Interesting!

Another nice thing about online or virtual training is the large selection you have within that realm of what type of instruction you prefer, or that is within your budget. Many are simply a series of pre-recorded instructional segments that you watch at your leisure and then implement in you own training sessions. Others will have you take video of yourself working with your dog and you then submit it to the instructor for commentary and assistance, or with specific questions you have. Still others, I believe, are in real time, where you are having someone take video of you while you work your dog, and you are in a live discussion with an instructor who is watching you and offering advice. Some are combinations of the above methods.

I have not tried any of these virtual training options personally, but I do consider my collection of training DVDs (mostly Leerburg) to be important parts of my training toolbox. I am rusty with training, since I only had health-challenged senior dogs for quite a few years, but I've rewatched a few of the more basic ones recently, and I will rewatch the more advanced ones as my new dog advances in his training.

To Kirsten, or anyone else reading this thread and having the same concerns, I would say don't give up on finding a club or other group training facility. I think you will find politics in any of them, not just AKC-affiliated, but as someone taking classes at such a place, you can choose to stay out of it and simply enjoy training your dog.

My Leerburg training DVDs are integral to my training too, Cheri. I have many, and I've watched several of them time after time.

This one started me on marker training, which was the most important change ever in my training:
https://leerburg.com/219.htm

And this was my second: https://leerburg.com/training-with-food.htm

Not to overwhelm anyone, here are the just the Michael Ellis ones:
https://leerburg.com/ellisdvds.htm

These can be streamed (on demand) as well.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

This one started me on marker training, which was the most important change ever in my training:
https://leerburg.com/219.htm

And this was my second: https://leerburg.com/training-with-food.htm

I can say the same thing about those two DVDs. They totally changed my methods and understanding of dog training. I also have a number of those Michael Ellis ones you linked, which I am looking forward to watching again.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

This one started me on marker training, which was the most important change ever in my training:
https://leerburg.com/219.htm

And this was my second: https://leerburg.com/training-with-food.htm

I can say the same thing about those two DVDs. They totally changed my methods and understanding of dog training. I also have a number of those Michael Ellis ones you linked, which I am looking forward to watching again.

Yup. Total agreement.

And I watched and used both of them on my own, quite successfully, as did so many people.


I have and love quite a few of Michael Ellis's other DVDs, too.

Leerburg, Ellis, Tyler Mytto. All excellent videos through Leerburg.