Creating Independence: The Hunting Game

Update: 2025-08-21

Description

In this episode, Jerry Bradshaw discusses:

Canine independence - identifying the problem and how to solve it.
Why you might need to be doing less obedience training.
Training independence behaviors.
Creating hunting games with progression for puppies of all ages.
Working with your dog near and away from you so they are comfortable in both positions.

Key Takeaways:

Balance the inward and outward focus in your puppy training.
Wind plays a very important role in the hunting games. The windier it is, the narrower the scent cone; the less wind, the wider it is.
Watch your dog’s intensity and speed and adjust the game accordingly. You don’t want to push too fast, but you don’t want them to get bored either.
Progressive complexity should be done in a variable way. Some hunts should be easier and some should be harder.
Do not step in and solve problems for your dog; work on independent work. That stops it from being independent work.

"We're trying to create independence. So it's very important that when we start initiating these predatory sequences, the dog will start to, on his own, realize he and only he is going to be the one that can solve this problem, and you are irrelevant in this situation. And that's exactly what we're trying to teach, that there are going to be times where the dog has to work and you are going to be irrelevant." — Jerry Bradshaw

Get Jerry's book Controlled Aggression on Amazon.com

Contact Jerry:

Website: controlledaggressionpodcast.com

Email: JBradshaw@TarheelCanine.com

Tarheel Canine Training: www.tarheelcanine.com

YouTube: tarheelcanine

Twitter: @tarheelcanine

Instagram: @tarheelk9

Facebook: TarheelCanineTraining

Protection Sports Website: psak9-as.org

Patreon: patreon.com/controlledaggression

Slideshare: Tarheel Canine