I am having a difficult time finding a book for "training for an obedience title". Starting off with her CD. All the books I found are clicker training and I am not a fan of clicker training. Any suggestions?

Purist clicker trainers only utilize two of the four quadrants of operant conditioning - they abhor any form of aversive, and I'm absolutely no fan of that philosophy. However, whether you like "clickers" or not, the principles of positive reinforcement, shaping, schedules of reinforcement, etc etc are the same. Many of the clicker books are excellent at explaining the process and theory. So buy a book and ignore the use of the clicker if you don't like it. Use a verbal marker (conditioned reinforcer) instead. And buy a book on learning theory so that you'll understand the correct use of aversives - Pamela Reid's Excel-erated Learning or Burch&Bailey's How Dogs Learn are both easy reading but outline the principles ok.

Hey Dar,
Althought I take a ton of crap for doing so, I still show in AKC Obedience - I've found it to be an additional useful training tool during cold weather months when it's very difficult to train outdoors.
That being said, here's my suggestions:

First off, pick up " Expert Obedience Training for Dogs" by Winifred Strickland. The chapers named " The Dog Show, Regulations for Obedience Trials, The Novice Exercises, The Open Exercises, The Utility Exercises, and Handling" all give you an excellent overview of exactly what you need to do to score points during a trial.
Winifred Strickland was the first seminar in dog training I ever went to, back in the mid 1960's. SchH would not even begin in the U.S. for at least 10 years. I learned alot, and I did show in Obd for many years. That being said, I think Ms. Strickland is no friend to the GSD and she has spoken out against SchH in the past. So if you can buy the book *used*, do so. :rolleyes:

I would next recommend " Everything about Obedience Judging" by William Oxandale. This book is by an active AKC Obd judge ( who is also a fairly nice guy - show under him if you can ) and gives you a good understanding of what a judge is looking for while he grades your performance.

Of course, you've already gotten the " Obedience Regulations" pamphlet from AKC, right? If not, go to the AKC website and order one. It's 58 pages long with the entire rule set and regulations that govern each set of exercises. Buy a couple, and leave one in your gear bag just to be sure that you'll have it on trial day! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank you both I am going to get all the books suggested and read up!! I just want to do this for a fun sport for me and the dog. I don't know anything about actually competing in the sport. Thank you for your time in making your suggestions.