When Standard Advice Doesn’t Fit: Reading Your Dog and the Value of Experienced Training Partners
Hello retriever enthusiasts,
This weekend I was helping a friend work through a no-go on blinds. The standard advice you’ll see in many online programs is straightforward: “Sit (nick with collar), sit,” step up, and send the dog again. It’s clean, direct, and often effective.
But when I looked at her dog, the body language told a different story. The dog wasn’t defiant — she was nervous and confused. Adding more pressure (the nick) at that moment would have made things worse, not better.
So we skipped the additional correction. We simply moved up closer, gave her a calm, clear send, and let her build a little confidence. Within a few reps she started leaving on her own. The no-go disappeared, and the dog’s attitude improved dramatically.
That small change reminded me how important it is to have people you train with who are both experienced and willing to say, “Wait, wait, wait — don’t do that.”
Why Cookie-Cutter Advice Can Fall Short
Online programs and generic training plans are incredibly valuable for structure and fundamentals. They give us a solid roadmap. But dogs are individuals. A technique that works beautifully for one dog on a given day can backfire on another if the handler doesn’t read the subtle signals: ear position, eye contact, breathing rate, tension in the body.
In that moment, the standard “sit-nick-sit” approach would have added pressure to a dog that was already unsure. Instead, we gave her space to succeed. That small adjustment made all the difference.
The Value of Trusted Training Partners
Having experienced people on the ground with you is one of the best advantages you can have. They can see things you might miss when you’re focused on your dog. They can tell you:
“She’s confused, not stubborn.”
“Ease off the pressure — she needs confidence right now.”
“Try a simpler setup first.”
They’re the ones who will say the hard but necessary thing instead of just repeating the standard script. That kind of real-time feedback is hard to get from a video or written plan, no matter how good the program is.
Final Thoughts
I’m not against online training resources — we use them and recommend them. But they should be tools, not the final authority. The best progress often comes when you combine solid programs with experienced eyes on the ground who know your specific dog and aren’t afraid to tell you to pause and adjust.
If you train with a group or have trusted mentors, you already know how valuable that real-time guidance can be. If you don’t, I highly encourage you to find people who are both knowledgeable and honest. It can make a world of difference.
Have you ever had a moment where you ignored the “standard” advice because it didn’t fit your dog? I’d love to hear about it in the comments or on Instagram (@flyinghighretrievers). We all get better when we share what actually works in the field.
Here is to reading our dogs and training with good people,
Ryan Fisher
Owner and Team Development Officer
Flying High Retrievers
Long Island, New York
