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What Type of Dog Trainer Are You?
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January 11, 2011
What Type of Dog Trainer Are You?
by David DiBenedetto
What type of dog trainer am I? That’s easy. A lousy one.
But beyond me, it seems that dog trainers fall into roughly four camps: the Disciplinarian, the Whisperer, the High School Coach, and the Softie. (Please note: this informal survey was far from scientific and might be more riddled with holes than wool sweater at a caterpillar farm.)
The Disciplinarian: More often than not the Disciplinarian worships at the altar of the late James Lamb Free, author of the classic (though a touch outdated) Training Your Retriever. The Disciplinarian believes a gun dog belongs in an outdoor kennel, and should come out only to train or hunt. My oldest brother falls into this camp, and he trains nice gun dogs.
The Whisperer: The finest Whisperer I’ve ever seen train is the great Ray Cacchio. The Whisperer has a second sense about dogs. He knows what they’re thinking, and he often “whispers” them through a problem before it happens. There’s hardly any voice-raising—just a constant connection (often through eyes and hands) that keeps the dog in control. Sure, the Whisperer occasionally has to resort to some discipline, but he keeps it in reserve.
The High School Coach: The best amateur trainers often fit into the Coach category. They walk the middle ground between Disciplinarian and Whisperer, often exerting a level of authority that lets the dog know who is boss while also enjoying nights with the pup at the feet of their easy chair. They truly are a team bound by a bond built of time spent together, good and bad.
The Softie: The Softie likes to think he can get away with whispering, but it doesn’t work because he lacks the necessary talent. More often than not, the dog just walks all over the Softie…in the house, in the blind, and around town. If you’ve seen a Softie once you’ll never forget it.
Have any other types of trainers to add to the discussion? What type are you?
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Comments (17)
I'm a high school coach type. My dogs are okay hunters but I'm sure they could be better and more polite. They know the basics. But they are my dogs and if you don't like the way they handle you don't have to be around them.
HighSchool Coach
with my beagles, i am a disciplinarian with the males and whisperer the females...
Definitely high school coach. I tried to be some what of a disciplinarian, but some how the dog still ends up at the foot of my bed every night.
Softie. Just ask the dog sitting on the couch next to me.
high school coach/softy.
Im not believing your a lousy trainer Dave she is still young.There was a large jump between two and three with one of my previous dogs Jake he started really putting it all together.It was there but raw tallent that just needed more time,training and hunting experience.The finishing work really steadies the dog and as each lesson is gone over and over they become sharper and sharper.This is were we are other than some getting ready for some ducks.Well one ft.of snow and more to come-10 with the wind today.Lots of training to look foward to.GOOD POST
What kind of trainer am I? One that is exceedingly pleased that good bloodlines are born into bird dogs. One that studies and reads to learn more about why dogs do what they do and why I am so dense to pick up on what is really common sense. Oh and a grouse hunter that has a dog that in spite of me finds birds.
dog trainer i would say a softy and proud of it. i didn't get a dog for something to boss around or dominate. it is a companion to me. my grandpa is a disciplinarian and i would say our dogs are about the same...except i have a lot more enjoyment with my dog. i am a big believer of positive enforcement training.
by the way dogs that sit in kennels only to train and hunt most likely are happy just to get out of their kennel, not because they are hunting
Have to say that I would fall into the category of the High School Coach. Im strict but Cooper also knows that hes my buddy. I expect him to do what I say but like you said hes laying on the floor between my feet at night.
my dad does most of the training but we both work with out dogs in the field. we get the dogs interested early and familiar with all aspects of hunting. we discipline when we have to but they still get to hang out around the house till its time for bed when they sleep in their crates.
kelmitch-- Thanks for the generous words...funny you mentioned the magic 2-year-old mark...just yesterday I was in the field with Pritch and she really blew me away. I thought for a second someone had switched out my dog while I wasn't looking. She linked some of the building blocks we've been hammering on and oh was it wonderful to see. Here's to a great year 2!
Don't fall into a snow drift. -D
We just got another foot of snow.
I'm a coach/softie Kiki gets to play and romp with the other dogs, grandson. If I go out the door for any reason she's there ready to go. But, at night or when we are at work, she is in her house(kennel)
I would like to think that I am a High School Coach. I have really mellowed with a little maturity and age. I have trained two labs. I think that the biggest thing that I have learned is mother nature is smarter than I will ever be. Teach a dog manners and they will hunt for you until they cant walk. I took my 11 year old lab on a goose hunt this morning. She is the first dog that I have trained and she taught me so much over the years about patients. After bringing her home today she is barely able to get to her feet because she has more heart and drive to retreive for me than to let the pain in her legs stop her. As I look at her at the foot of my chair as I type this I have a tear in my eye thinking that she might not be with me next year for a opening morning duck hunt or a afternoon goose hunt. The more I think about it both of my dogs have trained me over the years to be a better person.
disciplinarian to softie, my dog does as i tell her to with no rebellion yet still ends up on the bed at night haha
With my male I had to be a high school coach. With my females a soft touch. The females fall apart just with a slightly raised voice.
Always have my dogs living in the house, sleeping in the bedroom.
Post a Comment
I'm a high school coach type. My dogs are okay hunters but I'm sure they could be better and more polite. They know the basics. But they are my dogs and if you don't like the way they handle you don't have to be around them.
Have to say that I would fall into the category of the High School Coach. Im strict but Cooper also knows that hes my buddy. I expect him to do what I say but like you said hes laying on the floor between my feet at night.
HighSchool Coach
with my beagles, i am a disciplinarian with the males and whisperer the females...
Definitely high school coach. I tried to be some what of a disciplinarian, but some how the dog still ends up at the foot of my bed every night.
Softie. Just ask the dog sitting on the couch next to me.
high school coach/softy.
Im not believing your a lousy trainer Dave she is still young.There was a large jump between two and three with one of my previous dogs Jake he started really putting it all together.It was there but raw tallent that just needed more time,training and hunting experience.The finishing work really steadies the dog and as each lesson is gone over and over they become sharper and sharper.This is were we are other than some getting ready for some ducks.Well one ft.of snow and more to come-10 with the wind today.Lots of training to look foward to.GOOD POST
What kind of trainer am I? One that is exceedingly pleased that good bloodlines are born into bird dogs. One that studies and reads to learn more about why dogs do what they do and why I am so dense to pick up on what is really common sense. Oh and a grouse hunter that has a dog that in spite of me finds birds.
dog trainer i would say a softy and proud of it. i didn't get a dog for something to boss around or dominate. it is a companion to me. my grandpa is a disciplinarian and i would say our dogs are about the same...except i have a lot more enjoyment with my dog. i am a big believer of positive enforcement training.
by the way dogs that sit in kennels only to train and hunt most likely are happy just to get out of their kennel, not because they are hunting
my dad does most of the training but we both work with out dogs in the field. we get the dogs interested early and familiar with all aspects of hunting. we discipline when we have to but they still get to hang out around the house till its time for bed when they sleep in their crates.
kelmitch-- Thanks for the generous words...funny you mentioned the magic 2-year-old mark...just yesterday I was in the field with Pritch and she really blew me away. I thought for a second someone had switched out my dog while I wasn't looking. She linked some of the building blocks we've been hammering on and oh was it wonderful to see. Here's to a great year 2!
Don't fall into a snow drift. -D
We just got another foot of snow.
I'm a coach/softie Kiki gets to play and romp with the other dogs, grandson. If I go out the door for any reason she's there ready to go. But, at night or when we are at work, she is in her house(kennel)
I would like to think that I am a High School Coach. I have really mellowed with a little maturity and age. I have trained two labs. I think that the biggest thing that I have learned is mother nature is smarter than I will ever be. Teach a dog manners and they will hunt for you until they cant walk. I took my 11 year old lab on a goose hunt this morning. She is the first dog that I have trained and she taught me so much over the years about patients. After bringing her home today she is barely able to get to her feet because she has more heart and drive to retreive for me than to let the pain in her legs stop her. As I look at her at the foot of my chair as I type this I have a tear in my eye thinking that she might not be with me next year for a opening morning duck hunt or a afternoon goose hunt. The more I think about it both of my dogs have trained me over the years to be a better person.
disciplinarian to softie, my dog does as i tell her to with no rebellion yet still ends up on the bed at night haha
With my male I had to be a high school coach. With my females a soft touch. The females fall apart just with a slightly raised voice.
Always have my dogs living in the house, sleeping in the bedroom.
Post a Comment