cal games with a dog. The dog will probably
make overtures, wanting assurance that the world's right again.
But whether he does or doesn't, you let him take a scamper to
relax him. Then call him to you. When he comes make a big fuss
over him. When he knows he's back in your good graces, go about
your business.
Praise, the third "P-word" in a practical dog trainer's
lexicon, is just as important as persistency and punishment.
Lavish praise is never out of order; and I mean really making
a fuss over a dog when he does good. Just as commands are giving
in no-nonsense tones, when the job's done right, you sweet-talk
him. He doesn't have to understand the words. Your attitude and
tone will convey your sentiments. If you've skimped on this,
you'll be surprised how responsive dogs are to sweet talk. After
a dog is fully trained, a quiet word or two of praise or a congratulatory
pat or stroking will suffice as a reward. But while he's being
trained, ladling out the praise will be both reward and incentive.
Considering the exposure, it comes as no great surprise that
the son I sired, Michael Kevin Duffey, should be deeply into
gun dogs, their training and breeding. But it is with some consternation
that I note he's embarking on a "dog writing" venture,
if not a career.
Probably questioning whether the public will put up with another
generation of "Duffey On Dogs" observation and opinions,
"the kid" cleverly disassociated himself from "the
old man's" ranting and ravings in his maiden column in The
NAVHDA Newsletter.
According to Mike, the one book he recalls from among the many
on my library shelf is a thick, hardbound volume entitled: What
I Know About Dogs by David Michael Duffey, in embossed gold |
lettering. Presented to me by a practical
joking friend, the late Grady Marler, when a curious reader,
seeking expert enlightenment, open the book he scans nothing
but blank pages.
To further ensure that no one can accuse him of learning anything
he knows about dogs (which is considerable, in his opinion) from
the old man, Mike has this to say:
" For those of you lucky enough not to know me, I grew up s the son-of-a (not what you think) little
known and obscure outdoor writer named David M. Duffey. His passion
was (and still is) hunting dogs. He's always been a believer
in knowing what he writes about through firsthand experience
and as far back as I can remember we always owned at least eight
and sometimes as many as 20 hunting dogs of various breeds.
"Since he traveled a lot and my sisters preferred dishwater
to dog _____ (expletive deleted), I grew up and learned much
of what I know about dogs at the back end of a |
shovel. If I had a penny per pound ........."
Fathers being more charitable about their sons, even smart-ass
ones, than the other way around, Mike has more credentials than
he confessed to, including considerable and success as a professional
trainer. How far he goes in the writing game is still speculative
and, fortunately, modesty is not a requirement for being a successful
scrivener.
For he has independently concocted eight basic rules for successful
dog training which he's unblushingly entitled "Mike Duffey's
Golden Rules of Dog Training." They make sense and tie in
with the guidelines already suggested in this article. So I'm
repeating them here.
1. THE FIRST SIX MONTHS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME IN A DOG'S
LIFE. (Don't waste it. If you want your dog to develop his full
potential, this is the time to introduce and expose him to birds,
fields, water, retrieving and all kinds of other things that
will be an important part of his adult life.)
2. THE SECOND SIX MONTHS ARE THE NEXT MOST IMPORTANT. (Most good
dogs should be capable of putting in a productive hunt sometime
between six months and one year of age. Certainly they won't
be finished performers. But they should be able to give you an
enjoyable day in the field, finding, pointing and retrieving
at least a few birds. By the time most dogs are two to three
years of age they should be in their prime. People who make excuses
for a four or five year old dog that is not everything it should
be, are just kidding themselves).
3. KEEP "PUPPY/PLAY" TRAINING FUN FOR BOTH DOG AND
TRAINER. (If you don't really |
