i think i'd better start at the beginning. the only book i've ever owned on training a guard dog was bill koehler's. i've found his basic long-line training to be pretty effective, but that's as far as i've ever taken it because i let a friend borrow it, then moved 800 miles away. might be a good thing from what little opinion i've heard about his method on here (and, yes, i KNOW it dates me, but i've been busy since then <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

what 2-3 books would you guys recommend for a solid base in protection/ring sport (that seems like a really useful sport from what little i know about it)--just a solid beginner's/reference book or two? obviously, i need to start there.

thaanks for the input. i want to do this right, or at least minimize the screw-ups as much as i can <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

so no-one has a favorite book????? i thought that there were some "reading" people on this website, can't y'all help me out here a little? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Try these books to start....Training Dogs A Manual by Konrad Most and Der Schutzhund by Helmut Raiser.
And some very good videos are Building Drive, Focus, and Grip & Preparing Your Dog for The Helper - Leerburg Production featuring Flink and Obedience without Conflict by Ivan Balabanov.

Well I'm a reader, but Im into schutzhund, not ring, so I cant recommend you any ring books. I havent read any. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I will however, tell you that I enjoyed 'Advanced Schutzhund' by Ivan Balabanov. It was a good read with good description. I do alot of refering to Ed's articles and DVD's. Id rather read/watch those anyday!

thanks guys. as a matter of fact, after reading ed's "recommended" books and their reviews, i thought that "der Schutzhund" and "schutzhund OB training" sounded like what i need for the basics. i'm not necessarily (sp?) into schutzhund, i'm leaning toward ppd/ring, which seems to me to be the ultimate in a REALLY useful dog (and fun, too). but any input is appreciated. right now i'm in the research stage. so i reserch the brains on this site, right?

i'm not ready for "advanced" anything right now--i made up a new term when asking about "civil" dogs as far as that goes, ie, is there an "uncivil" dog.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> tickled at least one person...what can you expect from a beginner??

Well, you can't have protection without good obedience, so my recommendations are usually obedience books.
My recommendations:

Expert Obedience Training for Dogs by Winifred Strickland

Schutzhund Obedience - Training in Drive by Gottfried Dildei

Dog Training with the Touch by Tom Rose

 Quote:

i'm leaning toward ppd/ring, which seems to me to be the ultimate in a REALLY useful dog (and fun, too).

As Jeff seems to be elsewhere at this point in time let me take this opportunity to say congrats on your choice of sports. "Vive la Ring Revolution".....or words to that effect! If you hang around this board long enough you'll eventually find out just how enthusiastic some Ring fans can be. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I can't comment on the Leerburg training books/vids because I...um...don't seem to have any. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Pretty embarrassing, actually. I'll have to do something about that. However, I have read Tom Rose's book and found it very useful. If you are in the market for videos, I really liked Ivan's 'Obedience Without Conflict' as well! As far as Ring goes, I believe there might be a FR video now available- last I heard, Kadi Thingvall's production of 'Introduction to French Ring' was ready to go (WAAAY overdue IMO.)

Ed sells FR tapes!

Training Techniques for the
French Ring Sport Video 107

French Ring Seminar Video 604

Also worth a look:

Mondio Ring video 512




Now if only we can get Ed to film an ASR trial...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Ed chopped the crap out of that MR tape <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> You don't get much of what MR is all about. I do highly recommend it for the demos that they do at the end. Getting a chance to see my "hero" G'Bibber work was worth every penny.

There really isn't much new out for ring right now. If Ed would please make a video starring ME for the ring sports so I can use them to promote my ring agenda to all who will let me point out how sad the "other" sport has become that would be great. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I am probably the only one that would be in it for the sport, and not the money. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Still, I have been thinking of going walkabout with a camera and getting people to talk about how they train the exercises. I think ringers would do that for the most part. The "other" sport would want me to pay them. Just kidding!
This is something that is sorely needed and even a bad tape with good info would sell well. Kadi is off to a good start by having something current to watch.
This is why you have to be so hardcore to do ring. So much of the time you have to look at an exercise and figure a way to train it yourself, due to the lack of info out there and the lack of clubs. If you can find us, we (I) will talk your ear off on how to train the exercise. I also know a lot of really nice people that know more than I, and I have their phone #s. (they are gonna hate me for that!!!)

VIVA LA REVALUTION!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />