The
approach to training a dog and the technical means by which students
learn and become familiar with, was first taught in the New York
area in the training of German Shepherd dogs for police work, around
the turn of the last century and prior to World War 1.
In July of 1934,
coincidentally, the same month and year that I was born in England,
dog obedience tests patterned after those held in England (under the
sponsorship and rules, of the Associated Sheep, Police, and Army Dog
Society) were brought over to the United States by an American and
pioneer of dog training, Mrs. Helene Whitehouse Walker, a legend in
the sport of dog obedience as it is known today. On October 21, 1934
in Mt. Kisco, New York, Mrs. Walker organized the first all-breed
dog obedience test and tracking contest held in the United States.
There were eight entries, two Labradors, three Poodles, two Springer
Spaniels, and a German Shepherd dog. A gallery of over 150 people
watched with excited interest and was anxious to know when there
would be another obedience test.
The basic concept of training
dogs back in those early days and the way dogs are trained today has
not changed. Dog training still consists of demonstration and reward
... show a dog what you want him to do and praise him when he does
it.
