American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 139 Shocking Ryan's Talent

Inside the training field, A-frame obstacle courses, balance beams, jumping hurdles, and tunnels and platforms simulating various complex environments are arranged in a well-organized manner.

A lithe figure is directing a dark brown dog, which darts through the obstacles like lightning.

It was a Belgian Malinois, commonly known as a Belgian Malinois. It had well-defined muscles, was full of explosive power, and every movement was precise and full of strength.

And the man who commanded it was Ryan Anderson.

Lin Yu'an parked the car outside the training ground and got out, carrying Whiskey and Honey who were still curiously looking around.

He didn't go forward immediately, but stood quietly at a distance, watching the training performance that could be described as art.

Ryan didn't shout; his instructions were brief and forceful. More often than not, he used a gesture or even just a slight shift in his center of gravity.

The Belgian Malinois could understand perfectly and react with unerring precision. This was no longer a simple command and obedience, but a deep-seated tacit understanding.

When the last command was given, the Belgian Malinois sat steadily at Ryan's feet, looking up at him with eyes full of focus and affection. Only then did Ryan seem to notice the visitor in the distance.

He didn't come over immediately, but calmly looked at Lin Yu'an, as if trying to see through him inside and out.

At the same time, the Belgian Malinois at his feet slowly stood up, letting out a low, engine-like warning growl.

Its body leaned slightly forward, its muscles tense, entering a state of alert where it could launch an attack at any moment.

The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

Lin Yu'an knew that this was his first test.

When an ordinary person faces a professional working dog that exudes a dangerous aura, their instinctive reaction would be to back away, panic, or even turn and run away.

But Lin Yu'an didn't. His enhanced sixth sense allowed him to clearly perceive the other person's emotions.

He could sense that although the Malinois was alert, its emotions were stable and it had no real intention to attack.

It was simply faithfully carrying out its guard duty, awaiting its master's next instructions.

Lin Yu'an simply stood quietly in place, her body relaxed, holding the whiskey and honey in her hands. She didn't look directly into the Belgian Malinois, but instead looked at Ryan beside it.

In animal behavior, this is a gesture that means "I have no hostility and I respect your territory."

Whiskey and Honey in his arms seemed to sense the pressure as well, the two little ones whimpering anxiously and burrowing deeper into his embrace.

The standoff lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity.

Ultimately, Ryan seemed to acknowledge Lin Yu'an's performance.

He gently patted the Malinois's neck and whispered, "Alright, Kane, relax."

The warning growl from the Belgian Malinois named Kane vanished instantly, and its tense body relaxed, but its eyes remained warily fixed on Lin Yu'an.

Ryan then strode towards Lin Yu'an. He was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, tall and well-proportioned.

He was wearing faded Carhart overalls and a dark gray tactical fleece.

His short hair was meticulously trimmed, his facial features were well-defined, and his face was expressionless, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, as if they could see into people's hearts.

"You're Lin?" His voice was deep and steady, with a quality unique to police officers.

“Yes, Ryan, hello.” Lin Yu’an extended her hand.

Ryan shook his hand; his palm was dry and strong, covered with thick calluses.

"George raved about you on the phone."

He glanced at the two fluffy little creatures in Lin Yu'an's arms: "These are the two little troublemakers you need help with?"

“Yes, this is whiskey, and this is honey.” Lin Yu’an put the two puppies on the ground.

The two little ones immediately began to sniff the unfamiliar land with curiosity, but they never dared to stray too far from Lin Yu'an's feet.

Ryan crouched down and carefully examined the whiskey and honey.

His eyes were professional as he examined their bones, gait, and reactions to the new environment.

Kane also came over, sniffed the two little guys curiously, and then let out a disdainful snort, as if to say, "Two snot-nosed brats."

Bernese Mountain Dog, a good choice.

Ryan stood up and dusted his hands off. "Excellent bloodline, great skeleton. But what do you want them to become?"

This is a very direct and insightful question.

"I want them to be my companions, and also my family."

Lin Yu-an answered earnestly: "At the same time, I hope they can protect my family and property when I am not around. I need them to be brave, but they must never be aggressive without reason."

Ryan nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Partner, family, guardian, very good."

"But to achieve this goal, you first need to understand whether you want a dog, a tool, or a soldier?"

"What's the difference?"

"Of course."

Ryan's gaze sharpened: "If you treat it like a dog, you'll spoil it and end up with a spoiled, disobedient troublemaker."

"If you treat it as a tool, you will use harsh methods to control it, and eventually you will get an obedient but soulless machine."

"Only when you treat it as a soldier who needs your guidance, trust, and comradeship can you gain a truly trustworthy partner."

These words deeply resonated with Lin Yu'an, who nodded solemnly: "I understand, what I need are partners."

"very good."

For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Ryan's face, but it was enough to melt away the coldness on his face.

"So, welcome to the first and most important lesson in dog training: establishing rules and trust."

He led Lin Yu'an into his wooden house, which was extremely simply furnished. Apart from the necessary daily necessities, the house was filled with books on canine behavior, nutrition, and tactical training.

Several photos hung on the wall. One showed him in his LAPD K-9 uniform with a majestic German Shepherd, and another depicted Kane sleeping soundly at his feet. Ryan took a small, lighter-like plastic gadget and a fanny pack full of jerky snacks from a cabinet.

"Before you begin any training, you need to understand two things: dog language and how to contract with it."

He handed the plastic thing to Lin Yu'an: "This is called a clicker. Its function is to act as a 'marker.' When you press it, it makes a 'click' sound."

"You're telling your dog, this is the action! You did it right! The reward is coming soon!"

Dogs don't understand complex language, but they can understand the most direct cause-and-effect sound: the "click."

“This represents the first contract you and your dog sign. ‘Click’ means something good has happened. This is called positive reinforcement, which is the foundation of all modern scientific dog training.”

He looked at Lin Yu'an and asked, "What do you think is the first instruction we should teach these two little ones right now?"

Lin Yu'an thought for a moment and said, "Sit down?"

Ryan shook his head: "No. For puppies, the most basic commands are always 'attention' and 'come'."

"Attention means that in any situation, when it hears its own name, its attention must immediately return to you. This is the foundation of all subsequent training."

"Coming means that no matter what it is doing, it must return to your side whenever you call it, which can save its life in dangerous situations."

For the next hour, Ryan began demonstrating to Lin Yu'an how to perform the most basic "attention" training.

He had Lin Yu-an carry the whiskey, while he carried Honey.

He patiently waited until Honey's attention was slightly distracted before calling out "Honey!" clearly and cheerfully.

The little guy instinctively glanced back, and the instant it turned its head, Ryan immediately pressed the clicker "click!"

Then he quickly took out a small piece of jerky from his pouch and offered it to Honey's lips.

"Very good! Good boy!" he praised in an exaggerated tone.

The whole process was smooth and fast, like a flash of lightning.

Ryan said to Lin Yu'an, "See? Timing is everything. You have to mark it within 0.5 seconds of it making the right reaction, and then reward it immediately."

“Repeat this process, don’t be afraid of wasting snacks. You need to engrave the neural circuit in its brain, such as hearing its name, turning around to look at it, and receiving a reward, as solid as a rock.”

Lin Yu-an began to imitate Ryan's movements, training Whiskey.

At first, he was a little flustered. Whiskey, the little guy, was full of energy and curious about everything around him, making it hard for him to concentrate.

He called its name, and it was probably still munching on a blade of grass.

But soon, Lin Yu'an's magic touch began to take effect.

His extraordinary sixth sense allows him to be exceptionally perceptive of every subtle change in whiskey's attention.

He could even sense half a second in advance that the little guy was about to raise his head or turn his ears toward him.

This incredible ability to predict makes his "marking" timing impeccably precise.

"whisky!"

The little guy's ears twitched slightly.

"Click!"

Lin Yu'an pressed the clicker almost simultaneously, and a piece of jerky was already placed to its mouth.

After a few times, the whiskey figured out the secret.

It discovered that as long as it heard that voice and looked at the two-legged creature, something delicious would appear in its mouth—it was simply the most cost-effective deal in the world!

Its attention began to be highly focused on Lin Yu'an.

As soon as Lin Yu'an opened his mouth, it would immediately raise its head, look at him with its bright black eyes full of expectation, and wag its tail like a rattle.

In just twenty minutes, Whiskey had perfectly mastered the "attention" training.

It can even do this: when Honey runs over to try to play with it, it can immediately turn its attention back as soon as Lin Yu'an calls its name.

Ryan, standing to the side, stared in disbelief.

The calm expression on his face had vanished, replaced by a complex look of shock, confusion, and disbelief.

He has trained hundreds of dogs, including many elite police dogs with excellent bloodlines and superior intelligence.

But he had never seen or heard of a puppy that could establish such a strong command connection in such a short time.

This isn't just about learning quickly; it's practically like... Lin Yu'an can directly write commands into a dog's brain.

"You...you used to study dog ​​training?" Ryan's voice was a little hoarse.

"No, this is the first time," Lin Yu'an replied frankly.

Ryan stared intently at Lin Yu'an, then glanced at the whiskey at his feet, which was eagerly awaiting the next "click," and fell silent.

He knew that old George was not exaggerating; the young man before him truly possessed a talent that was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

This talent may not only be reflected in hunting, but also in communicating with animals.

He had always thought of himself as a dog training expert, but today, he felt that his professional knowledge paled in comparison to Lin Yu'an's almost magical talent.

“Okay…” Ryan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

"It seems I don't have any basic things to teach you, so let's move on to the next stage."

"Within a week, I want to see Whiskey, from fifty meters away, hear your call and return to your side immediately, ignoring any interference. Can you do that?"

This is a task that would be almost impossible for an ordinary person to complete in a week.

But Lin Yu'an simply looked at the whiskey at his feet, which exuded trust, and smiled confidently.

"No problem, I'm willing to give it a try."

(End of this chapter)