Have you heard of Zen philosophy? It’s a practice over a thousand years old that emphasises several principles that (I think) are highly applicable to gundog training- especially the “busy” breeds (as I side-eye my spaniels lying next to me..!) Hear me out…
Principle 1: “Zazen”- the idea of “Just Sitting” meditation
If you don’t read beyond this principle, PLEASE take this one onboard! In this current age, there seems to be a huge emphasis on Enrichment! Exercise! Training! Stimulation! All of this is great as it shows we are more aware of our dog’s needs, but there is very little emphasis on how important it is to teach our dogs to do nothing other than just “be”.
This is REALLY important for gundogs, especially those who constantly “switched on” by the environment (constantly scenting, sniffing, hunting)- they need time “off”. After all, if you think about a dog working, there are long periods of time when they are expecting to be calm, controlled, and still for ages despite being in a highly stimulating environment.
This calm and stillness doesn't just occur. Our working gundog breeds need to be taught when to “work” and when to just “be”. Otherwise you are in danger of creating a mental/ emotional state where your dog is so stimulated they struggle to switch off. So, as part of training, build in time to just stop, take in the scenery, sit down together, maybe examine some flowers really closely but slowly, sit on a bench, take out your phone, encourage a settle and let your dog know, switch off for a moment. And when you are training, be really clear about starts, breaks and end points so your dog knows clearly, now it is time for “Zazen” !!
Principle 2: Simplicity
The principle KISS has always stood me in good stead:
Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Don’t over-complicated what you are trying to do. The most effective training is focused, short and set to achievable goals. And STICK to it!
Principle 3: Present-moment awareness
If you ever want a perfect example of “living in the moment” watch a dog rolling in mud! They are not thinking “oh, I shouldn’t do this because this will have the consequence in the future that I will have to have a bath, which I hate”- most likely they are thinking “This is ACE!” and that’s about it.
When are actively with your dog (i.e. on a walk or training, not lounging at home) BE PRESENT! Put your phone away and connect with what your dog is doing. Observe what they are interested in, get involved. Be aware of distractions (and could you potentially use that as a reinforcement?)
(Bisto loves water- this is a HUGE reinforcement for him!)
Principle 4: Denial of the ego
There can be a lot of ego in dog training, from the highest competition level down to the feeling that it’s personal when your dog “fails” to do the thing you ask of them on a walk.
When this happens, think “don’t get furious, get curious”- set aside your ego response (It’s all about me!) and think, why is my dog struggling in this scenario? What can I change about that picture, to help my dog achieve? Is it the environment? Are they tired/ stressed/ hungry/ uncomfortable/ too aroused? Am I getting stressed/ annoyed and sending that energy to my dog? I urge you to go watch this recent podcast by trainer Susan Garrett to help you reframe how you feel:
Principle 5: Faulty human perception
Our logic is misleading! How we perceive a situation isn’t necessarily “reality”- also, reality for us is different from reality for our dogs. Even more so, our brains are brilliant at picking up on the stuff that isn’t going well, and asking negative questions (“Why is my dog “messing around”? Why can’t I get this timing right?), and our brains are equally good at supplying answers that are not necessarily the truth. It is SUPER helpful to video yourself training and watch back, especially in those moments. Things I’ve observed from doing this include:
Perception: Why is my dog being dumb?
Reality: I was flapping my hands around and the dog lacked clarity on what was expected
Perception: My dog is ignoring the whistle
Reality: My whistle timing wasn’t accurate, or consistent- the dog lacked clarity again on what was expected/ what the whistle meant
Principle 6: Non-duality and the interconnectedness of all things
What on earth does non-duality mean? Well, it means everything is interconnected, i.e. you do not exist in a vacuum. You and your dog and the environment you are in, are all interconnected. As such, everything has a relationship. As humans we are often far more disconnected from our surroundings than our dogs are. Their senses and perceptions are far keener than ours. So, if you are struggling with training, and connection, stop for a moment, go back to Principle 3 and just observe what is going on 😊
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