I guess you could call what I am doing is "training" my lab. I would send her to a pro but don't have the money.

I will need a pro to do the FF though. I know I don't have that in me.

If it weren't for Pros, the dogs and training methods wouldn't be as advanced as they are today.

I have yet to see a robot dog, maybe someone could video one and post it. I have seen dogs who aren't good in the house though, because all they know is a kennel or a truck box.

I have used pros in the past, and would again if I don't have the time. When I used a pro, I was there several days a week learning myself.

It takes alot of commitment to train a dog to certain levels, and some don't have the time, knowledge, grounds, birds to accomplish these tasks, so they use pros.

Robby

There is nothing wrong with training your own dog. My self being a retriever trainer have yet to have trained a dog to robot status lol or even close. They are dogs and part of people's family who they love and cherish very much.A professional trainer should make a dog more a family member than ever before. They should understand how dogs think so they give less corrections than the average person. They should be teacher not only to the dog but to owner so the dog listens to them and the owner understands the dog. The pro trainer should accelerate the canines training. So for people without the time,expertise, patience. The professional is the way to go. I have personally help many a owner train their dog that wanted to do it themselves or didn't have the money. But the retriever trainer gets paid as one of the least of all canine trainers with some of the most expenses and time. Check to see how much just plain obedience, agility,Schutzhund,rescue,canine detection. Not complaining just pointing out the facts. You can do your own training if you can read some books,have some patience and get with a pro and be very successful.

^^^^this

He calls them robotic because some are. The dog that does not know how to think on its own, been handled so much it needs a whistle to move a muscle , I've seen them. Lived their lives in a kennel, not as responsive to human contact as handler trained dogs.

So you're saying no one has ever trained their own dog to robot status and had it live its life in a kennel?

I think it's more dependent on how each owner interacts with his dog throughout its life than who trained it.

I've known plenty of people that trained their own coon or deer dogs and they were just tools. definitely weren't buddies with their dogs. They were hunting or they were kenneled.

I train my own and enjoy the process. I've seen dogs that were robots and some that weren't. The trainer needs to know what you want, I personally like to be a little loose on the reins and let my dogs do what they are supposed to do - go find birds (I'm talking pointing dogs). I'm not frazzled by a dog that's a few hundred yards out - some hunters are. If you're training a dog for NSTRA and he needs to stay in a 40 acre field with boundaries, you'll need a lot more interaction with the dog - if you're going to use the dog in West Texas, he needs some go to cover the ground. I can hack my dogs to stay close, but it's not fun for me or the dog, I like to see them do what they were bred to do. Retreivers require different levels of control and discipline. The owner needs to clearly communicate to the trainer what he wants from the dog. A kenneled dog can be very loving and gentle, if you pay attention to him. I'd make sure the trainer has enough staff to adequately interact with the dog outside of training time and/or the owner needs to make plenty of visits and learn while the dog learns.

To help clear up my statement. I stated “work like a robot” I think if you are a guide and make your living needing a dog to “work like a robot” it is a must. If not then I think training your dog to your satisfaction is the way to go.
I hope this clears it up
Just remember that a dog is the only animal that can give unconditional love

With or without a pro I don't think I ever have to worry about my bird dogs acting like robots.

We'll see around 8:30 Saturday morning. Good luck;

Cash/Deb Kindall
Ginger/Pat Conn

Is that her NSTRA draw? I am considering going out there this weekend. The fiance and I enjoyed our time talking with everyone out there last March/April.

We will be there. I looked at the braces and I don't get to run against you this time. Chris(my son) will be trying his hand at running Cash in one of the braces.

Fishag04
Yes it is. Come on out and bring the dog. You can run her after the trial to help clean the fields of birds.

I raise and train my own hounds. To get exactly what you what, a breeding program taylored to your wants is the only way I know to get that product. I will say that it takes many years to find the dogs that niche to produce the athletic, cold nosed, intelligent dogs I prefer.
When you find a cross that really works, stay with it. I am planning to make a cross for the forth time as soon as my old female comes in heat.
Adios,
Gary

I like training my own dogs. But I don't see how an untrained trainer is going to benefit with a trained dog