Pati - ism's

Three stikes you're out!

The first time something in training goes wrong, it could be a fluke.
The second time it goes wrong, it obviously wasn't.
To let the dog fail a third time, in most cases, is poor dog training.

Do something to help the dog!

Break down the sequence/exercise and only work on the specific skill that the dog is struggling with. For example, make the exercise easier by turning a jump so it is more inviting (obvious). Step out of that particular exercise if necessary and go teach the dog the skill in a simpler setup.

Don't be stubborn!

This goes along with Three strikes you're out as well in addition to all dog training that you do. It doesn't matter what your agenda was when you set out to train on a particular day, as a dog will often have his agenda for you. Work with the dog you have in your hand at that moment. Nothing will be accomplished by having an attitude that your dog "should" be able to do something if, for whatever reason, at this particular moment in time, he can't. Don't be stubborn! Help your dog be successful. Be kind to your dog.

Celebrate!

I'm an extremely patient person. I love working dogs and I love to work through things with dogs. (Pati-ism #? Why I like it when things go wrong.) But, there is one thing that makes me want to squirt a handler with a water gun. Picture the dog struggling with something in a sequence or exercise. He doesn't understand what his handler wants. He finally does it correctly. What does the typical handler do? Give the dog more work by continuing on with the sequence - often until the next thing goes wrong!

What's wrong with this picture?

First, the dog has no clue that he finally correctly performed the behavior you were after because you didn't "explain" this to the dog by stopping and celebrating the performance.

Second, you are teaching the dog that if he works well and tries hard to figure this stuff out, his reward will just be more work. Now, some really driven dogs with a strong work ethic might go along with that, but I guarantee that if you don't teach those dogs that you are the reward rather than letting the next obstacle be the reward, they will never give you the solid (fast-accurate) performance that you are after.

For the less driven and perhaps more sensitive dog (and in many cases the more clever dog), you are teaching the dog not to try hard because if he does, he will only be given more work. To make it even more obvious, think about how many of these dogs get more attention (reward) for not working. They get bribed into coming back to work when they stop and refuse an obstacle or they wander off to visit or go off sniffing. Think of the celebration (reward) they often receive at the end of an exercise. Is it any wonder that these dogs quickly learn that not working is much more advantageous and certainly a more important behavior to you based on the size of the paycheck they receive for it?

Stop and reward your dog when he is working well. Stop and celebrate when he struggles with something and then gets it right. Thank your dog for working through something when he might have been feeling confused or stressed.

Many more to come as most seminar participants will tell you. :)