Has anybody read "Purely Positive Training" by Sheila Booth, I'm only half way through at the moment and I think I will need to read it a couple more times before the methods sink in properly.
It seems a wonderful way to train a dog, no correction as such, and getting the dog to think for itself.

I would love to hear from anyone who has used these or similar positive training techniques

Hayley

Hi Hayley, sounds like my kind of book ,do you have an i.s.b.n. number and i can try and order it . there seem to be so many books to choose from its difficult to know the right book for us ,i like the idea of getting the dog to think for itself Regards Sue T.

ISBN 0-9663020-0-1

I ordered mine from Crosskeys Books, took a couple weeks and cost about £18 I think.

It seems great so far Sue, although I am going to need huge quantities of parcel tape if I am not going to say NO to a puppy!

All the best

Hayley

Do you mean you're never allowed to say No to your dog!!!

blimey!! Darcy thinks her name is no

Hi Hayley,thanks for the info i shall try and order it tomorrow,i have to admit i cant imagine NOT saying NO to Lola, i seem to have found myself one savvy little mutt,she seems to be two steps ahead of me most of the time,how did you hear about this book and what made you choose it ?Take care,Sue T.

Hi Rachael and Sue

I read some reviews of the book on the AgilityNet website and it just seemed a more sensible and kind way to raise a dog, particularly one that will be working, in my case obedience and agility. My other 2 dogs have been trained using conventional training methods and I have always found it a struggle to get them to consistently respond to commands - especially when on the scent of something much more exciting than me.

The way the positive training works is by the dog being rewarded (clicker/praise/titbit/toy) for every little step that leads to the desired behaviour until such a point arrives that you can add a cue (eg "sit"). You then have to make sure the dog is able to do this in every possible situation so that the dog becomes essentially bombproof, with this method the dog will continually try different behaviours in order to get what he/she most desires, whether it be food, play or whatever else floats its boat (a great expression someone else used on this site!). Your aim is totally ignore the wrong behaviours and praise all the correct behaviours, If the wrong behaviour is something that must be prevented then the author says you should distract by using a cue the dog does know and reward for that, eg call excitedly and praise when they come, it doesn't matter how small the acgievement it is all a step in the right direction, rather than a step in the direction that makes the dog mistrust or fear you.

I hope that gives you an idea about the book and method, sorry if it is a bit garbled, as I said I am only half way through the book. All I need now is a pup to try it all out on! If you do give it a try let me know how you get on, as I am not sure how long I am going to have to wait for my pup.

Do either of you plan to work your dogs? I know Rachael, you have a Lab (ggod choice!) What breed is Lola Sue? We are planning to get an Australian Cattle Dog.

All the best to both of you

Hayley

I have that book and can highly recommend it. I ordered mine from Dogwise though, you just don't have the wait with the US sites and by the time I'd payed S/H, it worked out the same price! :)

Hi Hayley,thanks so much for taking time out to explain the basic principle of the book ,i am going to order it tomorrow,you asked what type of dog Lola is.?....now thats the sixtyfour million dollar question!she is a westie X( we think ) Lhasa Apso!! so when you say will she be working ?i am not sure what work she would or could do!! (allthough digging holes is a particular favourite that and chasing cats !!)she can run like the wind,jump unbelievable heights,and hides EVERYTHING we just have to get her to retrieve!!!!We have yet to start obediance classes i think i have found a good one close to us so we will see ,I think she will enjoy Agility ,i hope so ,i am quite looking forward to it all,once again thanks for your help and i will keep you posted when i get the book Regards Sue T.

I've got the book too and really enjoyed it, I particularly like the parts which focus on training various commands and the way each is related to agility, obedience, or whatever. A really good book :)

Lindsay