Ok we have been considering training ideas and questions in any number of postings. I have another idea to throw into the mix. Practice issues. In my field there are starting to be considerible numbers of research papers on practice and rates of learning (actually it has been going on for years, it is just getting attention again). Reading is most prevelant at the moment.
So a couple of issues to set the stage. The ability to hear and use the sound system of reading appears to be hard wired and age linked for most individuals. So there appears to be a window of opportunity. Now to the information on practice rates.
To learn some of the specific skills in reading, a typical student needs between 1-12 perfect practice exposures. A struggling but still learning student, 13 to 43. A student with the possibility of life long reading challenges 44 to whatever it takes. Now combine that with the amount of time or practice that needs to occur consequetively 95% accuracy over 3-4 days.
I accept that I am crossing over species here but, I believe there are parallels that should be considered and examined.
In the dog and handler team, there needs to an adequate number of practices per session (and interspered through out the day). That these practices need to occur consequetively or as close to that as possible ( 5 days of 7 possibly).
That for learning to be established and usable in other situations in the future there has to be adequate modeling and feedback during the introduction phase so that the handler can complete the practices with a high degree of accuracy for the required number of sessions and days (for learning to occur).
So, this is why I have problems with the current phenomena of some trainers and training styles. Not that those individuals are not uncommonly skilled, they are. But they have gone through all those prior practices etc. and have mastered the skill set. What is available in a book and a dvd or other video media is not adequate for many people with pet dogs.