Other training resources

by Guest Mon May 29 2017, 16:03

Frequently Asked Questions

External resources

Useful books and videos

There are some very good exernal resources for those who wish to look into training and behaviour in more detail. You may wish to browse YouTube by yourself, pick up books in the library or online, and make up your own mind.
How do you know if someone’s advice is good or not? There isn’t a clear answer to this, different people, situations and dogs will get on with different methods. You may find one person’s video inspiring while another’s presentation may make you cringe. It can be a good idea to look at different people’s work, picking bits from various sources to meet your taste and needs.

Here are a few tips for deciding whether to try someone’s advice:

Is their method clear and easy to follow? Don’t feel you need to be blinded by science, most training is straightforward and logical. If it confuses you, it’ll confuse your dog (or you will!).
Do they seem nice people? Training should be happy and friendly. If you get a bad feel from them, go and find someone else who has a good one.
On DVDs and videos, turn the sound down and watch the dog – without listening to what the person is telling you, what is the dog saying about the trainer or his training? Some trainers are very good at putting their spin on it, telling you that the dog is happy or whatever when he’s not. If something makes you uneasy, trust your instinct.
Do they spend lots of time either telling you how great they are or how awful others are? If so, walk away. There are plenty of these around and generally their focus is on themselves not on the dogs
Don’t be impressed just by a name. Being a famous name doesn’t necessarily make you a good trainer, it simply means you got a good contract.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few names of trainers whose work has been tried and tested by members of this forum.

Videos

Victoria Stilwell
Well known to many in the UK for her television work, Victoria is a trainer with many years of practical experience away from the camera. She has a gentle style of training and is good at breaking basic training down clearly. Victoria has a set of videos on YouTube that are particularly recommended for those with puppies, and for those with issues such as pulling on the lead and recall.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C724F6F6A597540

Emily Larlham, aka Kikopup
Emily is a great user of clicker training and her YouTube videos include some basic clicker training instructions, as well as great ideas for tricks and games with the clicker. Her video playlists also include guidance on solving some basic problems such as barking. She explains step by step not only what to do but why.

https://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup/playlists

Zac George
Zac is a fun, quiet energetic trainer with some great ideas. He uses play and other positive reinforcement training methods to help dogs enjoy learning. If you want to inject some fun into your relationship with your dog, he might be your man. If you’ve got a shy dog, you may need to tone things down a little.

https://www.youtube.com/user/zakgeorge21/videos

Books

For those of you who like to think and digest, books can sometimes be a good investment. Again, there are many great books and these are just a few that we can recommend for you.

Patricia McConnell
Patricia is a lifelong student of the dog with a deep understanding of what makes them act and react as they do. She writes beautifully, with an ability to impart a profound understanding of canine psychology in a way that never makes you feel she’s going over your head.
Her book ‘The Other End of the Leash’ is a superb all rounder, while her smaller books such as ‘Feisty Fido’ for lead reactive dogs and ‘I’ll Be Home Soon’ on separation anxiety deal with single issues. There is some duplication across books. All are available on Amazon.

Leslie McDevitt
For those who wish to explore the power of clicker training more deeply, Leslie’s book ‘Control Unleashed’ is an excellent read.

Grisha Stewart
Grisha’s BAT 2.0 book is a real gem for those struggling with dog on dog reactivity. Her use of avoiding stress thresholds and creating relaxation can make a huge difference to a reactive dog. The book is written on the basis of being able to set up specific training situations, which may not be possible for some, but the theory can be applied successfully with a little thought and creativity.

We have not covered DVDs – many trainers have them but with so many videos online there is probably enough for you to get started without needing to buy anything.

A Staffy-bull-terrier Frequently Asked Questions