When you boil it down to its bare bones you realise that there are basically 2 reasons to train anything or anybody, the first, and I think most important, is safety. Safety for you and everyone and thing around you. The second and less important is to preform a specific task. Read this book from cover to cover BEFORE you start training your dog and then follow it religiously as you train and no matter the size or temperament of your dog it WILL make that dog and you both so much safer and happier and set up a great foundation to begin training your canine friend some specific tasks for work or fun or both!
The author of this book, William Koehler, has documented having SUCCESSFULLY TRAINED 140,000 DOGS. No telling how many he trained before he started to document them. He was a Trainer of Dog Trainers in the American Military and one of the people responsible for the establishment and organization of that portion of the US Military. It is estimated that he has had a substantial influence on the training of well over 500,000 dogs beyond those documented via his books. He trained and controlled a record 128 dogs all at once for one of his many Disney movies, (He trained all of the dogs in all of the Disney movies except one while he lived so he had a de facto endorsement from no less than Walt Disney himself)
After reading all of the less than -5 star- recommendations I began to realise that either the authors didn't read the book at all or they failed miserably to understand the words and proof that were right in front of them and in my opinion not just a few of those reviews were written with deceitful intent like the following:
"If I could give this book zero stars, I would. This passage tells you all you need to know about why you want to RUN as far and as fast as you can from Koehler's method: "Hold [the dog] suspended until he has neither the strength nor inclination to renew the fight. Once lowered he will probably stagger loop-legged for a few steps, vomit once or twice, and roll over on his side. But do not let it alarm you." ....Unfortunately, no I didn't make that up. And, if that wouldn't bother you, then you have no business having a dog or other living, feeling being!
The deceit of the previous statement comes partly from careful editing. First, this "quote" is actually two small parts of two separate paragraphs. Second, this is found under the section labeled, -THE REAL "HOOD"- on pages 52 & 53 and describes how to stop a dangerous life threatening dog that attacks its trainer and hasn't responded positively to a plethora of other methods, this treatment is recommended and given only as a last resort to save a dogs life from having to be put to death over its deadly aggression and when compared with death the method is so much more than just humane, life, (and a happy fulfilling life at that) is the most loving, kindest gift one could give to such a dog.
The following in my opinion is an example of NOT having read the entire book with a good heart and an open mind, in other words, a fool. Koehler does NOT advise, "...hitting on a regular basis..." and this person is very prejudicial in that he discounts the directions given in the book because it, "came from a very messed-up period of time, a time where people who weren't white, male, and straight were seen as second class citizens, ..." Further, it's foolish to simply dismiss the advise of a person who has documented over 140,000 SUCCESSFULLY trained dogs because its an old idea. The Emancipation Proclamation is an idea from a much worse and much older time and it'll NEVER be wrong!
"I don't see how anyone can read this book, and think, 'Yeah, I'll just beat my dog, and be a total jerk to it, and he/she will love me.' No sane individual would use these methods on dogs, or any living creature. In the book, Koehler states that he has a life long love of dogs, but I don't think that's true. If someone heard about a person hitting their significant other on a regular basis, no one would think that the abuser loved that person. While, yes, I do acknowledge that he came from a very messed-up period of time, a time where people who weren't white, male, and straight were seen as second class citizens, that doesn't excuse the things that he suggests in this book. It's completely outdated, and horrible. If I could, I'd give it zero stars."
I have very successfully used this book to guide me in the training of more than 20 dogs that I have owned throughout my life and following this book NEVER suggested or required that I hit, hang, punch, kick or otherwise abuse any of them and every one of them has been a perfectly obedient, perfectly safe, enjoyable, loving, friendly companion and helper.
Without thought, an act of great kindness is often mistaken for an evil cruelty.
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a FAKE five-star review, so you don't buy this book.
This book teaches you how to drown, electrocute, beat, and strangle your dog. It recommends tying animal carcasses to your dog if it kills one. It recommends configuring elaborate electrical configurations to chicken corpses and tethers to shock your dog into submission. It gives instructions on how to modify collars for optimal choking.Only a deranged person would use these methods on any dog, so it should be no surprise that the author of this book was an "animal trainer" in Hollywood.The fact that Amazon sells this book shows how this company has zero scruples. I can't fathom why it is legal to sell an instruction manual on torturing dogs and calling it "obedience training." Amazon might as well be selling books that teach pedophiles how to groom children.Here are a few highlights:The use of electricity is recommended only when the spanking method fails to quiet a dog that must be quieted—or else. (p. 202). Kindle EditionExperts tell me that it takes a lot of electricity to even make a chicken tingle, so feel no compunctions when you turn on the six-volt charger. Let your dog come into the area; then hurry to conceal yourself, so that he won’t be the least bit influenced by your presence. Even if you should miss the sight of his contact with the chicken, you’ll hear the sound effects, and odds are that your astounded dog will drown out the chicken. One thing is certain—he won’t be chewing on the chicken when you get back to the area. If he hasn’t retreated as far as possible, he’ll have pulled well back to where he can risk a safe and bewildered look. This first experience means you’re well started. I repeat, well started. Next comes the longer and more important part of the correction. If you have a small pen, or can make one, about six feet square, place your cardboard, chicken, and fence charger set-up in the middle of it. Turn on the current. Lock your dog in the pen with the chicken. He was a dog that always liked an opportunity to grab a chicken. Now, suddenly, life is just one big, overflowing, ever-present opportunity to do just that. And if he decides to say “no,” there will be hours and hours of time to repeat the “no,” because the greater part of each day for at least a week should provide this opportunity to grab a chicken or refuse to do so. It is the process of this “mental laundromat,” more than the initial shock, that cleanses a dog’s mind of naughty thoughts toward his fellow creatures. (pp. 223-224). Kindle Edition.If you come home and find your dog has dug a hole, fill the hole brimful of water. With the training collar and leash, bring the dog to the hole and shove his nose into the water; hold him there until he is sure he’s drowning. If your dog is of any size, you may get all of the action of a cowboy bull-dogging a steer. Stay with it. I’ve had elderly ladies who’d had their fill of ruined flower beds dunk some mighty big dogs. A great many dogs will associate this horrible experience with the hole they dug. However, to make sure of a permanent impression, fill the hole with water and repeat the experience the next day, whether the dog digs any more or not. On the third day, let him watch you dig a hole and prepare it for a dunking. Class surveys have shown that more than seventy percent of the dogs who experience this correction for as many as six consecutive days swear off hole digging. If the master takes the first sign of repentance as a permanent change, and stops the dunking after only a couple of days, failure is generally the result. (p. 219). Kindle Edition.
