As I've gotten more and more into this site, I feel compelled to buy one of Ed's training dvd's to learn even more. I thought I knew a lot about dog behavior/training from reading all sorts of books, but almost always learn something new when I read an e-book, or question and answer page.

I have been thinking about new training ideas to keep Kota stimulated, but I have yet to find a trainer in my area that I feel I could learn a lot from. Kota is an exceptionally well behaved dog, no problems, no aggression (anymore) knows a few tricks, and LOVES training. I've started clicker training, but he's a FAST learner, and I need to figure it out before I mess him up . I also foster dogs, so learning more on working with dogs that haven't bonded with me, and aren't as well-adjusted as Kota would be helpful.

I am leaning towards both the pack structure and basic dog obedience dvds. As I don't have a lot of money, I will only purchase one right now. I feel I have a good grasp of both concepts, but I'm sure Ed has some pointers that I need to learn. If you guys who own/have seen these dvds could help me pick one I'd be most appreciative.




Mods: move this wherever as I wasn't sure where to put this post

Hi Jennifer,
I am by no means an expert here but I can offer you my opinion. The ground work for ANY dog handler/owner relationship is pack structure. This is the foundation of everything else ie relationship with your dog, your dogs relationship with other dogs, other people, training of all levels etc. I recommend starting with the pack structure DVD. (even if you already feel you have a good relationship) ED's DVD's are excellent. Full of good info, very inciteful and helpfull. So I recommend starting with the pack structure DVD and make sure that your foundation is solid. (I think it will also be very helpful to you as far as the foster dogs go)

The marker training is covered more in the basic obedience video but pack structure should be solid before starting that anyway.

So imho, start with pack structure. JMHO. Good luck!!!! and have fun!! :-)

Dont buy DVDs, i have ordered some and its kind of a waste, i bought the basic ob, raising a working puppy, and 8 weeks to 8 months and wished i hadnt because you can just find everything on here already for free, there are plenty of articles and obviously a discusson forum to which you can ask all the questions you want and get answers pretty timely.

Michael Hill

Real Nice Michael.

Just being honest, as a paying customer i think i have a right to give someone advice on something i have purchased. The OP states

"I am leaning towards both the pack structure and basic dog obedience dvds. As I don't have a lot of money, I will only purchase one right now."

So i am just trying to save her some money, by telling her to get neither and just stick to articles and the forum, so i agree that is real nice.

Michael Hill

I think that seeing something presented visually ( i.e., on a DVD ), helps more people than reading a statement and then having to figure out the physical motions of an exercise or correction.

If everyone could learn things by just reading, people wouldn't be going to seminars ( or viewing videos ) - yet you can read comments from many of us seasoned professionals about the new things that we learned by going to a seminar ( check out the comments from the handlers that went to see the Ellis seminars for instance ) and *seeing* a training concept performed for us.

Humans are visual learners, it goes back to our caveman ancestors - a demonstration is worth a thousand words.

 Quote: Jennifer Skeldon

I also foster dogs, so learning more on working with dogs that haven't bonded with me, and aren't as well-adjusted as Kota would be helpful.

I am leaning towards both the pack structure and basic dog obedience dvds.

I vote for the pack structure dvd; I think you will pick things up from it that will help you with your fosters, and it will be a good refresher for your own dog.

As far as advancing your dog's training, print out Ed's free marker training e-book, and maybe order Karen Pryor's Clicker training book. Lots of good training ideas in both...
http://leerburg.com/979.htm (Clicker Training) it's $16.95 and comes w/ a free clicker!

Jennifer:

I am very new to the forum and Leerburg. I bought a set of Ed's DVDs - Puppy, Obedience, and Pack. What I found very valuable was to watch them together with my wife and discuss what we saw. The point is that with two of us working as handlers, the DVD helped us craft a consistent approach for the training.

I recently bought Cesar Millan's audio book on pack structure and found it basically complementary with Ed's material. Using Ed and Cesar as counterpoints, my wife and I discuss and are crafting a positive approach for our 12 wk. old lab puppy.

I'd have to agree with what Will said. The biggest benefit to the DVD's is the visual aid to training that it provides. You can be comforitable, on the couch, watch it, play it back as many times as you need to and you will hear AND see the training methods in action. There are also tid bits in there that are not in the articles, or Scenes showing examples of behaviors or training etc which is obviously not available on the site in "type" format :-) I Find the DVD's and the articles and posts "compliment" each other very well. You may read a post or article and remember what you "saw" in the DVD and it helps you remember or understand better. and Vice versa. Once again, JMHO.

Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it.

I get a lot of pack info from Cesar Millan (own all his dvds and some books , so I will go with the obedience. I am also getting more into clicker training, so hopefully this will help me understand motivation, timing, etc.