With the many training philosophies out there these days ... do you think its beneficial to mix and match parts of training programs to tailor to your dog, or is it better to stick to one program for everything?

Training philosophy I'm tending to associate with trainers (though I know they didn't invent the methods, its the best way to identify the program) ... Ivan B., Bernard Flinks, etc.

Same thing goes with training at a certain club or with certain people. Should you stick to one group, or bounce around working with as many people as possible? I know a lot of people bounce around from trainer to trainer and never make success because one trainer works up a certain area, then they move to a different trainer and reset all the work that has been done. Then again, I know a lot of competitors that train with multiple people, perhaps they just have a better grasp for their dog and what is right for them.

Anyways I was just wondering your thoughts on this and how it applies to top level competitors and newbies. It seems to be that newbies are constantly looking for "the next best method" and I certainly have screwed up my share of dogs by doing this. Opinions?

I think it's not beneficial to keep yourself close-minded about training methods. As for what you use, I guess it depends on your personality, timing, and dog...I try to find as many methods as possible for training and do what works for me and that particular dog, it's never the same thing each time. I believe everything has its place, motivation, compulsion, etc.

Listen to everybody and use what works for you and your dog's personalities.
You can't train at two different clubs with two different phylosophies. That's only confusing to your dog, and you as a newby. The people (expierienced I hope) that do this have a clear idea of their own objectives and pick and choose what they use from each club. There are some clubs that may not allow this cross training, especially with those new to dog training.

The thing to remember is that you are the one training your dog, not whoever is running the class. The trainers may have different training philosophies - that needn't mean that you train in an inconsistent manner.

There's a lot to be said in favor of training in different venues. Dog's don't generalize easily. You need to train with them in many different places with many different distractions in order for them to "get" it. Signing up for classes in different places with different instructors can be a good way of doing this.

But all of this is premised on the idea that you know, somewhat, what you're doing, and that you have sufficient self-confidence to be consistent in the way you train.

And, of course, that what you're doing isn't disruptive to the class.

What about individual philsopohies?

Are programs like those outlined by B. Flinks or Ivan only as good as ones ability to follow them all the way through and utilize all the methods outlined?

There are parts of each video/program I've seen that I really like and have been able to use but out of the context of its original intent. I guess if it works, it cant be abad thing to tailor training theories and yet on the other hand, is there more success to be found by utilizing the method all the way through?

For a beginner, I would suggest sticking with one method until you really underestand dog training. Some folks never get it, others are naturals. Most people that have trained for more than a few years will take from each method and develope what fits their own needs. When I first started in obedience training, I went to a gazillion seminars. Initially, I was dazzelled with each new one I attended. It didn't take long to realize these were what worked best for the individuals teaching the seminars. I still go to as many as I can. I'll always learn something new.
BTW! I went to a Flinks seminar 2-3yrs ago at ED's place. I sure wish I found him 40+yrs ago. Course he wasn't born yet. Well, Ed sure was. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I firmly believe, with everything in life, that theres more than one way to achieve the same results. The thing that annoys me more than anything is folks who do something "because that's how I was told to do it", there is no "why am I doing this" or "what exactly is this achieving", its simply "this is how I was told, I can't think for myself, as long as it works I'm happy", which is the attitude I hate, and unfortunately the attitude that most folks out there have. Then there's the trainers who say "THIS is the way it should be done, everyone else is wrong, THIS is how to do it".... are they good trainers? Quite possiby... do their methods work? Most likely. Is it the BEST way for YOUR dog to learn? That's YOUR decision, and you're not gonna be able to base that decision on ANYTHING unless you have something to COMPARE it to! Even if you stick with 1 persons training methods, how do you know this persons methods are the right methods if you don't know what other peoples methods are?

I think that even if you look at the most outrageous training philosophies out there (I'm not mentioning any names here or people will freak), that at least ONE THING that they say may be useful information to you, but because of the narrow mindedness and "this is what I'm told, so I'm not gonna research it myself" attitudes that people have, most people will never learn that ONE PIECE OF USEFUL INFORMATION simply because they were too narrow minded to listen to someones training philosophy because 99% of the rest is all BS. Everyone says "Oh that guys training ideas are bull", so nobody bothers looking because it's what they were told... if you're smart, you go look anyway, and you can decide what's bull and what's not for yourself. It might be bull, but at least if someone asks you why it's bull, you can tell em something other than "because oh this guy on this message board told me it was".

I agree with OED Bob though, if you are doing Schutzhund n go to 2 different clubs who train 2 different ways, it can get confusing to your dog if you don't know enough to remain consistent and the training director insists that you use their methods.

If you know your dog well enough, and you've studied and UNDERSTOOD THE HOWS AND WHYS behind each persons philosophies and ideas, then I see absolutely no problem in applying different methods and ideas to your training as long as you're not a complete moron <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />