Some Basics of Basic Training
What I do, that I am very successful at doing, is figuring out how to help the
handler/owner/trainer train their specific dog to and for their specific needed tasks. To put something like a beginning “scale” to the entire concept, we want this dog to learn, master, and demonstrate at least three/3 specific trained tasks. No, this isn’t my standard, it is one I see recognized with/in various trainers, training facilities, and general training best practices recommendations. The under-riding principle being this, that 3 tasks at a time as a norm are being taught because they learn better when not bored with ‘learning games.’ There are three/3 basic beginning tasks that all go hand-in-hand-in-hand and that is:
1.) retrieve the phone (get and bring a person their cellphone – without damaging it),
2.) Get that/pick-up-give, getting things off of the floor one drops such as pill bottles, lighters, etc., whatever – without damaging it,
3.) Take to/bring here, whatever is given over in the mouth or tucked under the collar or harness/vest – anything they’re assigned to deliver and clear distinctions of delivery to the right person – without loss or damage.
These are only suggestions, but these – or any other, are as important for the baseline of teaching the dog to learn, getting it accustomed to learning and demonstrating basic tasks, as they’re useful functions for any service dog to have. The more functions one trains them to the more things they can learn and demonstrate over a longer period of time. Thinking and working in sets of baseline functions that can be expanded upon over time should be the core, foundational way to work with structuring the learning, but don’t be so rote as to slow down a dog with higher learning capacities, every dog is as unique as every child.
A.K.C. – C.G.C. American Kennel Club: Canine Good Citizen Award
This is a pretty simple and straightforward set of baseline standards for any dog that is in Service Canine, Agility, Show/Exhibit, or any other kind of public appearing, interacting work or activities to be held to; on top of that, for many such activities, participatory activities, it very much is required. It covers and consists of nine/9 basic skills that every dog and every handler/owner/trainer should be held to. Most importantly, at least 6-7 of
them are the everyday basics such as sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay and so on. The extra ones are that one is glad they built into the dog’s capacities the moment it escapes or gets lost somewhere and how. I like to call those “behavior insurances”. This is going to be the basis of what I will be training for and to as a general overall skill package that is also
verified and certified by a recognized governing body in canine sanctioning. It is also something that is going to cost me money to do as well, nonprofit or not has no bearing. The very fortunate side is that it isn’t expensive to take the test and earn the certificate, $35.00 per snout the last time I looked into it; it is structured so that each group is an enrolled class and complete the program step-by-step within the structured guidelines and
test out by the same sanctioned, recognized criteria. For most dogs, I’m going to reckon that the hand-off to/stay with absolute stranger – and remaining under perfect control, will be the most challenging task. For any functioning working dog of any kind, the C.G.C. is an easy and equitable standard to have, maintain, and even insist upon is some cases.
