Customer Reviews

The Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training; An Effective & Authoritative Guide for Selecting, Training & Maintaining Dogs in Home Protection, Plant Security, Police, & Military Work

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

neither are big dogs. It's important to remember that this particular book is aimed at training large aggressive breeds. Yes, you can get your poodle to sit and stay and fetch using other methods. But this is a method for making sure your hundred pound Rottweiler obeys you when failure can mean tragedy. I've trained every one of my dogs using this book's methods. I've had German Sheperds, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls and Filas. Every one of them has responded perfectly to the training. I'm not a breeder or a professional trainer, but my dogs' obedience has been equal to or better than any of the trained dogs that I've encountered. Some of the methods aren't pleasant; training soldiers for combat isn't usually a pleasant process, either. But the point of effective training isn't the trainer's assuaging his or her Inner Child; it's about developing RELIABLE control over a potentially lethal animal. The huggy-wuggy here's-a-puppy treat methods don't work when the animal is under strong external stimulation. Not a week goes by that I don't see the failure of the "kindhearted" methods, just in the course of walking my dog in the local parks.
The main thing with the Koehler method is to follow it exactly!
Some of the detractors here have deliberately lied about the contents of the book. For example, he doesn't advocate beating a dog"for 30 minutes". He advocates hitting the dog sharply on the muzzle if it turns on the trainer. Anyone who thinks that you can correct that kind of misplaced aggression with hugs, treats and "bad-doggies" should reconsider owning a large breed.
It's important to note that Koehler devotes a good bit of time early in the book on selecting dogs with suitable temperament.
In short, I recommend this book without reservation to those with ANY breed of dog who are willing to trade a bit of unpleasantness for a well adjusted dog with rock solid obedience.

I'm a professional dog trainer, training dogs mostly for obedience and occasionally for protection work. I found Mr. Koehler's dog book a rare book of so many straight-forward, no nonsense very effective methods of dog training. His throw-chain method is, I think the signature part of his obedience training. He is one of the best I guess. I rate his book 5 star. If you want a fast,effective, and long lasting dog training, try his book. You'll be thankful you did.

This is two books in one. One half is actually "The Koehler Method of Dog Training" which has been "the standard" for basic obedience training of military, police and other working dogs since World War II when Koehler pioneered them. The goal is to develop stability and obedience in a dog so that you have it "when you need it the most." David Dikeman's dog training method is a polished version of Koehler's method. The other half of this book details how to turn even the tinest dog into a man eater. Koehler shows how to prevent your agressive trained dog from being dangerously unpredictable and unstable. Instead, he shows how, with the help of additional trainers playing the part of bad guy, to create specific situations in which the dog is trained exactly how to respond and how not to. This book pretty much stops at guard dog training and doesn't delve too much into protection or attack training, but it does establish the principles. Unshakable obedience must be developed in a dog before giving it aggression training and Koehler shows you how.

I thought this book was excellent. I heartily disagree with those that think this book as somehow cruel. I have trained two dobermans (house dogs who sleep by my bed) and even utilized many of these sound psychological methods in raising well adjusted and behaved kids as well. The method works well, is humane and focuses on many positive aspects like building courage, confidence etc.

Yes, once the dog knows better.... it is unacceptable to command "sit, sit, sit fluffy". One time and it should be done. Otherwise the dog is not trained. This is especially important with dogs that are large and powerful.

My dogs have been extreamly well trained, well adjusted, in control (a marvel to others who have lesser trained or uncontrollable animals) and yes happy and confident. Check it out.

I have trained three of the happiest dogs around using the Koehler method. I can tell that many of the negative comments are from folks who didn't bother to read the whole book. I see the results of all the new methods of dog training every day in my town. Without a leash those dogs lives would be in danger. The Koehler method will provide a method of off leash obedience that you can really count on when things get scary. Thus insuring a long life for the dog you love. There is hard scientific proof that the Koehler method creates a calm and relaxed dog that can go with you anywhere and will always be welcome. Having read the whole book and used it, I can give it my highest recommendation.

An excellent book. I have use it to train my Dobermans and German Shepherds with excellent results. All of my dogs have turned out to be very reliable and well adjusted and have never failed to respond to command. For those who feel that some of the methods are "outdated", consider that almost all police agencies, and the armed forces still use his methods.

Kohler, late chief trainer at Disney, gives instruction in obedience training first, then a discussion of why NOT to attack-train, only then advanced instruction. He warns that the dog must be chosen carefully; tells exactly how to choose. Gives warnings of the consequences, to animal and trainer, of abuse. (Trainer must be smarter than dog for these methods or any others to be effective.) He recommends a privately-owned dog be left to decide its own agression level. I've used his methods with 5 rescued dogs (1 stray) - 5 happy pets, none shy, none crazy.

This book is one of Koehler's best. It contains the most effective methods for training dogs in the three levels of protection; alert, threat and attack. This book will take you through each level of of training with easily understood explainations and pictures. If you want to protection train your dog with humane but thorough methods of training, this book is for you. I have used Mr. Koehler book for training all of my dogs and my customers dogs in my security dog company and had perfect results every time. Sylvan Malis.

Many people would contend that some of Koehler's methods, as outlined in this book, are 'cruel' or 'inhumane'. I have a different opinion to that, as do the vast majority of protection/obedience dog trainers that I have spoken to.

A dog does not have the ability to reason, and Koehler's methods show the dog clear consequences for its actions. Let's put this into human terms...

... ...

Koehler's methods show a dog exactly that - a clear choice. If the dog does what it knows how to, and is capable of, doing, then it is rewarded for this. If the dog knows, and is capable of, doing a task, yet CHOOSES not to, then it is punished for this.

Koehler's methods make the choice for the dog simple - perform the behaviour desired by the handler and I will be rewarded, NOT perform and I will be punished AND not get a reward.

Many of Koehler's methods are used still today by leading protection dog trainers around the world, and I have seen them work first hand on hundreds of dogs.

Whether or not you agree with Koehler's principles or not is a personal choice, but one thing is clear - THE METHODS IN THIS BOOK WORK QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO PRODUCE LASTING AND RELIABLE RESULTS.

As a former law enforcement dog trainer of loss prevention and detection dogs, I have found Sir William Koehler's method of dog training completely reliable. Reliability is a must in my field of work. Currently, I am successfully competing in the obedience trials with a black Labrador Retriever, consistently scoring the 190's mark at every trial. I have classes attended by different age groups with different abilities and all breeds of dog. The result is always RELIABILITY! A recommended method to anyone who values this.Peter Mario