How have your training skills evolved and who has influenced you most?

spiritdogs

The only time you ever made a mistake was when you tried to toss chocolate from Texas to Massachusetts - I wonder if there's an idogger somewhere in Tennessee somewhere eating my GD Godiva. 

That could happen. Pilots used to have a phrase called Tennessee windage. You get drift due to currents of air, just like you would with currents of water. So, you have to aim upstream of the target. I need to get a crossbow that can toss far but cradles the chocolate, so as not to mash it.

Great thread.

I don't think that the majority of my training methods have changed a great deal, however, they have become more focused since I've been at idog.  I pretty much still do the same old things that I've always done, and they still work wonderfully for me, but, I'm better able to DEFINE what I do and why now.  Spiritdogs gets a lot of credit for that.  And, I have to say that she's also encouraged me to follow my instincts.

The one area where she probably hung her head in shame of knowing me was with Thor when I finally resorted to using a prong with him.  I was so hesitant to do this, but absolutely nothing else had worked and when I tried to be a tree he would happily pull me down the street on my butt.  Once or twice getting road rash on the fanny was enough to decide that something had to give.  He's a big strong guy and my upper body strength has been seriously compromised by a number of surgeries.....it was try something new or never take him for a walk again.

One of the BIGGEST things I learned was the use of a long line to teach heeling and recall.  Gosh, what a blessing a long line can be!  Letting that line drag teaches them so much about focusing on ME.  And it makes life soooo much easier when I want them to walk nicely ON lead.

And being here has given me the confidence to offer suggestions to others based on my own experiences.  As I've always said, I'm not a trainer and I'm a self proclaimed expert on nothing, but I now can feel comfortable in sharing what works for me.