All posts tagged bill west

It’s A Nothing

by Martha Greenlee on January 9, 2011 in Martha's Training Tips with No comments

Ever hear the expression — it’s a nothing? Ever wonder what it means and why it is an important part of dog training? Basically a nothing is something a dog does that you chose to ignore. In other words, you do not correct him and you do not praise him. You act as if it never happened. I first heard the term used by Dave Walker in the early 1990s. Dave had flown to Pennsylvania to do a seminar for us. After the seminar, Dave and I kicked back and were relaxing in a couple of chairs. I had an eight weeks old pup with me. He had found a dead quail and was lying under the table eating it. Feeling a little self-conscious about what to do, I glanced at Dave and he was watching the pup too.

“So what would you do,” I asked, pointing at the pup.

“Nothing,” he replied. “It’s a nothing.”

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Using Dog Psychology in the Field

by Martha Greenlee on November 1, 2010 in Martha's Training Tips with No comments

In October I wrote about using dog psychology around the house and kennel. This month I want to talk about using dog psychology in the field. Dog psychology is relating to dogs the way they relate to each other. In the West method, you use a pinch-collar and check-cord and the stand command to earn your dog’s respect and establish yourself as leader. This training is not obedience; it is dog psychology. Once your dog respects you, you become dominant. You become the leader. Your dog becomes the follower, and because he is in a submissive state, he is ready to learn. His mind is open and he is willing to take direction from you.

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Using Dog Psychology around the House and Kennel

by Martha Greenlee on October 4, 2010 in Martha's Training Tips with No comments

When Bill West was asked about his training method, he said, “It is dog psychology.” When Cesar Milan was asked about his training method, he said, “It is dog psychology.” What is dog psychology? Simply put, it is working with the dog’s mind and his mental or behavior characteristics. When you use dog psychology, you are relating to dogs the way they relate to each other or as Dave Walker liked to say, “You are getting down on the dog’s level.”

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