Trainers Training Trainers
I’d like to
establish (simply for the sake of reference) that there are three categories of
dog trainers and instructors as:
Avocational: This
is generally a club trainer and is usually teaching group classes for little or
no pay. It is also the serious
competitor that is sharpening their training/instructing skills by serving as a
training assistant to a club trainer.
Vocational: In
this category are those that are training/instructing for hire. The vocational trainer will usually be
working for a business or organization where his or her talent and ability are
being sold either by the hour (private instruction), by the class (courses sold
to the public or to sponsoring groups), or by the contract (Board & Train).
Professional: The professional trainer is ultimately a
service provider who is offering contract services to the public. He follows the same code of conduct and
code of ethics that any other professional service contractors in his community
are expected to adhere to. In
Currently, there is no requirement to be licensed as a
“professional” by any entity other than with your local tax
collector (in the form of a business license). But that doesn’t mean that those
of us dedicated to true professionalism can’t voluntarily assume the
responsible position of conducting our business practices ethically. Look at it this way, when the time comes
that the politicos require licensing, we will be ahead of the pack. In fact, I might even argue that we
should be leading the way there.
After you have established what category of trainer or
instructor you fall into, the next consideration (again, simply for sake of
reference) is your “skill level.” Again, there are three categories as:
The “Technician” is learning and perfecting the
basics of his craft. This would
include tools, technique, execution, use and application.
The “Practitioner” has exceptional command of the
basics and uses them daily. But the
Practitioner has responsibilities beyond his daily duties of training and/or
instructing, his is also to mentor the developing Technician. Indeed, the Practitioner’s
teaching skills are better represented by the quality of his student’s
proficiencies than by his own mastery of the basics.
The “Master-trainer” not only has an exceptional
command of the basics, but has also command of the philosophy. His responsibility is to mentor the
Practitioner, further develop his own mastery of the applied science, and to
recruit, develop and motivate the next generation of trainers.
The need for some frame of reference …
We will be offering seminars and workshops to assist you with
learning the method, its practice, and its teaching. To best serve your interest, I need to
know what category of trainer you are and what your proficiency (skill level)
is.
For instance, it won’t do you much good to sign into a
workshop where we will be discussing the difference between behaviours
motivated by aggravation vs. agitation if your skill level is that of the
Technician. In this example you
would be better served by a seminar where we will be instructing on when to use
corrections and when to use punishment.
The logic, however, does not apply in the reverse. For instance, even if you are vocational
trainer working at the level of a practitioner, it doesn’t mean that you
would not benefit by attending a seminar or workshop where the basics are the
focus. A refresher course never
hurts.
Seminars and Workshops
Off lead reliability as
the most significant criterion when evaluating and comparing dog training methods
is what keeps us in business. And I
don’t believe that there is any other dog training method which can boast
of 60+ years of continuous operation.
Don’t sell yourselves short when it comes to our durability in the
marketplace. There is a very good
reason why we remain as a mainstay in American dog obedience.
Oh sure, fads in dog training come in and make a big splash;
but ultimately, like bell bottom jeans, those fads fade away. Why? Because it all comes back around to off
leash reliability – and gadgets and gurus just can’t get it
done. Why not? Because they’re short sighted,
tending to focus more on hype, self promotion, and the hype of
self-promotion. None of these
things serve the dog, not for very long anyway.
Our focus, off lead reliability, is the product of seeing
that the training gets done.
That’s why the use of the graduation exercise is so very
important. Trust me people, if you
can’t keep the majority of your students on track toward meeting the
demands of the companion dog test, then you aren’t serving your clients
to the best of their ability. And
no, I didn’t structure that sentence wrong; if you can’t keep them
motivated … your abilities have already been defined.
Cheap shot?
Maybe. But right on target;
go ask the man in the mirror.
Lets assume that the problem is one of lack of training on
our part, that we did not adequately focus you toward a proper appreciation for
off lead reliability for you clients.
Let me offer to fix that.
Reliable off leash control comes in three parts. Part one is the dog’s ability to
responsibly come toward you (as in heeling and the recall). Part two is the dog’s ability to
responsibly stay put (as in the sit and down stays and the stand for examination). Part three is the dog’s ability to
responsibly leave the owner’s side, complete a task and return –
all on a single command – and without regard to any competing
distractions.
The Novice class accommodates the first two requirements with
reasonable responsibility – from both species being instructed. The Correctly
Koehler™ seminar includes what you need to attract and keep your
students moving productively on course.
Click on the text link to learn more.
The Open class accommodates the third of the three parts with
near unfailing reliability.
Oh, I can guess what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that Open level
obedience is mostly for the competition ring, right? Well, its not. In the real world, the handler of an off
leash dog needs unfailing reliability with regard to single command performance
especially when the dog is not at his side. In the real world, the handler of a dog
that is off lead and headed into the street may only have one chance to stop
him before he hits the asphalt and a Mack truck delivers an unforgiving
correction. In the real world, the
reliability that Open level obedience provides is far more profound than any
accomplishment it might bring in an obedience ring.
Not sure how to instruct an Open class? No problem. The Reliably Koehler™ seminar will include time
proven teaching techniques to keep your class motivated and on track. And there is a side benefit that
you will really like. It comes when
your students are out in the local parks and shopping centers working Open
routines and some person walks up to them and asks: “Hey, where did you
learn to do that?”
Workshops are single day events designed to help small groups
with common issues. Example: You don’t feel like your
‘Problems’ class is being delivered with confidence and you need a
little help with it. Two others are
having problems teaching the ‘Retrieve,’ while a couple more need
help breaking ‘Predatory Killing.’
With a minimum of five people, and a maximum of three issues,
we set up a workshop to deal specifically with those areas of instruction. The Tracking workshop is the exception,
for that one there is a maximum of eight people and dogs, and it is a single
issue event. Click on the text link
for pre-requisites.