Since very early in my life I have been interacting with dogs. In the beginning, I work with American bred dogs, many were mutts, and not of the highest working quality. Nonetheless, I loved them very much and learned many valuble lessons from them. My first introduction to training Top Working Dogs was as personal agitator/trainer to such big names in Schutzhund as Phil Hoelcher, Ken Howe, Bonnie Edison, Darryl Hall, and many others. During this time, I was working at Landmark Kennels in South Florida, which was one of the top German Dog importing and working kennels in the USA during the 1980s. While at Landmark Kennels, I was introduced and had the privilege of developing a working relationship with internationally renown Schutzhund/Police Dog trainer, BSP competitor, Edgar Kaltenbach. I worked with Edgar both here in the USA and in Germany where his hospitality is unmatched. I extend my appreciation to all those club members and dog trainers in Germany that allowed me to work their dogs, which allowed me to develop my understanding and techniques as a helper and trainer.
Edgar Kaltenbach was one of the main influences to many of the big names in the working dog world of today, both directly and indirectly...especially in the South East USA, but not exclusively since many in the rest of the country benefited from his teachings. I can say that he was the mentor to many of today's top competitors and trainers. We all owe Edgar much for his teachings and for the quality of working dog he exported to this country. I must say that to this day I have not met a dog-man with better eyes for reading a dog and its temperament than Edgar Kaltenbach.
Of course, as trainers we are always learning and seeking higher truths in understanding theory, and to improve our practical training abilities. In this sense we learn from everyone as dog training is a social phenomenon. To quote Edgar "one must steal with his eyes"...here he was referring to one's continuation and devotion to improving our understanding of our beloved dogs by watching and learning from others.
These memories take me back to a very special time in the early part of the 1980s. Life back then was
simpler, and the art of dog training was pursued with vigor...besides learning mechanics, the techniques needed to implement training theory; we trained with and developed feeling for the temperament, something that is not taught but earned, and learned by doing.
I am the first to admit that the true teachers are the dogs themselves, the quality and amount of dogs you work will help improve technique and the ability to read the dog...until one day you begin to understand certain generalizations, and the development of the feel...where one no longer thinks but instantly reacts to the animals needs.
Without developing the "feel" we are nothing more than robots carrying out preset formulations that may or may not help in training. The ability to feel and read the dog allows us to consistently channel the drives and instincts of the individual animal. It is, if I may call it, The Art of Freestyle Dog Training, where we take what we know and use it to destroy and rebuilt a new and higher understanding. It is like worship no one and learn from everyone, especially the dogs.
The balance of instincts, the nerve structure, and genetic make up are different in each dog as personality traits are in people. As I mentioned above there are those aspects of the dog's temperament which we can generalize and reach certain conclusions that aid us in training individual dogs. However, we must learn how to go back to the particular and actively allow the interplay between the general and the particular to develop as we use theory and principles of training on the practical scale. It is only in this fashion that we can accomplish the molding of the behavior we seek without creating conflict in our dogs, and simultaneously developing a comprehensive training program.
Jesus Gonzalez...Nexushaus K9 Services
Web Site nexushausk9services.com
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