Luke Hura’s dog training Journey.
From the day I began my first dog training lesson in 1973, I have been on the most incredible journey that continues to challenge and raise the standard of my training every time I work with a dog, even for the smallest result.
My affinity with animals began as a child, as I look back through old family photos, any time there was a dog in any photo, it was with me. I realise now that this was a sign of the strong connection I have with animals and a possible clue to my destiny.
After finishing my apprenticeship as a motor mechanic, I stayed on for another 3 years in the trade. The very last day I was working as a mechanic, a film crew turned up to film a TV commercial for the Toyota dealership. The general manager asked me, if I would take part in the commercial as a family man buying a new car. There is no doubt in my mind, this was another clue for what the future was preparing me for. These are just two of the many experiences in my life that many people may dismiss as coincidence, but I do not believe in coincidence or luck, I believe everything happens at the right time and for a reason.
In 1975, just 18 months after starting to train Rusty my Labrador Retriever, we gained our UD Title, just one month later we travelled from South Australia to Canberra where we won the Utility and achieved the highest scoring dog, at the Australian National Obedience Trials. My ego exploded, no one could tell me anything about dog training, I knew it all. This lasted until I bought my next dog a Rottweiller named Bianca, she very quickly showed me I had a long way to go, to become the trainer I thought I was. It wasn’t until I trained hundreds of dogs, I discovered that you may be the trainer, but your dog is your teacher. They can teach you your weakness’s, and they can teach you your strength’s, all you have to do, is learn how to listen.
Between 1978 and 1982 were the years I call my apprenticeship in dog training. I had my own Dog training and Boarding kennel where I trained over 300 dogs of various temperaments including nervous, neurotic, aggressive as well as good pets and great dogs.
By now my ambition changed, I really wanted to train and work with my own dogs.
Six months before I was even given an opportunity to train my first dog for a TV commercial, I was telling clients and family I am going to do film work.
In 1980 when the door was finally opened to get into film and television, I made the comment that I kicked that door off its hinges, so they could never shut me out. This truly was the turning point in my dog training career, I had discovered a method that was new to me, but had in fact been around for over 50 years. Dog training became so much easier, I could teach dogs 20 or more commands in just weeks. This method had a process that was very positive, motivational, simple and clear. I soon discovered, when you train your dog with the right attitude, you achieve results far quicker. If you can maintain that same attitude with all your training, you get momentum and your dog training gets better and better. When I began training other animals, such as cats, pigs, sheep, cows or a rat without a lead, just by technique, voice, food and body language, this improved my dog training even more, as well as giving me a greater understanding and respect for all animals.
In 1993 I was introduced to Clicker training with pigs. Even though I use the clicker and different sounding buzzers for training different animals, I don’t use it for dogs. Although it has similarities to the method I use and it can be incorporated with other methods, clicker training is only the first part (teaching process) and this alone will not reach the standard I want to achieve in the time frame. I have also learned the most important tool we have, is our voice, when you learn how to master voice control, you will understand why I tell trainers, your voice is your real motivator.
Since moving to Victoria in 1989, I have continued to work in the film, Television and the Advertising industry, working all over Australia. Although I still work with some animals, it is mainly dogs that I specialise with. The part I love the most, is your boundaries are constantly being challenged and tested and when you think you have made it to the top, you soon find there is another level. There is always another level, no matter where you are in your training. The moment you stop learning you begin to slide backwards.
Over the last 30 years I have taught many of my dogs over 100 different commands. I am currently training different dogs belonging to different owners each week for TV or films, but one of my greatest pleasures, is training my Border Collie “Star “.
She was four and a half years old when I decided to start some serious training. (Feb. 07) Star has just completed her second film called “Long Weekend” (Nov.07. soon to be released) and stars alongside Claudia Karvan (Secret Life) and Jim Caviezel (The Passion).
From 1973 when I first began training at dog obedience club level and slowly worked my way to the highest standards of training animals in film and television, I travelled what seemed to be the longest road, making many mistakes, but gaining an incredible wealth of knowledge. Among the many discoveries, I found that the best dog trainers don’t necessarily have the best dogs, they just know how to get the best out of their dog. After learning various methods and techniques, I came to the conclusion that dog training is a very simple process, we are the ones that complicate that process.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to do dog obedience, trick training, canine freestyle, film and TV work or you want to become a professional dog trainer. When you have a good positive method (meaning positive physically, mentally and emotionally) by adding simple techniques and strategies and by understanding and using body language, voice control and the power of clarity, you will spend only 25% of the time you now spend training your dog and achieve twice the results.
It doesn’t stop there, it gets better as you start getting momentum and real drive when you see your dog learning commands in days instead of weeks or months, your attitude becomes more positive and you get this incredible positive connection and understanding between you and your dog, you start to see what your dog is really capable of achieving.
This is how I teach dogs 80 to 100 commands in 3 months. It is not by accident or good luck or by getting a good easy dog. I have been doing the same work and getting the same consistent results for over 25 years, with many different breeds of dogs, big and small.
Learn how you can get the best out of your dog at seminars, lectures, workshops and classes.
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