Customer Reviews

The 10-Minute Retriever: How to Make a Well-Mannered, Obedientand Enthusiastic Gun Dog in 10 Minutes a Day

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book offers the clearest, most detailed description of not only the HOW of basic training of retrievers, but the WHY behind the techniques and the progression.

Many dog training books offer "cookbook" instructions for training a dog, but dogs are living beings, not souffle's, and often times do not follow the manual! An underlying knowledge of WHY the trainer is performing each training step is key to understanding why each step needs to be done correctly, not rushed, and not completed until the dog understands what is being asked. This book offers several different techniques and methods for working a dog through each step, and for dealing with things dogs will do when they don't "follow" the book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone starting out training their first retriever. It's clarity and conciseness are what every person needs when starting out training dogs to retrieve. I have given this book to several friends as gifts, and recommend it personally to many.

A must own for all aspiring retriever trainers. The Dahl's have finally written a book that the average retriever owner can use to produce exactly what the title proclaims, an obedient and enthusiastic sporting dog. All in 10 minutes or less a day.

The "10 Minute Retriever" will guide you through a well laid out, easy to follow, systematic approach of effectively and humanely communicating with your companion. The Dahl's advocate training methods that are proven reliable while backing them with successful anecdotal stories experienced from well over a combined 30 years of professional training. Carefully following their techniques will positively uplift your new friend's attitude, confidence, and performance.

If you're desiring to spend many quality and pleasurable years to come with a true "retrieving machine", then this book will be of immense assistance to you. The "10 Minute Retriever" will surely go down in the annals of retriever training as a timeless clasic.

I've corresponded with Amy Dahl regarding retriever training in detail over several years. We've discussed principles, techniques, and experiences. The very fine book offered by Amy and her husband John represents all that I would expect from first-rate dog people.

Anyone getting into retriever training can propel his or her knowledge base and general understanding of dog behavior, as well as learning how to effectively guide it, through the information provided in the 10-minute Retriever. Further, it must be said that their approach is humane, and is directed toward the fair and empathetic treatment of dogs, using techniques proven in the field over considerable time and through extensive experience.

I have recommended it to many trainers, and will continue to do so.

Evan Graham
Retired professional dog trainer, and Author of Smartwork for Retrievers volume one: Basics and Transition, and Smartwork II, Secrets of the Pros

How B. Blazer's review was determined to be Spotlight material baffles me. His review makes it patently obvious that he knows precisely nothing about training dogs, has never spent time with professional trainers and has never run a dog in a field trial or hunt test.

Force fetch is an essential part of training retrievers. It is the foundation upon which advanced training is based and all competitive retrievers undergo force fetch training. Yes, you create stress in the dog through the ear pinch or toe hitch because competing and hunting yield stressful situations for the dog as he works through terrain, challenging wind conditions, cold and dozens of other factors that come into play during a retrieve. A dog not trained to handle that stress will exhibit major performance issues when the going gets tough, from popping, ignoring handling or, worse, a total no-go.

To address B. Blazer's little numbered list:

1.) At no point do the authors of Ten Minute Retriever call for the use of a whip. The tool is called a heeling stick. It is never suggested that the heeling stick be used to abuse the dog. It is merely a way to extend your reach to deliver taps and swats for immediate correction of issues like breaking.

2.) At no point do the authors suggest "tying the dog's mouth shut around a dummy". For a dog who chronically spits the dummy during hold training, the authors suggest that a lead may be looped about the dogs muzzle while you reinforce the hold command verbally.

3.) I just explained ear pinch, which is one of the most common practices in retriever training, only slightly less common than...

4.) ... the electronic collar. B. Blazer seems to take exception with the verb "burn" but then goes on to claim that he is not against the "proper" use of the e-collar. The ONLY purpose of the electronic collar is to deliver an electric shock or burn unless Tri-Tronics has a new Rainbows and Unicorn Ponies model I am unaware of.

B. Blazer's conclusion that the training methods outlines in this book serve only to break a dog's spirit is one of the most pathetically laughable statements I have ever seen in an Amazon review. This books methods are straightforward, basic retriever training of the type one can find from top trainers like Danny Farmer or Mike Lardy. There is a logical progression from puppy yard drills and basic obedience through refinement of line manners, multiple marks and basic handling. The information in here will yield a solid field dog or provide a foundation for Derby work in field trials.

Like any training program, steady progression, intense repetition and, most importantly, PATIENCE are what is required. If it were impossible, as B. Blazer foolishly suggests, to both instill desire and passion for retrieving in a dog while also applying direct and indirect pressure during training, every competitive retriever in the world would be an empty husk of a dog - an assertion so baseless and without merit as to be laughable.

This book is one of the better ones I've read (and I've read just about all of them).... There are a lot of good books on training retrievers. I'd rate this one in the top 5. Yes, it does suggest using some force at times, but it also discusses the fact that every dog is different and different dogs require different amounts of force (not unlike children!). It doesn't advocate beating a dog or anything like that. It would be wonderful if we could completely train a dog never using any force at all, but that's rediculous.......just like never spanking a child regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes a degree of force is needed. I'll leave it at that.

The primary focus of this book is that training sessions need not be (and should not be) long and tedious. As the title suggests, anyone can train a dog to a high level in daily 10 minute sessions. The books makes for nice reading as there is a nice mix of actual training methods along with several good anecdotes.

The book is presented in a logical, chronilogical order. If you follow this book from beginning to end and do as it instructs you to do, you'll have a very well trained retriever when you are done.

The Dahls have written a training book that no retriever owner should be without! Whether your aim is a hunting partner, hunt test or field trial competitor, or even if you're a novice and want to train your dog for what it was bred for, help is here.

Time is the thing most of us lack, so here is a program everyone can use, from professional to amateur, to train his or her own dog in easy increments spending only 10 minutes a day. The Dahls are professionals, and they've trained, shown, competed and hunted with all the retriever breeds. But they've presented their information in a very readable format, interspersed with real-life tales of actual dogs.

The 10-Minute Retriever is highly readable (you'll devour it in one or two sittings) but also well-organized complete with a glossary and index to refer to. I can't say enough good things about it, and my fellow retriever owners who've read it all agree.

I bought this book after reading several smaller articles written by the authors, John and Amy Dahl. I am in the process of training one retriever and have trained others in the past. This book takes a common sense approach to retriever training and spells out several of the lessons I previously learned the hard way and simplifies or adds to other training that I had not done in the past. I appreciate the lack of a specific training timeline (i.e. at 86 days, your retiever should be doing this...etc.) and the recognition (and training geared towards the idea) that different dogs learn at different rates. The book does, however, offer guidance and reasoning on the order in which some training should occur. This makes it very easy to move faster with a dog that is quick to learn and to move slower with a dog that has trouble overall or with specific skills or lessons. This book also has a deep focus on training a well rounded, happy dog that is eager to learn. So far, the concepts seem sound and my puppy is progressing nicely into a skilled retiever using the methods presented in this book. This book would make a nice addition to any trainer's library and would also serve well as the only reference book for the beginner, if you were forced to choose only one.

I thought this book was quite good. It doesn't contain alot of fluff, and it's clearly aimed at setting the basis for serious training with the potential for highly difficult tasks like those found in modern retriever field trials. You won't find a lot of feel good advice about having your dog sleep in bed with you. (On the other hand, I don't think it hurts to emphasize what can happen to a kennel blind dog).

I bristled at first at the grounding in Skinner and behaviorism as my own feeling is that the application of behaviorism to human psychology has had destructive effects in that arena, but actually it is very well thought out and sound. This book will definitely have an impact on my own training, including with adult retrievers. I'd recommend it as a solid, solid book on training retrievers from two people who obviously know how to train dogs.

The 10-Minute Retriever: How To M;ake An Obedient And Enthusiastic Gun Dog In 10 Minutes A Day is the perfect guide for training a good gun dog. With more than 30 years of retriever training experience between them, John and Amy Dahl persusasive argue that ten-minute training sessions are best for a retriever's attention span and accelerate the learning process. The 10-Minute Retriever is easy to use and highly accessible for rank novice dog trainers, yet contains tips, techniques, and information intended for experienced trainers as well. Basic topics covered include how to force fetch, how to arrange tests in the field, and how to humanely use an electric collar. Peppered with true dog anecdotes, and enhanced with adaptations in training techniques for different breeds of dog, The 10-Minute Retriever is a "must" for any sportsman who wants his retriever to do more than fetch the stick!

I just read the 10 Minute Retriever by John and Amy Dahl and found it to be very informative and educational especially for the 1st time retriever trainer, it gives in depth detail on obedience, force fetch, marking, and it gets the novice handler ready to teach hand signals, and that is the only draw back in the whole book. It also gives a recollection of dogs they have trained in the past. good easy to understand reading.