PAWS & PROGRESS

Talented dogs versus invested human learners.

Often when students start a new activity with their dog, those with the talented dogs stand out. They fly through basic skills, even if the handler has zero skill or timing. The dog is so talented the handler doesn’t need to learn a lot as the dog’s talent is enough. 

For a while anyway. 

No matter how talented your dog is, YOU are the most important part of the puzzle.

At a certain point talent only goes so far and slowly but surely training holes appear that are nearly exclusively a handling problem. But because the talented dogs have been prodigies for weeks or months, the handler starts questioning the dog’s ability. Their side of the bargain is rarely taken into question.

Most of the time these students eventually leave. Sheer talent on the part of one member of the team is not enough to hold long-term. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum you have invested handlers with quirkier dogs. Fearful dogs. Dogs who lack confidence. Dogs who get too aroused. Dogs who are very capable but aren’t standouts in the first few weeks, months or even years. They get better slowly, but are continually improving. 

However, if these teams stick, their humans do their homework. Invested human learners break things down – they need to. They learn to observe. They learn to handle. They need to. The dog isn’t going to gift them with 100% of the work. So the invested learners put a lot of effort into their side of the leash and slowly, through clarity, confidence and time, the quirks fade and the dogs understand the job. 

The two types of students are often on opposite trajectories. As the talented dog starts to fade because his handler hasn’t needed to put in the human work, the invested learner is getting their legs under them and the team is blossoming. 

This boggles the teams with the talented dogs. Their dogs used to be the amazing dogs. Why aren’t they anymore?

Some pick up their socks and start putting the work in. Most decide that the sport isn’t really for their dog. 

Moral of the story: no matter how talented your dog is, YOU are the most important part of the puzzle. Those who do the work reap the rewards. Do not ignore your end of the relationship. Also never count your “initially not so talented” dog out. Go slow, but keep going.