Initiative is critical in dog training. Who is leading whom? There are many metaphors for initiative:
Each of these metaphors bring great value to the concept as well as a particular perspective which we will examine later in the project.
Attention seeks opportunity. Draw or capture attention, pause, and you have the initiative. The pause isn't technically necessary, but it must historically have been done so the dog actually recognizes that giving up the initiative makes the game go. Keeping things moving can allow the dog to react and respond to the situation while retaining the initiative.
The Dog has to be taught to use Attention to create actual opportunities. be attuned to opportunity and through this experience the Dog | Handler | Team nexus learns how to transfer initiative.
Expectancy and desire are the impulse of Initiative Transfers. Who wants what and what are we willing to do to get it? What are we trained to do to get it? What works?
I want it, you want it. How do we negotiate how to get it?
Negotiation - Whoever wants it more is at a disadvantage, and is likely to cede initiative.
Done well the negotiation of an Initiative Transfer only happens one time, at which point in time we have an agreement and just need to uphold our end of the bargain.
Who is the playmaker? The one who has the initiative.