The Dog Whisperer: Beginning and Intermediate Dog Training

5 Comments

1. A. A. Madden says:

   May 10, 2010 at 5:42 pm

   I have a ten year old terrier and a one year old terrier. The first was trained the old-fashioned way (punishment/reward), the second was trained according to Paul Owen’s method in his dvd and book. I achieved faster and more reliable results with Paul’s method than with the traditional way, while retaining more of my terrier’s happy-go-lucky nature. Though my first dog is well behaved, the traditional method was a longer, more stressful road for both of us.

   Paul’s method involves giving a command to the dog, then rewarding that behaviour. So, in the case where the dog is doing something you don’t want, like jumping on a guest, instead of saying “No Jumping!” and scolding, you say “Come!”, then “Down”, and bring the dog to your side. The theory is, instead of telling your dog what you DON’T want, have them do what you DO want, thus eliminating the undesirable behaviour. This way, the dog chooses to “be good”, instead of being forced or threatened to “be good”.

   I recommend it very highly if you are a looking for quick results while maintaining a close and equitable relationship with your dog. If you enjoy a more stern and severe approach involving domination-based punishment, and you are a very controlling person, then don’t waste your time. If you are a dog lover willing to put in some time and patience at the beginning in exchange for an obedient dog for the long term, then this method is for you. Paul’s dogs obey because they CHOOSE and WANT to, not because they fear punishment.

   One handy aspect to Paul Owen’s DVD is that you can select from different commands “Sit”, “Stay”, etc, without having to go throught the whole DVD. This was especially helpful because my terrier learned certain behaviours quickly while others took more time, so it was very effective to be able to access only the command we needed to work on.

   Also, to address the Cesar Millan issue, Cesar has never professed to being a dog trainer. He says many times on his show “I am a dog psychologist, not a trainer”, and his dog rehab program in LA is called the “Dog Psychology Center”, not a “training school”. Cesar rehabilitates dogs that have chronic, compulsive behaviour problems, he does NOT teach them to “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, etc. So comparing Cesar’s Way to Paul’s Way is silly, they perform entirely different functions and I appreciate both.
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. S. Hollingsworth says:

   May 10, 2010 at 7:27 pm

   First off, let me preface by saying that I own 2 highly rambunctious (some would have said out-of-control) herding dogs. I had tried many, many training techniques (including the current fad “dominance theory”), yet my dogs weren’t responding. In fact, one became so afraid of the leash (which we had been using during training) that it became impossible to take her on walks. Then I discovered (through some great resources like “Whole Dog Journal”, my local humane societies and a WONDERFUL book entitiled “The Other End Of The Leash” by Dr. Patricia McConnell) reward-based training which is completly non-violent and turned training into a favorite part of the day for both my dogs and I. During my copious research one name that kept coming up was dog-trainer Paul Owens. I bought the DVD and the book and was amazed to find that I got reliable results in usually no longer than 3-15 minute sessions. My dogs WANTED to do the right thing – not be “corrected” for doing the wrong thing. Many people criticize treat-reward training and think that you will constantly have to carry food in your pockets. This is simply not true. We are currently down to about a 50-50% treat-affection reward and the treats are lessening daily while the results are not. Mr Owens also calls to attention the fact that our states-of-mind during training have a direct impact on our dogs and their ability to focus and learn. My dogs and I still practice a little every day, but the minute my dogs see me head for Mr Owen’s book they come running.
   Rating: 5 / 5
3. A reader says:

   May 10, 2010 at 8:47 pm

   This is, hands down, the best dog training DVD available today. Paul Owens bases his entire approach to dog training on a philosophy of nonviolence, which means not causing any physical, emotional, or psychological harm to your dog. What a relief for those of us who are tired of being told to bully or “dominate” our dogs! The training exercises that Owens explains and demonstrates work wonderfully at producing a dog who is cooperative and enthusiastic about responding to requests, without any yelling or jerking of chains or grabbing and shaking. I don’t WANT to do that to my dog, and Owens shows how you don’t HAVE to do that in order to have a dog who fits in as a well behaved member of a human family.

   What’s unique about this DVD is that it combines the sound scientific principles behind “reward-based” training with a philosophical approach that draws on yoga and other Eastern disciplines. Reward-based training uses techniques that reward the dog for doing “good” behavior, and witholds rewards when the dog doesn’t do the good behavior. It sets up a situation in which dogs enjoy doing the things you ask of them. On the other hand, the breathing techniques that Owens demonstrates have a concrete effect on the way your dog reacts. They really work! I have calmed down my barking dog many times, simply by changing the way I breathe.

   Seven years ago, I read Owens’ book THE DOG WHISPERER, and this DVD takes up nicely where the book left off. The advantage to the DVD is that you get to see the training exercises actually demonstrated. I also appreciate the fact that you can go directly to the exercise you would like to work on by choosing from the menu, without having to rewind or fast forward.

   This should NOT be confused with Cesar Millan’s DOG WHISPERER television series. Cesar Millan uses very different methods, including choke chains, etc. I think it’s unfortunate that Millan chose to use the name of a book that was published long before Millan ever appeared on TV. Paul Owens is the original Dog Whisperer.

   As a bonus, the DVD starts with a cartoon that made me laugh my head off. It captured so well the way stress around the household can escalate to a boiling point, and how we relate to our dogs in both good and bad ways because of it. It made me both recognize and laugh at myself.

   Overall, the DVD is very accessible and fun, and works well as an introduction to training for the whole family–kids as well as adults.
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. Marcus Peacock says:

   May 10, 2010 at 10:01 pm

   The review by Paul Baack has got it exactly right, although I think his star rating is a little harsh. I’ve watched several dog training videos and this is mediocre. I can only guess the higher than average price is because people assume it has some connection with Cesar Millan’s popular show, which it doesn’t. Paul Owens is genial enough and I learned a couple things I didn’t elsewhere, but there is way too much quirky and unnecessary filler, from skunk puppeteering to breathing exercises (for you, not your dog). I recommend “Train Your Dog — The Positive Genial Approach” which gives better step by step instruction and much better coverage of advanced commands which are really given short shrift here.
   Rating: 3 / 5
5. RAC says:

   May 10, 2010 at 11:18 pm

   I have just been through the Raise with Praise begining training classes with my dog Lummox and trainer Paul Owens, author and director of the Dog Whisperer book and DVD. I can honestly say that I was stunned to watch as WITHIN ONE TO THREE MINUTES, three completely hyper active and unruly dogs not only calmed, but learned three behaviors, sit, lay down and stay, using his methods. I could barely believe my eyes. His knowledge of dog behavior and their psychology, as well as how humans are directly responsible for any and all of their “problem behaviors” is impressive to begin with. But more importantly is his understanding that there is absolutely no need to jerk, shock, or otherwise exert strongarm techniques on the dog to elicite proper behavior, as some other better publicized trainers practice.

   I enrolled my own dog Lummox (a gentle giant) solely to help him socialize and lose his fear of strange or different situations, hoping to help raise his confidence level. It did. And Lummox is not in the least interested in bribes or treats, and so the proof of this method lay in that it works whether or not a dog will accept treats! Lummox quickly learned that a new situation does not mean something bad will happen, and he became relaxed and I watched as his confidence level grew very quickly. The very second class saw Lummox excitedly leading ME to our class location. He remembered how to get there and was looking forward to it. I never would have believed it.

   Again, I cannot stress to people how amazing I found this training method, watching the other dogs in class responding so quickly – and in a lasting way. The knowledge I’ve gained has made a tremendous difference for the way I look on communication between dog and man.

   I close by remarking that the method for training any animal using praise and kindess is a model that can be directly applied to our human condition as well. For I not only believe, but I have seen with my own eyes, that this knowledge can be applied not only with animals, but with human beings as well.

   Thank you Mr. Owens – your methods embody what it means to be a true dog whisperer.

   - Lummox’s Guardian.
   Rating: 5 / 5