Dr. Ian Dunbar Workshop Update

Wed 6 May 2009 by Sue McCabe

Dr. Ian Dunbar Workshop Dublin April 2009

Last month I wrote that I would be attending a workshop by Dr. Ian Dunbar (www.dogstardaily.com). Having heard him lecture a few years ago, I jumped at the chance to see him work with dogs and their owners. I have been using Dr. Dunbar’s training schedules in my follow on/clicker class and puppy socialisation class for some time now. However I was keen to see the training methods and ideas put into practice by the expert himself.

I wasn’t disappointed. Dr. Dunbar spent much of the first day going through etiquette on how to handle your dog around other dogs and how to allow the dogs-on command-an option to go crazy, followed by-on command-settling them down. We worked on lure/reward techniques for the basic sit/down/stand and how best to phase out the lure and have our dogs work for hand signals, then verbal commands only. Day 2 was spent training focus and attention, training the dreaded stay.

Dr. Dunbar puts a lot of emphasis on training through games. This vital step allows owners a sense of fun, achievement and of course competition which together makes for a dog that doesn’t realise he’s being trained and an owner willing to put the work in as it doesn’t feel like work. Games such as the slowest recall (normal procedure would call for the fastest!), can show incredible control and a dog totally focused and attuned to their handler. Musical chairs allows dogs and owners to work on stay, without the dreaded ‘STAY’ barked at dogs and normally heard at traditional dog training clubs.

It was a pleasure to see how Dr. Dunbar handled the wide variety of owners and dogs at varying levels of training. He allowed time for all and his open and honest approach means he can make his point in a clear and comprehensive way, without ever confusing his audience. After all, dog training is simple really; it’s just the humans who complicate matters

During the weekend I had the pleasure to meet several handlers and dogs that impressed me in their level of attention, focus and training. Also, I met people who were so keen to learn, wanting only to achieve a level of dog/owner affiliation and understanding. They did not want robot dogs, but dogs who want to learn, who want to comply and who get so much fun out of the learning that they don’t even know they are being trained. This is, after all, something which Dr. Ian Dunbar has spent years promoting; a dog who doesn’t just do what you ask them, but who wants to do what you ask them.

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