The Koehler Method of Utility Dog Training [Hardcover]

William R. Koehler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1991

This second edition provides a guide to dog training using the Koehler method and is updated with new exercises and rule changes. It is aimed primarily at those who participate in utility obedience competition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 2 edition (November 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876057857
• ISBN-13: 978-0876057858
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #481,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read for the obedience competitor, July 24, 2007

By 

A reader (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Koehler Method of Utility Dog Training (Hardcover)

William Koehler has a bad reputation among modern dog trainers. I have to admit that I delayed reading any of the Koehler books for years, having being told that they were sickeningly cruel and barbaric.

When I did finally get around to reading the first Koehler book, "The Koehler Method of Dog Training", I was actually rather impressed. Any argument I have with the first Koehler book has to do with the outdated final chapter suggestions for dealing with canine behaviour problems. The methods described for teaching actual basic obedience are easy to read and implement, they emphasize achieving reliability, and are scrupulously fair to the dog.

However despite my fondness towards the earlier Koehler method books, I have a rather ambivalent attitude towards this particular volume.

"The Koehler Method of Utility Dog Training" is similar to the other books in the series. Like the previous Koehler books, it is well written, and the proscribed exercises are logical and sometimes impressively inventive. The techniques in this book generally follow the simple three step Koehler formula of:
1) repeatedly show the dog what you want,
2) repeatedly praise him when he complies,
3) after the dog fully understands how to obey the command, then physically correct him if he ever disobeys.

Personally, I feel that the Koehler method lends itself better to basic obedience training than to complicated Utility level obedience work. I feel that while it's easy to justify using physical corrections to train a dog in basic obedience, when reliability to a "come" or "stay" command might conceivably save a dog's life, it's harder to justify using physical corrections for the exercises found in Utility level trials.

Utility obedience exercises have more to do with the whims and ambitions of humans than the safety of the dog. Unlike a faulty "come" command, the lack of a reliable directed retrieve will not impact on your dog's safety or quality of life. So if your dog can't be motivated to do the complicated utility obedience routine using motivational methods alone, then in my opinion it's probably kinder to find another sport than to attempt to correct him into performing just to satisfy your own ambitions.

The vintage of this book is clearly shown by the incorrect claim that obedience work taught through reward or games cannot be reliable. This was probably true when the book was written, but since then we have discovered many new training methods that lend themselves very well to teaching advanced obedience work (shaping behaviours using marker words, motivating with food rewards, or using prey drive rewards as in Schutzhund). The Koehler method of praise-and-correction-only might get the best out of some dogs, but many dogs will do better in advanced obedience work when taught using different forms of motivator.

However, this book certainly isn't all bad. There are several really useful techniques for teaching utility exercises in here - the technique described for teaching directed retrieve is very clever, and the method of teaching send aways is also particularly good. These could be used as they are, or could easily be adapted to include food or toy rewards if desired. If you are interested in utility dog training, or trying to train your own utility dog, then "the Koehler method of utility dog training" is certainly worth a read.

Be aware that the book builds heavily on foundation work outlined in the two earlier books: "The Koehler Method of Dog Training" and "The Koehler Method of Open Obedience Training". Reading both of the prior books is a necessity to get the most out of this one.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars KOEHLER METHOD AGAIN CONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE, April 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Koehler Method of Utility Dog Training (Hardcover)

Utility obedience is very challenging and Koehler offers consistent and effective methods to train difficult excercises. His emphasis is on clearly communicating with your dog. His methods generally get through to the dog very quickly. By the time you have reached this level (Having first read The Koehler Method, and Open Obedience Training), you should understand that his methods, while firm and authoritative, are not cruel. You will appreciate a fine completion to the obedince series. Although out of print, it is definitely worth finding.