Dear Old Trainer: You have mentioned "reverse training" several times in your column, but I am not sure what you mean by the term. Can you explain what it is and how I might use it in training my bulldog, Dozer?
In The Dark, Mendocino
A: Reverse Training comes from the term "reverse engineering," and is the act of seeing something your dog is already doing and applying a command to it. It sounds quirky, but it is a valuable tool for any trainer.
I used reverse training to teach my border collies to take off at top speed on my command. On our daily walks in the Marina district in San Francisco, we passed a house with a dog who barked and snarled and raced up and down the fence with them. Streak and Rowdy loved it and looked forward to it each day.
The dog always barked when we were a couple of houses away. As soon as they heard the bark they took off running. They had learned to run when they heard the bark. I let this go on for a week or so, then used what they were already doing to teach them to respond to my command instead of the bark.
Just before we got to the spot where they would run, I gave the command "track." I made it a point to pass the house several times a day, using the command each time. By the third day they made the connection. They were dying to run, but were concentrating on me, just waiting for the command. They understood that "track" meant take off running to the house where the dog was.
The next day I pointed to a flock of pigeons in the park and said "track." They started running without knowing why, but figured it out in mid-stride. Now they knew that "Track" meant take off running after whatever the boss points to.
It is their favorite command. Not only do they get to run fast, the activity that border collies love more than Tiger Woods loves women with lots of plastic surgery -- they get a lot of petting and praise every time they do it.
I am using it to teach Rocky, my youngest border collie, to sing on command. He has a pleasant, hound-like howl that he uses when he's having fun. Each time he does I say, "sing." He just about has it down.
Watch Dozer and when he does something that you like, apply a command to it. You will be surprised how fast it works.
Dear Old Trainer: After reading your columns, we have decided to get a female companion from the shelter for Fred, our year-old Lab. We would like to get a small breed. Will that create a problem since Fred is so big?
Anxious, Mammoth Lakes
A: No. Dogs pay no attention to size or other external attributes. Just another reason why we love them.
Fred and the newcomer will quickly work out a way to play. It gets cold in Mammoth Lakes, and the little one can snuggle up to Fred and keep warm. They will become best friends, no matter what size they are.
Send questions for The Old Trainer to theoldtrainer711@yahoo.com.
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