As a former military member for most of my adult life, it is ingrained in us. Never execute anything unless you know what the outcomes you want to achieve. We even have a commander’s intent paragraph in our operation orders to allow the commander to tell us why we are doing it, how we should generally do it, and what outcomes he or she would like to see at the end of the operation.
It’s the same in dog training. You must train with intention. Everything that you do has to have a known outcome. You must know it and the dog must know it so the two of you can arrive at the same outcome. You will notice in the first paragraph I mentioned that the commander tells us “Generally” how to do it. It’s the same in dog training. Every dog is different, and it is incumbent on the trainer and the owner to know what motivates the dog to get to the outcome you want.
Generally, however, there is a process in each training.
· First you show the dog the outcome.
· Then you guide them through the training, giving the command once they have completed it.
· Then once you see the light bulb go on, it is time to hold them accountable and give them the command prior to execution.
· Then you do it again and again to refine the execution of the command, like moving faster into the command, or refining where or how they should end up every time. Repetition and hold them accountable.
We have a general training plan in place and then I go at the pace of the dog.
Living with intention in our own lives is the same.
· The night prior, write down what you want to accomplish and what that looks like at the end of the day (outcomes based).
· Get up in the morning, double check and start guiding yourself through the day.
· Hold yourself accountable. You must figure out what that means to you but hold yourself accountable to the intention you have set for that day.
· If you don’t get to the outcome, as in dog training, there is no reason to get emotional about it. Just answer the question, “Why didn’t I get the outcome I wanted for the day?” That’s called learning and that is life.
This is what I call living life by design and not living by default. If you don’t have a plan and you can’t define the outcomes, then life will start to dictate the outcomes of your own life. So, bend life to your will, rather than the other way around.
If you think I could possibly help you and your dog, click here and let’s talk. Join our Facebook page and see what’s going on @ Hill Country Dog Trainer.
Until next time don’t forget to live in the moment.
Sincerely,
Matt
The Hill Country Dog Trainer
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