Customer Reviews

Clicker Training for Obedience: Shaping Top Performance-Positively

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I live with and train Smooth Fox Terriers, considered by many to be one of the hardest breeds to train in obedience. Since I started using the methods suggested in this book, I've had tremendous success with my dogs.

My oldest male, who earned his CD during my pre clicker training period, after much hard, frustrating work, learned "go out, sit" in 3 short, fun, easy lessons. And, he learned to love to retrieve his dumb bell, finding what others call the "forced retrieve" to be one of his favorite games. And, that is the key. Having fun while learning.

The dog who has fun learning a behavior will carry that behavior over into daily life, and, for me and my dogs, Clicker Training for Obedience is helping us achieve just that. It helped me create a training program that is fun for us all.

The presentation of each segment for training a behavior is such that a trainer new to training can follow along and achieve success.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in having a happy, well trained dog. Not just for competition, but for daily life as well.

This book ought to be read together with Ms. K.Pryor's `Don't Shoot the Dog' ... Ms.Pryor's explains the theory and how 'clicker' training had its beginnings ... Mr. Spector explains how 'clicker' training is done ...

Having read most of the clicker books sold by Amazon and now into my first year of training my Beagle & Labrador ... I think this is probably the best so far ... Certainly this book contains the most detailed explanations & instructions as to how 'clicker' should be carried out. Mr. Spector even goes so far as to explain why he uses certain words and expressions in his book ...

To derive the best benefit, this book has to be read carefully (and its a substantial book) ...

The book opens with an introduction to operant and positive reinforcement training methods, and makes a comparison between these 'newer' training styles and the more traditional training methods.

Drawing from his own experience, Mr. Spector then suggests the various stages of training for the dog ... Unlike many other authors/trainers, he begins with teaching the dog to 'target' rather than the usual 'sit, stay & heel' ... innovative to say the least ... and it works. The book covers just about everything a dog & owner needs to learn, including off-leash and distance training.

The strength in this book lies in the clear and detailed explanations for each training stage and training method ... It allowed me to consider what Mr. Spector was saying, to consider his reasons & rational of his advice; and this in turn helped me understand Mr. Spector's methods more fully ... All of which makes for more effective training of my dog ...

Although this book is very much designed for taking a dog through Obedience trials, there is much here that will benefit every dog owner ... even one who only wishes his doggie would stop jumping on his guests ...

Wish there were few more illustrations or photographs though ...

I'm one of those obsessive types. Before I got my dog I read tons of books about raising and training them. I only wish I had found this one first. Every other book I read focused on what I was doing and how I was doing it. Morgan Spector makes you understand that the key is in the dog -- which when you think about makes sense. Even though I have no intention of competing with her, I know that the most important things are being accomplished with the help of this book. Most obviously, she has been invited to visit my parents because her manners have improved so dramatically thanks to this book and its techniques. Don't hesitate -- if you aren't comfortable yelling at your dog, Morgan Spector is for you. By the way, you can theoretically clicker train anything, so this book can help you with recalcitrant cats, children, and husbands too.

While I have read all the great reviews, this book still managed to exceed my high expectations. "Clicker Training for Obedience" provides clear, concise instructions. If you are even remotely interested in clicker training, you MUST buy this book. I have seen not only great success with my dog, but also a dog that looks forward to training. I cannot say enough good things about the "Clicker Training for Obedience".

This book is for those serious about:
- obedience
- agility
- other sports, including herding
- service dogs
- or just an eager, happily-working and well-behaved pet.

I'd suggest that people first have at least a basic understanding of operant conditioning (clicker training) but I say that only because Mr Spector provides a great deal of detail, explanation, trouble-shooting, and theory for each of the exercises, and his focus is on the serious trainer.

Those are all advantageous aspects of this book, particularly for those of us who want the details and thought processes behind the actions. Working with totally positive principles, he guides us through the most basic of exercises right on through to utility exercises.

Now, for someone not interested in competitive obedience you'd think this book is not the one for you -- not so! Many of the exercises and behaviours he details are transferrable to the agility ring (and elsewhere) and I've discovered some are also transferrable to herding.

The style of writing is simple, straight-forward (not what you'd expect from a lawyer) and very easy to follow. He sometimes provides examples that relate to humans to help understand some of the principles - another plus. Filled with clear photographs, it is possible for any dog guardian to follow and understand his explanations.

I also found that the logic he uses behind training certain exercises at certain stages, unlike many other trainers, made so much sense. One example: he recommends training a dog to heel off-leash before doing it on-leash. His explanation for why and how has worked flawlessly with my own dogs! I'll never go back to my old way again. He does this throughout his book.

The index makes it easy to look up specific exercises, problems, or other related information.

Even if your dog will never enter an obedience competition, and you simply want a reliable, happily-working, obedient dog -- this book will get you that and more.

This book is a MUST for anyone interested in dog training. It is very detailed and FULL of very useful information. I have tried the suggestions with my dog - a Cairn Terrier and she has improved incredibly. From beginning to advanced training this book has it all. Thank you so much Morgan Spector!

I have never seen a dog training book like this. My dog is a crazy, hyper maniac without any focus but since I've been following this book he is learning insanely fast and having a blast doing it. I trained him to follow the target stick and the first time I ever tried it he heeled BEAUTIFULLY with it. Left turn, right turn, about turn, he was staying with me without crowding me, lagging or anything. He had no leash on! He was just following the stick! When I took the target stick away HE WAS STILL DOING IT! He had VERY little heeling experience before this. All I could get out of him was to maybe follow me somewhere in the realm of heel position for about 10 feet. Turns were out of the question. Not anymore! It's like....the target stick finally clarified it in his mind.

If I want to show him how to position himself for any behavior I just lead him with the target stick. Where the nose goes the body follows. He remembers the motion. Once he learns the que I can take the stick away. It's amazing.

For every dog I've ever worked with...clicker training has been a way of great motivation and very clear communication...hence the fact dogs catch on fast...but no book I read compares to this one. It's the closest you can get to having a very wise trainer with you showing you. He's very detailed and tries so hard to save you from making any mistakes that you will regret later. He helps prepare you for the path ahead and keep from digging any pits you'll later fall into. Having never competed in anything other than Rally and Conformation I need this!

You see...clicker training is a VERY POWERFUL, VERY EFFECTIVE, VERY FAST training method....but it's only as good as the trainer! You need knowledge! This gives you that knowledge!

I will update this review after I start trialing. I am certain I will be very successful. I've been to trials and the biggest problem I see is the dog not having what's expected of him clear in his mind to start with.

This book was way too technical for me. All I wanted was book that gave me the basics of clicker training and a how to guide for very simple tasks. This is definitely not for the beginner or nonprofessional.

I haven't been able to put down Morgan's book since I bought it. It's simply the best training book -- of any discipline -- I've ever read. Amazingly precise and thorough. I honestly believe anyone would be able to train a dog for competition using this book.

Morgan's book is one of the most thorough books I've seen written on training dogs in Competitive Obedience. He explains every thing you could possibily want to know about training each and every exercise, including the why and how.

This is especially important since clicker training is so new to the competitive dog arena.

An excellant job and well worth the wait!