Opinions on Diane Bauman? Agility: Start to Finish & Beyond Basic Dog Training

[dogs4life]

Anyone read her books, Agility: Start to Finish or Beyond Basic Dog Training?

What did you think?

I've read a few of her articles and took a liking to her.

Thanks!

[dogs4life]

Oh goodness, I just read an article that turned me around. She suggested to throw a "penny shaker" near the dog for distraction and sound aversion, not really my style.

I went on Amazon and looked at the low ratings, there are some great detailed comments on why you should skip her books.

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Beyond Basic Dog Training

Here are a couple that raised my brow....

spraying our dogs with a hose is a good way to teach them to drop on recall

Bauman's book is very old-fashioned. Her method involves setting the dog up to fail and then punishing him for doing so, rather than setting him up to succeed and reinforcing the desired behavior.

a book that encourages people to pinch their dogs ears and to "use the collar choke approach for dogs who are not responsive to an ear pinch" (p.163 Beyond Basic Dog Training, Bauman). If you're not sure how to do the latter, the book has a picture of a dog being choked for your reference! Wow!

[GSD]

I've never read the book, and i'm not a fan of the throw chains or tossing jars of pennies, but lots of people won't think twice about clapping their hands or giving a sharp "HEY!" to break a dogs focus on unwanted things or behaviors and redirect it to themselves. IT really isn't any different other than people's emotional connection with it.

Also when you're training for certain things at high levels, a little proofing by setting up a situation in which the dog will fail is a must IMO. It doesn't mean you don't spend tons of time showing what you want and reinforcing that behavior. The more time you spend on that, usually the less time you spend on proofing. That's only a small part of training, and in venues where time is a factor in training the benefits are appreciated. That said, some people really abuse it too, but bad training is bad training, it doesn't matter the method.

can't say much about the choke chain or ear pinch though. But when reading things, especially older vs. "newer" techniques, it is important not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. A lot of trainers from 50 or more years ago were talking about the same things they are today that are considered "modern" and lots of what they learned that we consider "outdated" is actually very well documented and researched methods of behavior modification. There's a few very outspoken extremists that would like everyone to believe otherwise.

[dogs4life]

Originally Posted by GSD

I've never read the book, and i'm not a fan of the throw chains or tossing jars of pennies, but lots of people won't think twice about clapping their hands or giving a sharp "HEY!" to break a dogs focus on unwanted things or behaviors and redirect it to themselves. IT really isn't any different other than people's emotional connection with it.

Also when you're training for certain things at high levels, a little proofing by setting up a situation in which the dog will fail is a must IMO. It doesn't mean you don't spend tons of time showing what you want and reinforcing that behavior. The more time you spend on that, usually the less time you spend on proofing. That's only a small part of training, and in venues where time is a factor in training the benefits are appreciated. That said, some people really abuse it too, but bad training is bad training, it doesn't matter the method.

Since my daughter is literally studying me while I interact with Hank, I'm weaning myself off such techniques so I'm not so interested in a book that encourages this. I now have a "litmus test" for books and training methods, I just ask myself "Am I OK with Sam mimicking me". It's working well but I still have more studying and practicing to do

A lot of trainers from 50 or more years ago were talking about the same things they are today that are considered "modern" and lots of what they learned that we consider "outdated" is actually very well documented and researched methods of behavior modification. There's a few very outspoken extremists that would like everyone to believe otherwise.

I hear you and agree.