Do You Know How to Ask Your Dog a Question?
“What am I doing that’s setting my dog up where I feel like I need to reward for effort?”
Our hosts, Robin Greubel and Stacy Barnett, explore what it means to “ask your dog a question” in training. Rather than guessing why a dog is struggling or rushing to a fix, they recommend deliberately testing one criterion at a time to find out what the dog understands and where the breakdown is.
Stacy shares how simplifying the setup revealed that Jack needed to see a container to recognize the source, while Robin describes how Raven’s high hunt drive made it difficult to shift into her trained final response.
The Dames of Detection also discuss the risks of rewarding vague “effort” or incidental behaviors, which can create confusion and reinforce habits handlers didn’t intend. They encourage trainers to reinforce specific, meaningful behavior, build criteria thoughtfully, and decide whether a training issue matters operationally before choosing to address it.
Their takeaway: make assessments purposeful, build strong foundations, and choose your battles based on the dog and the work.
They also share a few updates: schedules for upcoming intentional handling, hide-setting, and distraction camps are expected after the first of the year, with sessions anticipated in May and June. Robin mentions possible European training opportunities in April or May, and the hosts discuss small-group training options at Robin’s farm.
Key Topics:
Defining “Asking Your Dog a Question” (01:59)
Troubleshooting by Eliminating Criteria: Jack’s Container-Visibility Challenge (06:58)
Raven’s Hunt Drive, Arousal, and Final Response (11:46)
Choosing Training Priorities Based on Operational Needs (18:34)
The Risks of Rewarding Effort and Reinforcing Unintended Behaviors (27:41)
Building Training Criteria as a Foundation, Not a Ladder (34:34)
Upcoming Training Programs and Events (47:41)
Resources:
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