Heh, forgot I started this thread (in May).

Victoria Stillwell actually came to the FR/MR club I was visiting sometime last year. She even got in the suit, from what I was told. Her philosophies on dog training are very similar to the ones you'll find here, as far as I can tell. For example, she's actually a big fan of e-collars. She thinks they're one of the best dog training tools out there. But she doesn't recommend them to the people she meets with because she knows these people have NO IDEA what they're doing. In the end, we ALL know they'd end up abusing the collars and hurting the dog. I haven't watched much of her show. But I can see that the people on it are idiots and deserve to be berated.

I don't have a problem with Cesar either, and I don't think he uses human psychology on the dogs at all. He also explains things very well in his book, Cesar's Way. So much so that I've let a lot of people borrow it.

I think both trainers focusing so much on pack structure and basic leadership skills make them worthy enough to have shows. As for the others, well, they're not there to be educational.

JMO, of course.

I actually train at two different places. They are run as different as night and day. (Ones organized one not so much) I have heard many different suggestions about dealing with my once aggrtessive male pittyx. I mainly went with the common denominator and it worked. I think as dog owners, kind of like teachers, you try to educate yourself with as many theories as possible and (to quote Dr. Webber, one of my professors) throw them in a pot, stir them up with some experience and come up with what you use.

 Quote: jamie craig

but but...I LIKE seeing Stillwell freak out on owners who've screwed up their dogs (come on...some of them deserve it >_<

I dig that part too

If it's dog related I probably watch it, whether or not it drives me a little crazy.

While I agree that Stillwell's methods are limited in terms of training, at least the folks who's dogs have no limits are shown relatively safe methods of dealing with basic pet problems. The thing that she says that probably drives me the craziest is that "the neck is a very sensitive area on a dog". She uses this phrase to scare people away from prong collars and e-collars, while having them try these things on themselves. The truth is, dogs do things to each other's necks with their teeth in PLAY that would send you or I to the emergency room. Sensitive? I'm thinking not so much. I think phrases like this and the over-the-top "it's my way or it's cruel" message kind of detract from some otherwise benign advice. Less emphasis on agenda and more on training would probably make for a decent show.

In her favor though, I've noticed that she's been taking on some tougher dogs. She even referred to a group of shutzhund trainers as "some of the best trainers in the world" and went on to discuss at length why 'average Joe pet owner' should not train their dog as a guard dog. She also uses marker training, so she's not all bad. Very good for the pet folks, imho.

I think Cesar's instincts rock, I just don't think anyone can safely emulate Cesar. It's not a show that you want to have pet owners watching with the intent to copy what they've seen. I will admit I've cringed a couple of times, and saw a "calm submissive" dog or two that looked more shut down to me, but I admit it's hard to tell from a television program. I love it when he channels a dog . I think he genuinely connects with the animals and cares about the dogs he works with. Just don't try it at home!

I like Dogtown's emphasis on lifetime commitment and training (even if their methods are little ham-handed). They rehab EVERYONE and any dog who ends up there has a good home for life. That alone gets my support.

Superfetch was cool, but it wasn't on very long. I liked the emphasis on marker training!

The other folks are purely for entertainment. I sit, I watch I shake my head and laugh.

It's just occurred to me that I may watch too much TV

Gotta say I like the Pit Boss show. Shorty is pure entertainment. I watch it to see the Pitty's , but I'm also a fan of the real life humor that presents itself in the pecking order at the office. It's really not meant for training tips that's for sure. Oh here's a link for Pitbulls and Parolees. I guess there was a fire near the facility here's the link http://www.facebook.com/notes/pit-bulls-and-parolees/villalobos-wildfire-update/425331943749?ref=mf