Reflection

Looking back at my childhood, I was really very fond of dogs. I enjoy petting them, and playing with them. Our native dogs back then was not so close to my other siblings as I was the only one who was really a dog lover then. During my elementary days, when I arrived home, my dog will always be there waiting for me at our gate. It gave me joy to see my dog excited as I enter our gate.

Watching movies with dogs at that time made me dream of having a Pure breed dog. The dog that I cannot forget was Rin Tin Tin. So that movie struck me the most. I was amazed on how he can do so many things. But since I was a kid at that time, I can only hope and dream, so I promise myself, one day, I will have my dream dog. A German Shepherds Dog. It took me less than two decades to have one. I got a showline GSD a few years back That time I was just starting to learn about having a showline and a working line GSD's. I was so curious that I also got a working line GSD.

Now that I have my GSD's I was curious on dog training. I think this was a turning point for me as a dog lover. I have research several methods and tried it. I was beginning to read about prey drive, calm bite etc. But there was a certain group that caught my attention, and I was very curious to see on how they train their dogs. They were very controversial at that time, but I can see their point on dog training and how practical they train their dogs. I just can't understand the method and approach of what they are saying. So I looked for a way to enter their group, and with the help of someone I was able to do so. First time of training, it was full of stress, there were firecrackers, smoke, other dogs and handlers, and a lot of distractions. My dog went wild, but with their guidance, slowly I was able to control my dog. I was asked to cross the bamboo bridge and to show no hesitation. I also have to cross the body of water without hesitation. So I just did what I was told, I followed without asking because I was there to learn. We did some natural agility combined with obedience. This was very unusual method of dog training. I have read some articles about dog training but this was very different, no treats were given to the dogs after every exercise, yet the dog was not forced to do something. During the break time, I was asked to let my dog do a long down stay, I was surprised to see that he can already do the long down stay, with other dogs and lots of distractions.

I was amazed and at the same time confused. I really can't understand what was going on. My dog did not have any obedience prior to that day. When I came back home, my dog was very different, he can do basic obedience already. That day I know that it was the training that I was looking for. Not because it was fast, but because it was more practical on my daily application. Although the type of training is very different from what can be searched on the Internet. Mostly articles on the web will include training with treats, as a form of reward. Not putting your dog to stressful environment during training will also ease up the training and will not destroy your dogs confidence. Some articles also encourage that dogs that does not know each other should be allowed to sniff one another in order to get acquainted. Probably these are the main difference between the training method I have chosen from the common training methods available on the web. Dogs were not given any rewards except for praise. A “good sit” or a “good come” was enough reward. Yet you can see the expression of the dog being happy to work with its handler.

I do not say that this is a better method than using rewards, but for me if I will remove treats, it will be better if I will start my training without treats. I also find it more practical because stress is inevitable in our daily life. If we can handle our dogs in stressful environment then it would be easier to handle them in a not stressful environment. I also realized that training with distractions does not make a dog fail, but rather make it understand that its part of its daily life, so its normal to have distractions but the dog should still be obedient.

During that time that I was training my first working line GSD, I was not really aware of what I am doing, I am just there to teach my dog basic obedience, and bitework. For me it was just dog training without treats, with applied stress and distractions. And I like the results, at that time that was good enough for me.

For some reason I have to let go of my first Workingline GSD to be able to get a new pup, so I invest on a new pup. I say invest because it involves a lot of money, after purchasing the pup I still have to budget my income for the expenses that I will spend on training, such as gasoline. This time though, I was deeply involve in this method of training, I slowly realize that dog training is not just a matter of having your dog sit, down, or stay. As days goes by, I was exposed to a deeper meaning of dog training. As I was taught that dogs need not to be train for obedience. A dog knows how to sit, it will lay down if it wanted to, it will stay on one place if it wants. Its agility is natural. So its just making them do the things they can, on the time I wanted them and needed them to do. I was not really training my dog, it was merely communicating with her. Through body language, voice, emotion. I was able to communicate with her. It was not just dog training, but it was dog handling. I slowly learn to read my dog, I can tell by her movements on what she wanted to do, on what she is thinking. I can almost anticipate her next move. I was not training my pup or dog, but its the other way around. She is teaching me on how to handle her.

Through this method that I was privileged to learn, I have realized many things about working dogs. It gave me a deeper understanding on my dog and maybe dogs in general. I have known what being a true leader to the dog is all about. As I was exposed on what is natural to the dog, I have learned on how to work with his natural abilities. The good thing about this is that I just did not learn about dog handling, I have also learned many things about myself. Through this it made me a better person. With this type of training, the dog, the handler, and the work is all that matters. If you tend to compete with other dogs and handlers, you will not be successful. You cannot make your dog work exactly as the other dogs in the group because they poses different character, and natural agilities. Some dogs are more agile, some are less agile, the important thing is the dog can perform with in your needs. Another factor is, that with this training you imprint your personality with your dog, therefore other dogs reflect the personality of their handlers as your dog reflects yours.

Dog handling made me a better person because it gave me a different view on dog training and in my life as well. One cannot lie to their dog, therefore we should be honest in dealing with them. As I reflect on the things I lack as a dog handler, I realized that characteristic is also lacking on how I deal with other things as well. That gave me a better view of myself and gave me opportunity on how to change things that I needed to be a better person. To some people this may sound silly, but to those who have done this and is currently doing, I know you understand what I am saying.

I was a dog lover all my life, but for the past years I think I have become more, I become a dog handler. Never did I have shared my life with my dogs the way I am doing it today. I have never built a partnership with any of my previous dogs before, like what I have with my current dogs right now. I say partner because we train together, we work together. It gave me an understanding on what real dogs are. With this, I would like to thank my mentor & all my training buddies, for the guidance. Most of all to my dogs, specially Jersey for teaching me what dog handling is all about.