How To Read Your Dog

That well known adage “never assume anything” could not be more appropriate than when applied to training gundogs.

Firstly, never assume every dog is the same in terms of the way it interprets and responds to each stage of its training. While some may feel it is churlish to even suggest such a thing, the deepest chasm of failure that many novice dog handlers fall into is caused by an inability to “read” their dogs and to understand what they are thinking.

But that’s only part of the problem. We’ve all heard frustrated handlers bemoan the shortcomings of their dogs and their individual foibles and faults, but blindly following a set pattern of training in the hope that success will be born out of by some miracle of perseverance is certainly not the way to build a rock-solid working partnership.

Gundog training books and videos, hours spent in training classes and even in one-to-one private tuition sessions, all have their role to play in educating both dog and handler. But to truly nurture the best possible relationship it’s absolutely essential to be able to “read” your dog.

Adapt your training to suit your dog:

Whether it’s at a demonstration at a game or country fair, a field trail or working test or even out in the shooting field, how many times have you heard someone say: “how do they do that?” And all too often the question is laced with an unsaid: “because that’s just what I try to do but my dog doesn’t do it like that”.

The reason is very simple: whoever is responsible for generating those comments of awe from onlookers has developed an acute sense of intuitiveness in their training techniques.

Rather than strictly replicating a set of instructions and rigidly applying each at the appropriate stage of training, the successful handler adapts how the instruction is delivered in order to suit the dog’s temperament and character.

Even more importantly, a keen insight is developed into how the dog responds as the various stages of training are undertaken.

For those who attend gundog group training classes make a point at your next gathering to watch each member of your group very closely. Try to see how those who achieve the best results apply the commands but more importantly keep an eye on the dog too.

The timing and clarity of commands is the bedrock of the way we seek to train gundogs, but for those who make it look so easy and whose dogs are a delight to watch, their secret has everything to do with being able to “read” their dogs and adjust how a command is delivered.

Read the signs from your dog carefully:

Some may say this skill is not something that can be taught and is more likely to be a natural “gift” bestowed upon certain individuals. Without a doubt there are naturally highly talented gundog trainers who achieve wonderful results with their dogs through kind and positive techniques.

But even those who feel they were not born with such natural skills can learn how to hone their intuitiveness and awareness.

Every handler or gundog owner likes to think they know their dog’s temperament. Some may believe they have a strong-willed dog, even a dog who demonstrates a defiance towards the handler; others may categorise their dog as sensitive or even nervous.

These are probably the two “extremes” of canine temperamental traits when it comes to gundogs, but in between there is a myriad of other complex attitudes leading to specific responses to certain situations. While I am certainly not suggesting that to successfully train a gundog a handler needs to become a dog psychologist, there is certainly much to be gained from a better understanding of how your dog thinks and responds.

Applying a programme of commands – vocal and hand signals – to achieve a particular piece of gundog training will not produce the same response in every dog. Whenever any dog is set up for a particular part of its training I expect (but don’t see it as often as I’d like to) the handler to be acutely aware of precisely what’s going on in their dog’s mind at that moment.

It may be a dog that is easily distracted, it may be a dog that is hesitant and unsure, or possibly unsteady and lacking concentration. Whatever “mind set” that dog is in at that moment has a massive bearing on when the command is given to undertake the exercise and how it is given.

As I said at the start of this article “never assume anything” and just because following steps one, two and three as instructed by the training manual or given by the trainer are supposed to give the required result, never assume that it will unless you not only understand your dog but can also “read” its mind-state at that moment.

Observe and react to a dog’s body language:

Everyday life now seems to be driven by pressing buttons and getting an instant reaction - and there is no doubt that those new to gundog training expect a “push button” result if they follow a specific set of training instructions.

But the joy of working with gundogs is not about producing dogs that function like automatons. Yes, there has to be response to commands and the handler has to have control, but the most effective – and without doubt the most satisfying – gundog work will always be achieved by forging a partnership that works in harmony.

And it is by watching, assessing, understanding and being able to “second guess” your dog’s reactions to any situation that the highest standards of gundog work can be reached.

So the next time you grab the dummy bag and set off for a training session, do some lateral thinking about what training exercises you will be doing and how your dog has responded  - well or not so well  - in the past.

When a dog is working away really take some time to try and assess what the dog’s thinking and how it’s reacting to that situation. Even when a dog is being trained on elementary directions and may only be a few yards in front of you, watch the dog’s body language, its expression, even its ear carriage. Learn to read the signs and adapt your instruction accordingly.

And above all else “never assume anything”.

Find further gundog training articles and tips here.

Jeremy Hunt, Fenway Labradors

Jeremy is the owner of Fenway Labradors, and has been breeding labradors for over 25 years and is based in Lancashire, England.