Okay I seen today that the city's park and rec distric is offering a dog obediance class. They state that they use the Koehler method. Can someone discribe this for me. I know on one episode of mythbusters they did the teach an old dog new tricks myth and they used two methods of dog training, unfortunatly I fell asleep and couldn't finish watching it. Was this Koehler method of the methods.
It is an excellent method, and the biggest detractors know little, and understand even less about it, and likely have never read his books, and are merely going from what they hear.
Read the book, and then make your own decision.
The book is very enlightening.
Strict unyeilding dogmatic, and intolerant adhearence to any specific style of training is wrong, as all dogs are different, and we should not limit our options for dealing with problems that may be beyond our preferred styles.
While I do not prefer food based training, I believe it does have a place with food motivated dogs early in training.
The actual Koehler method only uses as much as is needed, and some dogs will respond to the positive reinforcement in the training, and the early training phase is exactly the same as all positive training, without the treats, which puts a lot of focus on positive reinforcement, such as praise, and positive attention.
Indeed the all positive approach could be considered "Koehler Lite"
At some point in any individual dogs training, some correction may be needed, and it will vary depending upon the indiviual dog. For many dogs a strong voice will be enough, for others, a leash pop to bring back their focus will work.
Some dogs seem to come almost plug, and play, and those few dogs, get nothing but kind words, and hugs
No matter the method used, treat, all positive, or Koehler some dogs will resist, to varying degrees, any efforts to train, control, or give them balance, and a small percentage will violently, and viciously resist training.
For such racalcitrant dogs, the Koehler method offers a lengthened continuum that addresses such needs.
Each dog is different and each dog requires individualized training, specific to its temperment, and drive. Koehler addresses those individual needs.
Proper use of the method cures, and repairs aggression issues with dogs in a swift fashion, whereas other methods may take a management approach rather than a cure. Why manage what you can cure. Management is only for incurable issues. Owners refusing to implement a cure is not a reason for management of the issue, just an excuse
Some methods may take a longer term approach, in an attempt to cure, but why take years to do what can be done in weeks, or even a single session??
Detractors point to abuse cases, and that has nothing to do with the results of the proper use of the methods, and techniques.
Abuse, Improper, or ill informed use of any method, tool, or technique tends to result in problems, so the argument does not actually pertain to the Koehler method.
People who drive recklessly cause accidents, while those who drive properly have no problems other than those caused by reckless drivers
I hear the remarks about old, and outdated, but I do not see any other method that works with such reliable results, to create a well behaved, and balanced dog, especially with dogs that resist training, and serious behavioral issues.
Dogs, and how they think, and react to training have not changed since the book was written. So there is no way the method could be outdated.
The only thing that has changed is the peoples opinion of how people want to train dogs.
The dunking method, for the seeemingly impossible to cure diggers, some seem to be hung up on, and other techniques, or methods that are so very controversial, are intended only for the worst of the worst, and indeed would rarely, if ever, be used.
His techniques are not inhumane, nor are they "harsh" as some describe.
They are individualized for the indivdual dog, and therefore cannot be harsh, if it is what it takes to balance the dog.
They do result in a well balanced dog that functions well in society, and indeed if continued past the basic training into advanced, and ultra advanced levels, result in dogs that are a few notches above all other dogs.
This is not to say the all positive methods do not, or cannot work, I would dare say most owners would prefer to use the all positive, and treat training methods, and that most owners have dogs that do just fine using the all positive, and treat training methods.
If for whatever reason, the all positive, or treat training methods do not work with a particular dog, then the Koehler methods should definitely be considered, and if one chooses to go that route, then they should be used properly, and exactly as taught.
V WIlson
