A Training Framework

[1]    Will this training goal raise leadership issues? Which ones, and how will they show up?
[2]    What drives will your dog have to be in to perform these actions? How does this relate to your dog’s drive profile?
[3]    What intrinsic and learned rewards will motivate your dog to learn and to maintain this behaviour?
[4]    What training steps will be involved in teaching this? Can you set them out in advance?
[5]    What contingencies will operate to influence your dog’s behaviour?
[6]    What potential is there for my dog to become stressed doing this?
[7]    What physical demands does it place on my dog, and are there any health issues to be concerned about?
[8]    What reflexes and emotions might be triggered by this training exercise, and how will you condition your dog appropriately?
[9]    What body language or other means of communication will be evident in this training exercise?
[10] Will you be using or relying on physical control/management, on teaching your dog to respond to a command, or internalising behaviour?

© Kaye Hargreaves 2008, may be reproduced with acknowledgement; www.kayehargeaves.com