I love the phrase commonly used by think tank guru Tom Peters - "begin with the end in mind". As we apply this to bird dog training, once we know what we want to end up with, it outlines the steps we must take in order to achieve our goals. For these shorthair pups, their owner was planning to use an e-collar to control their range, before critical building blocks were in place.

Working dogs on birds is the fun part of dog training. It's almost like hunting. We get to shoot the birds and have them retrieved. Besides, when we put out hard earned cold cash for training birds, we don't want them getting away, right, wrong! Instead, if we were to back up and instill training building blocks with our dogs, we'd end up hunting under more pleasant conditions and with more birds in our game bag. We would not have to yell or scream commands to our dogs, and we'd sure be proud of their ability in front of our hunting partners.

At each stage of our building blocks, the dog needs to understand what we expect and demand of each command. Identical to Pavlov's dog, we work by overlaying a cue to each situation, so the dog learns to respond to that cue automatically with a specific response. Pavlov's dog drooled each time it was shown a piece of meat. At the same time the meat was shown to the dog, a bell was rung. Eventually, when the bell was rung without the meat being shown, the dog drooled because the dog associated the bell with the meat. We use the same concept in training bird dogs, in that we overlay a cue to a trained response, so that when the cue is given, a predictable response is produced.

Back to the shorthair pups. They had not been formally taught to either COME to us, or GO WITH us. For both of these commands, we commonly use the neck as a point of contact to teach the dog a conditioned response. Their owner wanted to make sure that when he took them hunting that they would come when called, and would hunt with him even when he changed direction. However, none of the building blocks had been built with either of the pups to condition them to comply.

Let's work backwards from where we want to eventually get with these pups to see where we actually need to start. We're headed towards using the e-collar to reinforce commands. We'll be using low level momentary stimulation to cue the pups for the conditioned response we will teach. For other commands we will use continuous stimulation, but not for COME or GO WITH. We will teach the dog to differentiate between momentary and continuous forms of stimulation and that they are to produce a specific and different response to each. On the e-collar transmitter, for momentary stimulation it will be tap and immediate release of the control button. If we don't get the response we require, we will gradually increase the stimulation level, with the same tap and release, until the dog complies with our command.

Prior to using the e-collar, we must teach the dog the same response with a 20-25 foot check cord, and even before that with a short lead. Using the same type of cue we'll eventually use with the collar, we tug and release on the rope, ie. momentary stimulation. To GO WITH us, we start the dog on a short lead and work the dog on our side in a healing type of position and cue the dog with the with a tug and release each time we change direction. To come to us, we stand still and encourage the dog to come to us, using the same tug and release motion. After the dog has learned the correct response on a short lead, we gradually increase the length, eventually working them on a medium length check cord.

Even before we use a check cord, we must first train the dog that the neck is the point of contact (POC) for this command. When a POC is cued, as in a tug and release or by the e-collar, it triggers a conditioned response that is unique to the situation the dog is in at that moment. We build the neck as a POC on a tie line. Here is the first place that the dog learns that it must give in to pressure being placed on their neck. When dogs are placed on the tie line for the first time, they will usually either sulk, pull, or fight the chain. They need to work themselves through the fact that they are not in charge and cannot do as they wish. They must comply with the pull of the chain and the pressure on their neck. When they learn to accept the pull of the chain, they will sit, stand, or lie down, in a relaxed position without the chain pulling on their collar. The beauty of the tie line is that the dog teach themselves. Their fight is with the chain, not you. You don't have to jerk them around in the field on a checkcord to instill the proper response. You are building the proper response, ie to move away from the force placed on their neck to remove the pressure they feel. Doing this automatically produces the response that we need without us needing to fight with the dog.

So, what do these shorthair pups need? The last thing in the world we should do initially is to strap an e-collar on their necks and expect compliance with our command. They have not been conditioned to give the correct response to the use of the e-collar. These pups need to go on a program, beginning with the tie line. From there we will progress to a short lead, and then on to a check cord. Once they have mastered the check cord, we can overlay the e-collar as a cue to respond as they have with the check cord.

Sure we want to turn these pups loose and shoot wild birds over them in the field. If we shortcut a planned training program prematurely, we will end up with disastrous results. We are far better off to pay our dues and spend the time to insure their performance for the rest of their life.