Why do people thing that homework is a chore?

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK TRAINING IS A CHORE?


By Louise Thompson (ABC of SA ©®™)



In my dog training school I nag and nag about the importance of students performing homework with their dogs. I normally advise them to perform a maximum of three to five minutes twice a day.



Now that does not sound like a lot of work. But students regularly complain that they don’t have time to perform homework! Rubbish!!! My favourite time to perform homework is whist boiling the kettle or performing some mundane daily task. Each time the kettle is boiled, simply perform one exercise. The same goes for when you are watching TV. During a programme each time an advert appears – perform one exercise.



If homework is performed during ones daily activities it is undertaken without much effort and without disrupting anyone routine. It also encourages obedience in different environments, not just at the dog training school, but also n other places.



If the dog performs the exercise well STOP .... do not repeat it. Why would you need to repeat it if the dog got it right the first time. In fact, if you repeat an exercise over and over again. Not only will the dog become stale and bored, but you will also increase the likelihood of the dog (or you) making a mistake and then you would be faced with the task of repairing or fixing the exercise. Quit while you are ahead!



In fact, what I don’t want them to do is to go outside into the back yard and perform hours and hours of mindless heelwork, or mindless repetitions of the same exercise. That makes dogs very bored. That makes handlers bored. Bored handlers and dogs are not conducive to a good working partnership.



Try to make homework a fun game. If it isn’t your dog’s favourite exercise - then end the exercise with his favourite game. This way he will remember when he performed the exercise the reward at the end was worth it. It is the reward of his favourite game that will be remembered and most likely he will associate it with the exercise.



Practice the exercises that the dog performs really well least often – in fact make that – practice the exercises that the dog performs really well rarely! If the dog is doing it well, why do you need to practice it???



Don’t get bogged down with a new exercise. If the dog doesn’t get it the first or second time. Reassess and try to work out where you have gone wrong – does the dog really understand what you want him to do? Is he confused, frightened, or overwhelmed, or perhaps he is not yet ready to move his goalposts! If you are battling with a particular exercise – break it up into segments and work on one segment at a time, perfecting each one before combining them all together.



Try to set your dog up for success. When performing homework, try to limit his options, which will help to ensure success. Success should be rewarded – thus increasing the likelihood of further success!



Keep homework sessions very short and make sure it is light-hearted! Don’t push too far, too quickly, take into account your dogs breed, age and learning opportunities, but always move the goalposts. As soon as your dog has grasped a concept, ask for more. A straighter sit, a longer stay etc. Constantly moving the goalposts stretches your dog’s intellect!