You made a really good point icequeen!  while my daughters friends go into town every night after school - my daughter comes straight home to see and walk the dog.

I think that as many of the people on this thread have said if the dog enjoys any of the training then great - if they dont they shouldnt be made to do it.  My dog for example will sit,stay, down stay, come when called but try to get him to do a roll over and forget it! 

I personally am not into the show thing doesnt tempt me at all - all I want to do is make my dog enjoy his life, and he has gone from a anti social dog that didnt enjoy treats, playing, company to one that does .......most of the time.........so if this is another thing for him to enjoy then fantastic.

As for the rest I dont think there can be a right or wrong answer like with so many things its what works for the individuals.  Interesting to read every bodys points of view though...

Maxine  

Richard Curitis book cost me around £5-10 had it that long cant remember<g>
It is easy to follow you can just teach the different moves as single training sessions or if you and your dog want to take it further it then shows how to put it into a complete dance routine .

Roni

Oh I just replied to someone else higher up the thread.  My book - bought last year cost £7.99.

Haha Ice Queen, I often joke that I should be allowed to show my American cocker with his nose firmly glued to the ground as that's his natural posture!! :-D

Well I got both books - and decided to try the Richard Curtis 'how do you do' first stage of getting Louis to give me his paw.  We've been trying to do it for months - within 5 minutes tonight he was giving me his paw!  As soon as the treat in my hand was close to his nose up came the paw to touch my hand .  Mind you it does say in the book that depending on what side of his nose you put the treat dictates what paw you get - all I can say is my dog must be left pawed!  No matter what side of his nose I put the treat it was the left paw I got !

Tomorrow I move from treat - click - open to treat click open and left/right - think he will get the hang of it better than me ....

Fifteen minutes of training and thirty minutes playing with his toys and he's shattered...............aagh bless .......... you'd never think he went for the plasterer yesterday

Maxine

ps thanks for the recommendations

For anyone that is interested. I have just been on Amazon and there are two Richard Curtis books at £2.71 plus p&p

Last night we did the paw (first stage) and stand from sit - he definitely loves and knows the paw already - no words necessary if I put my hand to the right of his face he gives me the left paw and if I put my hand to the left of his face I get the right paw.  All for a bit of sausage - remarkable!  He really gets excited and bouncy now as soon as I move the area of room that I have been doing the training in he gets all excited - its fantastic!