Meet the Trainers: Q&A with Veteran Dog Trainer Jeremy Moore

Meet veteran retriever trainer Jeremy Moore of DogBone.

Location: Pulaski, Wisconsin

How long have you been a trainer? Professionally for 21 years.

Early Stages:

For new puppy buyers, what should be the training priorities in that dog’s first year?

I have taken to the idea of, “don’t do more, do less better” with all our pups and it’s a philosophy that I think has helped greatly. I spend 90 percent or more of my effort those first 10 to 12 months focused on building their foundation and exposing them to as many things possible, while building and managing their confidence. Foundation is a loose and relative term, but for me it means developing very basic skills like heel, recall, sit/stay. As that comes on, I slowly add things that will overlay and connect those skills with the things we ultimately want to do with them in the field, like game finding and retrieve.

What’s the biggest mistake you see amateur trainers make when dealing with a puppy?

With no disrespect towards professional trainers intended, I think the biggest mistake amateurs make is believing they need to train their pup like most professionals do. In most cases, the amateur trainer has the greatest advantage. They have time. They are not under pressure to produce something within any time restraints. I think most lack understanding of how much patience this takes and that trying to speed it up is not only ineffective, but it sets you back and will end up taking you more time in the long run. Puppies grow up fast enough without us needing to rush anything.

How significant is choosing a name? Pros and cons to different names?

I don’t get too hung up on the naming of a dog. Much like picking out the “right puppy” I think the key is being sure you like it. It’s a lot easier to work with the ones you really like. Sometimes the shorter the name is, the more efficient and effective it can be to use, but I think it all comes down to preference.

Specific Behaviors:

What’s the most difficult introduction (water, gunfire, multiple retrieves, dog blinds, etc.) trainers deal with?

I think most, if not all things, are relatively easy to introduce dogs to, provided you have prepared them properly for whatever that is. Confidence has a lot to do with introductions, so I spend more time working on building the pups' confidence (if needed) before tackling anything new. There are also some pups that have too much confidence which can create its own issues, but introductions are usually not the issue with that kind of pup.

What is the simplest way to correct breaking and improve steadiness?

I think using denials is one of the simplest ways to teach dogs to be steady. It helps the dog understand that not every retrieve is going to be theirs. By using denials, the reward (retrieve) is that much greater when it’s earned by being steady. I think building in the understanding of steadiness (which is a description of a dog practicing patience) is something that can and should start to be put into them relatively young as long as you do not use excessive pressure while doing it.

How do you approach correcting whining in a young dog?

I think whining can be very much genetic, which makes it very difficult. However, I do think you can overstimulate dogs and create or enhance whining. In the big picture, the best way to correct it is to never allow it to start. By that, I mean going back to the idea of building a patient, calm, and consequently quiet retriever. In the moment with a whiner, I might make a properly timed, sharp correction of a growly “no” but, that can make it worse if it spins the dog up even more.

What are your rules or guidelines when dealing with training in the summer heat?

I think it’s all predicated on reading the dog. In the warm months, we will work in the coolest parts of the day (early morning and evenings). Water (so long as it’s cool/cold) is a great way to get a lot of good work/exercise in even on the hottest days.

Hunting Focus:

What are the main training indicators that your dog, regardless of age, is ready for the fall hunting season?

I have a pretty simple list of foundational skills my dogs need in order to both train and hunt. Heel, sit/stay, and recall. If they can’t do all of that exceptionally well, then we really can’t prepare for, much less start to think about hunting them. The “hunting things” like making retrieves and game finding are easy, very much natural, and inherent in retrievers. It’s the things we need them to do most of the time we are afield when we go hunting that are not natural. For example, steadiness, delivery to hand, lining, patience, etc. Those are the things I need them to be able to do in the training field first before we can start in on transitioning those behaviors to the real thing. I’m not in a hurry to hunt my gun dogs, the risk versus reward just isn’t there for me.

What are some of the most common bad habits dogs tend to pick up during the hunting season, and how are they addressed?

I think hunters often get caught up in the moment and become relaxed in their expectations and standards when hunting. Hunting can easily become the focus, and the retriever work can become secondary for some. That’s when issues start to show up. It takes discipline on our part and the commitment, at least for the first few seasons, that the dog work remains a focus and priority. That doesn’t mean it has to be that way forever, but it does need to be for a while.

What are your ideal expectations for your retriever throughout the waterfowl season?

I like to be sure my dogs take nothing away from the experience and are instead quietly exceptional when it comes to making it more enjoyable. Game finding is the obvious benefit that they bring and from a conservation standpoint, I want to minimize the loss of game. But I like dogs that are really nice and that doesn’t always mean the biggest, strongest, fastest. It means the most reliable and easy to work with.