Customer Reviews:
Koehler is a little strange..........2007-06-05
I have had Koehler's guard dog training book for about 5 years and have used the obedience section to train 3 of my own personal dogs. I am not a dog trainer but I understand the importance Koehler puts into his training in obedience. There is NOTHING worse than an ill behaved dog... especially since I am a fan of the GSD!!! Koehler is strange and perhaps a bit too strict in some of his training but when push comes to shove... his training works!!! The only book I've read that is equilivent or better is "Dog training for law enforcement" by R.S. Eden!!!! As a police officer I plan to use Koehler's book to further train my personal dog for home protection.
The Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training.......2007-05-23
This was the book that I used to train my own dogs successfully and to start my own small dog training business decades ago when the book was first published. I reordered this book because my original copy was tattered shreds from repeated use and continual reference. These methods are well explained and effective. That being said, given modern animal behavior and psychology, some say these methods of training are dated and unnecessary.
ex-Australian Air Force Police Dog Handler.......2007-04-09
Lots of people who call themselves dog trainers still suffer from the same fatal belief that dogs are like humans and therefore the training techniques used must be deployed as if training humans. I have trained thousands of dogs over the past 26 years most of them after so called dog trainers have stuffed it up. I can say with all honesty that if the dogs that I had to re-train had been brought up in their rightful place 'beneath the pecking order of their owner with discipline and then love', most would never need some of the more dramatic techniques Koehler mentions in the book. Dogs cannot be reasoned with like humans, let's face it, some humans can't be reasoned with either but reasoning is not a capability of canines, they do not possess reasoning skills, ask a scientist.
Koehler's methods support the proactive position that prevention is better than a cure. His tough tactics are left only for the hard cases and only then for those worth keeping. If Koehler had his way, they would never get this way in the first place. If every person who called themselves a dog trainer could understand the dogs' psychology like Koehler, the world would be a better place for dogs.
Don't discount Koehler's book, old as it is, it is still the final word for training dogs. It has never failed me or my customers or the dogs I have had to retrain. The method has been responsible for saving the life of at least 27 dogs that would have otherwise been put down by the local council.
This +works+.......2007-01-27
9 years ago, I trained my problematic adopted Dalmatian using the guidance that this book provided. Prior to the training she nipped incessantly, our hands were near bloody, and we were very close to having her put down.
When the training was complete, it was like the difference between night and day. The "attentiveness" that Koehler mentions is present to this very day, 9 years after the training was completed. The dog watches our every move, is responsive to verbal and physical cues, and our life with her has been fantastic. I could not recommend this book more wholeheartedly.
I use parts to train toy dogs........2006-09-24
I first read several of his books in 1979. Once you get the main concepts of his training methods, it can be used on any dog. I have a papillon so of course I do not use the attack or guard training portion. But his methods of getting dogs to walk on heal without a lease or to come under all conditions is kind, not cruel. I am an avid reader, so I have read hundreds of dog training books, none get to the essence of training like Koehler.
Book Description
The book that pioneered a uniquely effective dog training method-back in print at last
First published in 1962, The Koehler Method of Dog Training is one of the most influential dog training books of all time. Now, Howell Book House is pleased to reissue this book for a new generation of trainers and dog lovers. Featuring a new cover design and new introduction, the book shows how to use both positive and negative reinforcement to form a strong, joyful bond between dog and handler. The Koehler method remains unmatched in its reliability, especially when applied to difficult dogs and intractable behavior problems.
William Koehler was a dog training innovator who worked as the chief animal trainer for Walt Disney Studios and the training director for one of the world's largest dog clubs.
Customer Reviews:
Do you and your dog a favor and read this book!.......2007-07-21
I picked this book on a recommendation from a breeder. It has been great. My friends have dogs that aren't nearly as well behaved and controlled as mine as they have tried other training methods such as food rewards etc. This is the only book you will need to have a dog that is a joy to be around.
My Chow Heels.......2007-06-07
Susan Schott should have read the book before she reviewed it, instead of skipping to the end.
Whe quotes from Chapter 17, the part you are instructed not to read until you have completed the normal training program. Chapter 17 is for dogs who have resisted all CORRECT attempts at training, incorrigible dogs who can go through a few minutes of misery or be put down. Me, I'd put the dog down, but people like Bill Koehler and Cesar Millan want to save them.
My Chow not only heels -- and you don't see too many of them -- she's happy and well-adjusted. I'm not sure she would be if I were torturing her.
Don't be a putz, buy the book........2007-05-18
The Koehler method is outstanding for training a dog to obey. Not just when he's inclined to comply, but right now. Those who claim that the method produces fearful, or nervous animals are speaking out of ignorance, or have something else to promote. I trained a very soft (and none too bright) Great Dane [...], and two Rottweilers with the Koehler Method. The Rotty [...] was wicked smart and about average in temperment. No extreme measures were required. The male Rotty came into my home--at 7 weeks of age--as the most incredible bundle of fury I've ever seen. He was trained to a very high standard and lived out his lifespan as a happy dog who loved to work. I can assure you he never feared anything in his life--not me or anyone else. He was also locally famous as a dog who could be trusted around children. Had he been trained by a more "modern" method, he would have had to be put down (that's a euphamism for killing a dog because of uncontrollable behavior). I would have felt bad enough about that eventuality, but the potential for a human tragedy was very real. All three of those dogs were well adjusted and calm.
The Koehler method doesn't "break" a dog any more than clickers and treats "trains" them. If you are not willing to walk a dog, off leash, along a busy highway, and have somebody he knows try to tempt him into traffic (by calling or waving a favorite toy) then you are fooling yourself that you have been kind to your dog. A dog who is 99% trained isn't trained at all. That other 1% will be the time you really need control to save his life.
Many people object to his writing style. Get over it. He wrote that way because he understood dog owners as well as he understood dogs. People will skip the parts that make them uncomfortable, and equivocate on corrections. His point was simple: that you do your dog no favors by letting him off the hook or making excuses for his bad behavior. His method was simple to follow for a novice trainer who has a 6th grade reading level, and it works if you follow it. His method is humane because the dog is in control of his level of discomfort.
There may be better techniques for dealing with the most extreme, destructive, and dangerous canine behaviors, but none of them are especially pleasant for the dog. When Bill Koehler wrote the book, remote collars were not feasable and have only recently become sophisticated enough to make them really useful. A well timed collar-correction would be better than sticking the dog's head under water.
BTW, digging is not just expensive for the owner, but is how a dog gets out of a kennel (or through the front door) to injure people and kill livestock. Either of those are considered capital offenses for animal control authorities.
an unlikeable book every trainer should read.......2007-04-17
the kohler method of dog training is the epitome of "old school" dog training, using force and correction to teach canines basic foundation obedience. keep in mind it was written in the early 1970's before positive reinforcement training had become popular, and was esentially still in its infancy. i have been training animals since i was in middle school back in the ninties, and have studied behaviorism extensively. while i most definely believe that Koehler's methods are harsh, unnecessary and outdated, and that there are much better modern, scientifically proven methods out there, every professional trainer should read this book, reguardless of the type of training they do. every good trainer should be aware of the techniques and methods that are out there because there are still trainers out there that employ Kohler techniques, and you may end up with a client and really messed up dog who tried old school training first; you need to know what was done. you also may get something out of the book. while i NEVER aproove of hanging a dog until they nearly pass out or hitting one with a hose covered dowel (page 53 "the real hood") i did find a few helpful tips from the book like stepping with the near foot when asking a dog to heel, and the far foot when asking a dog to stay.
the book itself is not, in my opinion, written in an easy to read vernacular; maybe they talked that way in the 60's. the author also adds alot of sarcasm and exaggerated criticism of other training methods, but uses no scientific evidince or studies to back up his own techniques. yes he has 30 years of training experience, but he is not very open minded to new or other methods. for centuries people believed that the world was flat and the sun revolved around the earth, but that didn't make it true. only when people chalanged and tested these beliefs could progress be made. i DO NOT recommend that novices with no prior dog training experience or education attempt the techniques in this book. it is too easy to cause your dog dammage-not for beginners.
Worst Book Ever Written on Dog Training.......2007-01-20
I purchased this book in the early seventies to train my dog. It was the worst of the worst. Finally got involved in In-Home-Dog Training and it saved the relationship between me and my dog. I also had the opportunity to go and visit Mr. Koehler at his training site. All I have to say is that I'm very sorry to hear that his book is being re-printed. His methods are very harsh and no dog deserves such treatment.
Customer Reviews:
Tried and True Method creates Confident Reliable Dog.......2006-12-21
A teacher, trainer and author who worked as the Chief Trainer for Walt Disney Studios for more than 20 years, William Koehlers methods have stood the test of time. He was the head trainer for the Orange Empire Dog Club and his accomplishments would fill pages.
His method of dog training was developed over the course of many years. The Koehler Method of Dog Training has been praised, championed, maligned and in some cases
condemned.
The fact is, if you follow the books methodology, the Koehler method is a logical and sensible progression in the field of dog Trainng.
I personally took my first ever "show dog" and trained exclusively in the Koehler method. She has won all her obedience titles with the minimum amount of attempts (Three) with most of her placings being FIRST.
Leave the cookies and clickers behind folks. Start with the first book-DO NOT JUMP AHEAD OF ANY STEP. Find a Keohler trainer to help if you need it. You will wind up with a confindent and happy dog.
Not for every dog.......2003-08-08
To review this book, I must first tell a story. When I was a teenager ( awhile ago ) I enrolled with my Afghan mix in an obedience class. She was not a bad or unruly dog, but I thought a bit of obedience would not hurt. The class was "Koehler based" and the harshness of the methods turned a playful, happy dog into a terrified shut down dog. I also got to see dogs being choaked until they nearly passed out, "hung" ect. What a great example to show to a kid. I used to get queasy before the class and my dog would hide. Looking back, I actually think one of the trainers might have been a genuine sadist, but what does a 16 year old know other than "my dog is now much worse than she was". We were told to read several of Koehler's books which I did and I could see where the trainers were coming from. However, these methods *do not * work on all breeds! You can ruin a good dog! It took quite a while for my dog to recover from that Koehler based class.
Anyone who has a Greyhound, Saluki or any other sighthound breed should not use Koehler's methods! I can't say this more strongly. There are other options. Experts in these sensative breeds now agree. I now have a Whippet very well trained using clicker training. I shudder when I think of my freaked out Afghan hiding when the choke chain and leash came out or freezing in terror.
This book and Koehler's methods might work for "hard" stubborn dogs, or for police work, but be careful or the dog will end up worse, and you'll put more work into just bringing it back where it was. Proceed with caution!
For the love of your dog.......2001-12-17
I have used many different training methods over the years with several different dog breeds and have found Koehler's method of training to be 100% effective 100% of the time. I attend an obedience class with my current dog, Blue, (Aussie) two times a week and have done this for over a year. The trainer I work with uses this method in his classes and I have personally seen it be totally effective on every breed ever brought to this class. (The class is composed of puppies through seniors in every level of training.) My instructor himself states that he is not the reason that this method works but the love and praise on the dog that makes it work every time. I can honestly say that if you do love your dog, read Koehler's first book and any others he has written and them follow them exactly. There is no way you can go wrong and the bond you will form with your dog will be stronger than you ever dreamed imaginable. My dog isn't a service dog exactly but having trained him through Koehler's method has made him a valued member of my family capable of helping me with my children and many other daily responsibilities that I have. This method, when you understand it, is the best way for you to love your dog and enjoy working with him.
The Koehler Method of Open Obedience for..........2000-08-15
The first time I read Koehler's books I thought they sounded harsh. But after thinking about it and trying his methods I have found them to be sound. I own several Doberman Pinchers and his methods have been invaluable to me. Dobies can be a difficult breed to handle because they are protective by nature and can be agressive. His methods have proven time and again to be effective in handling my dogs. I have shown my dogs in different compations for obedience and have a display board full of ribbions to prove his methods effectivness, many thanks to Mr. Koelher. I recommend reading his first book on basic dog obedience to get a good understanding of his methods before moving on to higher levels of training.
Thorough training makes for a safe and happy dog........1998-08-31
Although Koehler seems cruel to the novice, it is apparent on deeper inspection that he is, in fact, a great lover and respecter of dogs. (He was the Disney trainer for years.) One of his most famous arguements about training a dog with a firm hand is that if you LOVE your dog, how could you stand BUT to have complete and firm control over it at all times? Especially if it's about to dart in front of a speeding car? The dog should respond---every time---on your very first command because there will be times when its very life depends on that. To not have a well-trained dog is to put it in danger every minute it's outside its kennel.
To use the Koehler method is to allow your dog to learn by making mistakes, so that it discovers on its own that to be an attentive and obedient dog is the easiest path.
I recommend first reading The Koeler Method---which outlines the logic behind his forceful and no-nonsense corrections---and THEN working into the other volumes after you have an understanding of the logic behind the discipline.
To train using Koehler's methods requires that the trainer train him/herself more than the dog. Many people find this difficult. (And many people have horrible, uncontrollable dogs who run the household while the humans say, "oh, he's just excitable," or "she's just nervous," or "he never acts this way when we're alone.") To learn Koehler is to have a harmonious dog/master relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
Many believe that Koehler does not take individual humans or dogs into consideration, but again, he answers that criticism in The Koehler Method and says that all dogs, being dogs, have certain things in common which can be depended on to aid in training. Read Koehler carefully and you will discover a man who dedicated his entire life to the care of dogs! He is not cruel. Read without bias and learn from an expert what you do not know---it is a truly eye opening experience.
This book is the best book for learning how to train yourself and your dog for "remote" commands. I recommend it highly to anyone truly interested not in being a softie and having a partially trained dog, but to those who wish to offer their beloved pet the most fulfilling and balanced life they can possibly offer it.
Customer Reviews:
Not for practical search work.......2005-04-20
I can't speak to the usefulness of this book for training dogs for tracking competition, and will leave it for those who have experience in that sport.
I urge those who are interested in training for search and rescue to look elsewhere. The techniques in this book will not produce a dog who can do the job of SAR. Airscent work is not covered, and the foundational skill of a real trailing dog -- individual scent discrimination -- is not covered.
This would be fine -- it's perfectly okay to write a book on the stylized form of tracking done in competion -- but the author explicitly claims otherwise, and the cover photos and an entire chapter dramatize "the real thing" in a very unreal manner.
I am not one of those people who get together to burn Koehler's obedience training books every Saturday night. But this one is not for search and rescue responders or police canine officers.
I recommend the American Rescue Dog Association's book Search and Rescue Dogs: Training Methods for beginners. For those specifically interested in SAR trailing, consider Lue Button's Practical Scent Dog Training. Note that Amazon has her listed as "Lou" Button, but her name is LUE.
Decent Method for Tough Dogs.......1998-07-29
Koehler method's are appropriate for dogs who are tough and forgiving. For dogs who are soft or unforgiving of aggressive methods (such as Doberman Pinschers, Border Collies and many other breeds) softer methods must be used for satisfactory results. This book is good to understand tracking theory but many may prefer to use another method to actually train their dog.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting read for the obedience competitor.......2007-07-25
William Koehler has a bad reputation among modern dog trainers. I have to admit that I delayed reading any of the Koehler books for years, having being told that they were sickeningly cruel and barbaric.
When I did finally get around to reading the first Koehler book, "The Koehler Method of Dog Training", I was actually rather impressed. Any argument I have with the first Koehler book has to do with the outdated final chapter suggestions for dealing with canine behaviour problems. The methods described for teaching actual basic obedience are easy to read and implement, they emphasize achieving reliability, and are scrupulously fair to the dog.
However despite my fondness towards the earlier Koehler method books, I have a rather ambivalent attitude towards this particular volume.
"The Koehler Method of Utility Dog Training" is similar to the other books in the series. Like the previous Koehler books, it is well written, and the proscribed exercises are logical and sometimes impressively inventive. The techniques in this book generally follow the simple three step Koehler formula of:
1) repeatedly show the dog what you want,
2) repeatedly praise him when he complies,
3) after the dog fully understands how to obey the command, then physically correct him if he ever disobeys.
Personally, I feel that the Koehler method lends itself better to basic obedience training than to complicated Utility level obedience work. I feel that while it's easy to justify using physical corrections to train a dog in basic obedience, when reliability to a "come" or "stay" command might conceivably save a dog's life, it's harder to justify using physical corrections for the exercises found in Utility level trials.
Utility obedience exercises have more to do with the whims and ambitions of humans than the safety of the dog. Unlike a faulty "come" command, the lack of a reliable directed retrieve will not impact on your dog's safety or quality of life. So if your dog can't be motivated to do the complicated utility obedience routine using motivational methods alone, then in my opinion it's probably kinder to find another sport than to attempt to correct him into performing just to satisfy your own ambitions.
The vintage of this book is clearly shown by the incorrect claim that obedience work taught through reward or games cannot be reliable. This was probably true when the book was written, but since then we have discovered many new training methods that lend themselves very well to teaching advanced obedience work (shaping behaviours using marker words, motivating with food rewards, or using prey drive rewards as in Schutzhund). The Koehler method of praise-and-correction-only might get the best out of some dogs, but many dogs will do better in advanced obedience work when taught using different forms of motivator.
However, this book certainly isn't all bad. There are several really useful techniques for teaching utility exercises in here - the technique described for teaching directed retrieve is very clever, and the method of teaching send aways is also particularly good. These could be used as they are, or could easily be adapted to include food or toy rewards if desired. If you are interested in utility dog training, or trying to train your own utility dog, then "the Koehler method of utility dog training" is certainly worth a read.
Be aware that the book builds heavily on foundation work outlined in the two earlier books: "The Koehler Method of Dog Training" and "The Koehler Method of Open Obedience Training". Reading both of the prior books is a necessity to get the most out of this one.
KOEHLER METHOD AGAIN CONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE.......2000-04-07
Utility obedience is very challenging and Koehler offers consistent and effective methods to train difficult excercises. His emphasis is on clearly communicating with your dog. His methods generally get through to the dog very quickly. By the time you have reached this level (Having first read The Koehler Method, and Open Obedience Training), you should understand that his methods, while firm and authoritative, are not cruel. You will appreciate a fine completion to the obedince series. Although out of print, it is definitely worth finding.
Average customer rating:
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The Koehler Method of Dog Training
Manufacturer: Howell House
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The Koehler Method of Dog Training
W. R. Koehler
Manufacturer: Howell Book House Inc.
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THE KOEHLER METHOD OF DOG TRAINING
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THE KOEHLER METHOD OF DOG TRAINING
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