Comments on: The Key to Dog Training: Feeling Comfortably Stupid

By: Sharon Normandin

Sharon Normandin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:11:27 +0000

Hmm, I’ve always made a distinction between “stupidity” and “ignorance”. We’re all ignorant of something until we have the opportunity to learn. “Stupid”, to me, has always been being content to remain ignorant, unwilling to learn, and even worse, not being aware of our own ignorance and trying to act like we know more than we do. I think “productively stupid” falls into my personal definition of “ignorant”.

One of my favorite professors in college once told me: “The only reason that I know more than you do is that I got there first”. Someday I’d like to let him know that I’ve adopted this as a mantra, and it got me through graduate school, it’s getting me through life, and it’s getting me through dog training, both as a student absorbing as much as I can from my teachers, and as an instructor, passing on what I’ve learned to my students.

“Train your dog at Say Yes and get in touch with your existential stupidity.” I love this sentiment made by Susan Kennedy, and I think it look great on a Say Yes t-shirt; would rank right up there with “positive is not permissive” and “got D.A.S.H.”

By: Lynne Brubaker

Lynne Brubaker — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:04:55 +0000

Well, well, well… Thank goodness for Lynda!! She is making the SMART move and making you go to the SPA to relax and re-energize! ENJOY!!! You deserve it!

By: Devora Locke

Devora Locke — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:58:00 +0000

So the really smart trainers should strive to be as ‘stupid’ as our dogs? Or at least as willing to be, in our search for the answer.

Great article. Nice boost. Thanks for sharing.

By: Trudie

Trudie — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:38:10 +0000

“It is a key to our dogs as they learn to offer responses, fail and confidently try again” …
Is there not a difference between “stupid stupid” and “enlightened stupid”? Because I confess that in another life I didn’t know beans about excellence in dog training and I bumbled along not teaching our dogs to offer responses. Trying to get our dogs to do what we want.

Your blog on the other hand is “smart”! Everyone’s comments, your responses – a privilege!

(Technological advances I’d love to see: in your competition videos, to be able to hear the commands you give, and see your teamwork in slow motion.)

By: Susan Kennedy

Susan Kennedy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:23:07 +0000

Train your dog at Say Yes and get in touch with your existential stupidity. I just love this idea(nice article, too). Every training session is really a little experiment. This blog reminded me get lost in the moments of training and watch for the discoveries. Thank you!
I’m off to do some research…..

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:33:41 +0000

Kathryn – I had the same concerns you do regarding repeating unwanted behavior vs failing – specifically with the weave poles for me where the dog was going again and again to the wrong entry and I was trying to let them fail but it was a very uncomfortable experience. (in fact if you’re the Kathryn I think you might be you may have even witnessed it LOL)

I’m not sure the answer to your question but one of the things I do think is that I did not at the time have much of a foundation at all of shaping/training goofy things that really meant nothing to me. I think if I had been doing that since my dog was a puppy she would have learnt through those sessions how to fail and how to get rewarded. I think then when I went to train actual equipment there would be a certain work ethic already built in and everything would hopefully fall into place even though the equipment itself of course has a value.

I’m curious as to what others would think when the thing the dog is failing on has really high value for them such as the tunnel which has crazy high value for a few dogs I know. No matter how high the reinforcement the person has the tunnel is still always going to be very reinforcing in and of itself for the dog so letting them repeat it more then twice gives me a queasy feeling in my stomach and I would probably choose not let them.

I’m so glad I’m going to Tweener camp this weekend – I’m in need of a refresher and a swift kick in the butt I think LOL

By: Mike Gooch

Mike Gooch — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:40:21 +0000

When I think of maintaining my criteria, I find a profound difference between my pride, and my self-esteem.
Pride makes me do things wrong, because I want to do and be correct. It makes me want everything, right now.
Self-esteem allows me to humble myself, and enjoy the joy of it all.
If I need to momentarily disengage to take time out to laugh with my dog, and to laugh at myself, then I’m thankful that I was blessed with that coping mechanism, at that time.

By: sayyesdogs

sayyesdogs — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:18:36 +0000

I love it Susan, thanks for sharing!

By: Susan Mann

Susan Mann — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:41:14 +0000

I was told years ago that if I never lost my balance, I wasn’t stretching my skills. Although this was said pretty literally in regards to my martial arts education, I’ve tried to apply it to the rest of my life. If I never feel off-balance mentally, I’m in danger of stagnating. If I fear looking foolish, I won’t try something new. If I don’t question what I know, what I know is probably trivial.

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:45:49 +0000

I know you don’t mean literally being stupid, right. But I couldn’t agree more, being too perfect means giving more than enough pressure to our beloved pet dogs and this doesn’t really help at all even on my experience.