally followed the British style of
dog training. It will be very interesting to see the impact this seminar
has on future field trial performances in this country.>>>>
What was the main difference compared with the British style of training?

Torsti
Borta Med Vindens Kennel
www.rospigan.net 

"Merciful God the Almighty!
Deprive me  my common sense
so that I can at least to some extent
accomplish my commitments as a
citizen of the European Union!."