I have a freind that sent me this message AFTER I recommended Michael Ellis's power of training with Food.

 Quote:

This pup is an Australian shepherd/ Lab mix. My goal is a well trained hiking/ outdoor activity geared dog. On/off leash control is priority along with the basic obedience stuff.

He said if he can only get one more video which would it be.

What would you guys suggest for the other video?

Thanks

It depends if your friend has already the DVD of training dogs with food or if he has only your recommendation. If he hasn't got it I'd recommend that one. In case he hasn't, it would first of all be question if he is familiar with marker training
If not, I'd recommend the DVD of M.E. "The Power of training dogs with Markers".

If he is familiar with this and as he'd like to train outdoor activities, then I'd take the vídeo of Forrest Micke about Engagement training. (I'm not sure if it exists as DVD too.) LB offers also a wonderful DVD about Engagement ("Advanced concepts of engagement") from Michael. Especially if he has the possibility for off leash activities, then engagement skills are absolutely a must.

Without very very good engagement skills, which build a strong bond between the dog and him, he shouldn't do anything offleash with him in the beginning, unless it is in a secure, fenced área, if possible distractionfree or with very poor distractions.

He will have enough to train with this at the moment and later he will perhaps be able to buy another one. as he'd like to go offleash he should absolutely have an absolutely solid recall. LB offers "Training the Recall w/ Michael Ellis ".

But the basic requirement is the management of the dog and a good knowledge about markers.

Addendum:
1) "The Power of training dogs with markers" I have at home, but today when I searched for it in the list of DVDs LB offers, I couldn't find it any more. Perhaps it's sold out.

2) Error: The other DVD is called "Advanced concepts in motivation" ( not engagement).

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Addendum:
1) "The Power of training dogs with markers" I have at home, but today when I searched for it in the list of DVDs LB offers, I couldn't find it any more. Perhaps it's sold out.

2) Error: The other DVD is called "Advanced concepts in motivation" ( not engagement).

It's here:
http://leerburg.com/219.htm

It's perfect for someone who has no experience at all with markers.

Here's Advanced Concepts:
http://leerburg.com/228.htm

Thanks Connie! I think I'll have to consult the Vet because of my eyes, lol!

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Thanks Connie! I think I'll have to consult the Vet because of my eyes, lol!

I hear ya! LOL

Maybe you were looking at the Michael Ellis list, and that one precedes the Ellis DVDs.

Daniel, if your friend already has ME's Power of Training With Food, you should be aware there is some overlap between that and the Power of Training With Markers (which is not ME but features LB staff). I have both, and both are very worthy, but if I could only have two, I might want to cover different topics in my second one. (Now, if he could have three, I would say definitely get Markers in addition to Food.)

One important factor is how experienced your friend is with training dogs. If he is a beginner, maybe one of the basic obedience DVDs would be appropriate. But that may be too basic for someone who already knows how to teach sit, down, etc. Learning pack structure and basic management would be important for a new dog owner, too, but, again, maybe that does not describe your friend.

I own the Advanced Concepts in Motivation, and IMO, it is geared toward people who are going to do dog sports or serious competition. Note the sub-title, "Turning Your Reward Into an Event." There is a lot of time devoted to teaching the human how to move their feet and hands during the reward (food or tug). Read the DVD outline. When it says things like weight shift/balance drills, how to use your legs, not your back, they are talking about exercises for the handler, not the dog. It teaches the type of constant attention and focus you want from a dog you are going to be competing with. I'm not so sure that will be real helpful for someone who just wants a well-behaved outdoor/hiking/off leash kind of dog. This is not to say it's not a great DVD, but it is definitely "Advanced" concepts.

Again, a lot depends on the current skill level of your friend and what type of training he is doing with his dog. And like Christina said, teaching a solid recall would be very important for an off leash dog, and there is a ME recall DVD.

Sorry, I know I'm not much help, but I just wanted to make a couple observations.

eta: Is your friend planning to make use of tug toys? If so, maybe the Power of Playing Tug?

Edited by Cheri Grissom (01/16/2017 04:58 PM)
Edit reason: eta

You're right, Connie, I was looking at the M.E list. so it can not be only an issue with my eyes, lol!

Yes, Cheri and Daniel it is first of all a question of the personal level.
Cheri, you're right "Advanced concepts..." is really advanced and made for people who want to go into dog sports.

I myself too don't want to go into dog sports, nevertheless the DVD gave me such a lot I can use for my dogs. Of course I don' t yet (and guess never will) train the more difficult parts with the more complicated presentations of the tug, where we can easily get a nice bite if we hold the tug wrong. This - if at all - I'd only try under the supervision of an instructor of the level of M.E.

The parts where he shows handler drills without dog I found for myself very useful. I don't agree with you that they talk about exercises for the handler, not the dog. These are exercises which prepare the handler for the work with the dog. He will have it easier and make less mistakes when he then practices with the dog. So they without doubt are exercises for the dog.

The DVD helped me to go and later run in straight lines, hold my hands,legs, feet, my whole body in the correct position (as far as I can judge!), which makes finally the whole activity also for the dog much clearer. It made me also improve my food delivery during reward events, - height and angle of hand position, rapidness, misses in the right moment etc. I think it improved my working with reward events in general.

Sorry, sounds perhaps like self praise, but it is actually a praise for the DVD. I'm still working on this and as I have no professional here my work will remain incomplete. Although I will not go into the more difficult stuff and cannot practice all which is illustrated on the DVD, I'm glad to have bought it.

I think working on some things without dog is of an immense help. It makes us aware of important details and it is of advantage to be pre-trained thanks to all those tips. It makes later a big difference for the whole happening together with the dog.

But it is true, it's all a question of the goals a person has. I personnally find engagement so extremely important , that I'm investing a lot of training time in this without having higher ambitions. Since I'm practicing this regularly, it is much easier to keep the every day dog focused on me.

Daniel, I hope we are not confusing you with our discussions. ??? Cheri has her opinions and experiences and I have mine. She is a person who can easily accept another person's opinions. By the way it happend also that we are on the same page and more often that she could give me good advices.

Your friend will know best what his level is and what his goals are.

But darned I can't keep my mouth shut and repeat: ENGAGEMENT, ENGAGEMENT!!! (Translation for doggie: FUN) Don't forget to look at the video of Forrest Micke about Engagement Skills. Great, great course.

And time will show if some day your friend will want more. Whatever he choses tell him I wish him great success.

Good luck for you all!

Christina, you're right, I absolutely respect the opinions of others on this board, and when I made my post above, I kind of suspected there might be some disagreement. No problem! I just felt that the question of "if you can only have two videos" warranted letting people know that IMO the Advanced Concepts DVD was geared toward just that -- advanced training techniques; and If Daniel's friend is a beginner or intermediate trainer, there might be other issues to work on first.

I totally agree with you, Christina, that engagement is one of the most important things to train any dog, from the family pet to the highest-level competitor, and that a dog who will be frequently going on outdoor, off-leash hikes with its family needs to learn to keep one eye/ear tuned toward the handler at all times.

I have a fair-sized collection of DVDs from Leerburg, most of them being the Michael Ellis ones. I have learned valuable lessons from each and every one. I recently picked up my first Forrest Micke one and I'm sure I will be adding more of his over time. There are a number of new ones out with other trainers Leerburg has chosen to feature, and I'm sure I will be trying some of those, too. Training our dogs is a constant learning process, and our skills are always evolving. I value input from many sources, and of course there are always differing opinions and techniques, but I choose what works best for me and my particular dog(s).

Daniel, as to your friend, it's tough to be limited to only two DVDs, but maybe he can make a list for his family for future birthday, anniversary, Christmas gifts, etc.