Cheap Koehler Method of Dog Training (Book) (Koehler) Price

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Customer Reviews of Koehler Method of Dog Training

A FANTASTIC book, BUT you have to READ it!!!
When viewed from the dog's perspective, the training methods described in this book will work, plain and simple. Using this method the dog is never corrected until he had been shown, over and over, the correct behavior. Only once the behavior has been thoroughly taught does the trainer expect the dog to perform as asked. If the dog does not repond to the command, the correction is swift. The dog associates the correction with his incorrect behavior, rather than with the trainer. Exactly what is it that makes this training method cruel?

I would like to repeat a comment from one of the other readers. . . these training methods are meant for DOGS, not puppies. In fact, many dogs the author trained were problem animals. He certainly didn't mean these techniques to be used on any dog less than six months of age.

The only problem I had with this book (and I read it three times in a week to make sure I understood its concepts), was the fact that the author disparages people of differing viewpoints. Other than that, I would recommend this book to anyone who has some prior experience with dog training.

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Koehler's method works for me.
A dog trainer for many years, I have used Koehler's books to guide me. Some say his methods are cruel, but I've been to too many obedience classes where I saw blood drawn from prong collars, good puppies turned into fear-biters because of unfair corrections, dogs that absolutely cannot be let off the leash, the list goes on. Koehler taught me to first teach the dog what I want and make sure he's learned it before a fair correction can be made. Sure, I have to SHOW the dog what "sit" means: how on earth is he going to learn it otherwise? Maybe Koehler doesn't deal with "learning theory" but I have put CD's on two bullmastiffs, a breed not represented well in the obedience ring: one got her CD in 4 trials, the next one in 3 trials with scores of 190 and above. I do like it when my Ruby-dog beats out those Goldens and Shelties! I'm sticking with Koehler. I only wish I could have met the man before he died.

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The end does not justify the means...
Just because it WORKS doesn't mean it's RIGHT. These methods are abusive and inhumane. Save your money and buy anything by Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Pat Miller, Pamela Reid, or Karen Pryor. Any method is only as good as the trainer using it, and if you have poor timing or inconsistent communication (as most of my dog class participants & all novice trainers do at first) the only damage you do to the dog with motivational, reward-based training, is that it takes longer to train. On the other hand, I am faced with at least one case a month of a fearful dog who was trained with techniques similar to Koehler's that is now dangerously aggressive. Run far, far away from this book. As fast as you can. Please. For the sake of your dog...