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Training Dogs the Aussie Way: A Practical Guide for Dog Owners by the Founders of the World's Largest Dog Training Company
Sylvia Wilson and her husband, Danny, are the co-founders of the world's largest dog training company, Bark Busters. They have spent the last 18 years training dog trainers, dog owners, and dogs in hundreds of cities across eight countries. Their secrets are now revealed in a new book, Training Dogs The Aussie Way.
196 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 1, 2014
This book is so inaccurate it could be funny, but the sad truth is that many dogs are being confused and even abused because of this inaccurate info. Read Pat Miller or Jean Donaldson or Karen Pryor for much better information.
July 30, 2009
This is NOT a book for people with smart, calculating dogs. If you have a smart, strong-willed dog with high self-esteem, do not read this book. You will be wasting your time and could possibly get hurt.
Where do I begin?
Let's start by stating what I like about this book. Sylvia and Danny Wilson do an excellent job of describing what a dog is, their technique and the concept behind conditioning a behavior. You can't just sit back and wait for the proper behavior to praise it, you have to let the dog know what isn't acceptbable and what is.
Additionally, I like the way this book is writen. It flows in a nice order, leaving no stone unturned. The "Case Study" sections helps bring the behaviors into perspective.
However, here is what I don't like. In order to communicate to the dog that the dog's behavior is unacceptable, they use the word "BAH!" in a growl tone, water bombs (in the house? I don't think so) and/or a "Bark Busters Training Pillow." They don't state what the training pillow is in the book (I didn't catch it, anyway), but after much research on the internet I find that it is a pillow with a chain in it. The concept is you throw the pillow AFTER you've yelled at the dog (the word "BAH!" in a low growl) and clapped your hands, yelling louder and louder. If the dog goes through the multiple correction levels, you've already lost the dog. At this point, the dog's laughing at you, folks! Also, there are MANY dogs that I've witnessed in training that would either hump or shred a pillow thrown at it, regardless if it contains a chain. And then what? What if the dog doesn't stop acting badly if you do all that? What's next? Throw the Christmas tree at the dog? That sure would make a LOT of noise!!!
They talk about the training collar. I'm waiting for humans to understand this...the secret isn't in the collar, it's in the human. Good grief. (Don't worry Bark Buster fans, Cesar's "Illusion" collar is much worse! I think it gives the "illusion" your dog respects you when it really is waiting for you to fall asleep! HAHA!)
Then there's the scene setting. That works to startle the dog and stop the behavior, sure (kinda like a "what the heck was THAT" moment), but you can only jump out from behind a bush or couch once or twice before a smart dog knows to look for you before they resume the bad behavior. (Dog - "Is the screaming banshee gone? Good, now I'm getting in the trash.") If you leave the house, then what? I know MY dog knows when I'm not home. That's why I crated him while I was gone until we built our relationship.
For training novices, never recall a dog out of a stay. Never, never, never. But these people say it is okay. Red flag. If you were a K9 unit trainer, then sure! But if you're reading this book, you're not, so play it safe and don't call a dog out of a stay. Period.
Not really crazy about the lack of food use. I get the idea that all an alpha would have to be is an excellent provider, but food is a stress releiver if used in the right environments (i.e. with a shy dog.) In the book they do use food when introducing an overprotective dog to new people. That's buying a dog off and not the way I'VE cured overprotective dogs (which there are many categories of overprotective dogs. You can't lump them all together and tell people to use food. It's a little more complex than that. You have to find out WHY the dog is overprotective and go from there.)
Overall, professional K9 unit trainers, search and rescue trainers, etc. use a ball, tug or some other toy; they build confidence and mutual respect by tapping into a dog's prey drive. All this book does is scold the dog, with a followup with immediate praise (looks to me like appologizing for the scolding), and very little use of a dog's toy. Moreover, okay so the reward is praise (a pat on the head and "good dog"), fine, but who cares? If I was a dog trained with this technique, I'd be 1) a nervous wreck not knowing what is around the corner, and 2) bored because where is the fun in any of it FOR ME? And dogs only respect an owner when the owner understands that a dog is all about getting something out of it FOR THEM!
In conclusion, you can train your dog to do most of the stuff in this book without making a whole lot of noise (literally). It just takes patience and understanding.
Where do I begin?
Let's start by stating what I like about this book. Sylvia and Danny Wilson do an excellent job of describing what a dog is, their technique and the concept behind conditioning a behavior. You can't just sit back and wait for the proper behavior to praise it, you have to let the dog know what isn't acceptbable and what is.
Additionally, I like the way this book is writen. It flows in a nice order, leaving no stone unturned. The "Case Study" sections helps bring the behaviors into perspective.
However, here is what I don't like. In order to communicate to the dog that the dog's behavior is unacceptable, they use the word "BAH!" in a growl tone, water bombs (in the house? I don't think so) and/or a "Bark Busters Training Pillow." They don't state what the training pillow is in the book (I didn't catch it, anyway), but after much research on the internet I find that it is a pillow with a chain in it. The concept is you throw the pillow AFTER you've yelled at the dog (the word "BAH!" in a low growl) and clapped your hands, yelling louder and louder. If the dog goes through the multiple correction levels, you've already lost the dog. At this point, the dog's laughing at you, folks! Also, there are MANY dogs that I've witnessed in training that would either hump or shred a pillow thrown at it, regardless if it contains a chain. And then what? What if the dog doesn't stop acting badly if you do all that? What's next? Throw the Christmas tree at the dog? That sure would make a LOT of noise!!!
They talk about the training collar. I'm waiting for humans to understand this...the secret isn't in the collar, it's in the human. Good grief. (Don't worry Bark Buster fans, Cesar's "Illusion" collar is much worse! I think it gives the "illusion" your dog respects you when it really is waiting for you to fall asleep! HAHA!)
Then there's the scene setting. That works to startle the dog and stop the behavior, sure (kinda like a "what the heck was THAT" moment), but you can only jump out from behind a bush or couch once or twice before a smart dog knows to look for you before they resume the bad behavior. (Dog - "Is the screaming banshee gone? Good, now I'm getting in the trash.") If you leave the house, then what? I know MY dog knows when I'm not home. That's why I crated him while I was gone until we built our relationship.
For training novices, never recall a dog out of a stay. Never, never, never. But these people say it is okay. Red flag. If you were a K9 unit trainer, then sure! But if you're reading this book, you're not, so play it safe and don't call a dog out of a stay. Period.
Not really crazy about the lack of food use. I get the idea that all an alpha would have to be is an excellent provider, but food is a stress releiver if used in the right environments (i.e. with a shy dog.) In the book they do use food when introducing an overprotective dog to new people. That's buying a dog off and not the way I'VE cured overprotective dogs (which there are many categories of overprotective dogs. You can't lump them all together and tell people to use food. It's a little more complex than that. You have to find out WHY the dog is overprotective and go from there.)
Overall, professional K9 unit trainers, search and rescue trainers, etc. use a ball, tug or some other toy; they build confidence and mutual respect by tapping into a dog's prey drive. All this book does is scold the dog, with a followup with immediate praise (looks to me like appologizing for the scolding), and very little use of a dog's toy. Moreover, okay so the reward is praise (a pat on the head and "good dog"), fine, but who cares? If I was a dog trained with this technique, I'd be 1) a nervous wreck not knowing what is around the corner, and 2) bored because where is the fun in any of it FOR ME? And dogs only respect an owner when the owner understands that a dog is all about getting something out of it FOR THEM!
In conclusion, you can train your dog to do most of the stuff in this book without making a whole lot of noise (literally). It just takes patience and understanding.
October 13, 2015
I think this book is a great foundation for understanding how your dog thinks. However, I do not feel that it is a panacea for fixing your dog's issues. I read some reviews criticizing the book because of the Bah word used but I doubt this people even tried to use it!! I paired the book with an actual coach who had been able to teach me how to use this methods and my dogs are well behave now. You can't expect to learn from a book something that needs actual peacock, it'll be like learning martial arts through a book or thinking your an expert cook when all you've done is read a recipe book!!!
I read another review that said the books teachings was inaccurate and dogs were being hurt because of it, let me just say that I tried different methods. For instance a shock collar...now THAT injured the pup. There is absolutely nothing hurtful about this...if anything this methods are more holistic than other ones I've seen out there.
I read another review that said the books teachings was inaccurate and dogs were being hurt because of it, let me just say that I tried different methods. For instance a shock collar...now THAT injured the pup. There is absolutely nothing hurtful about this...if anything this methods are more holistic than other ones I've seen out there.
November 9, 2010
Much excellent advice especially how positive training also needs to be implemented with corrections for negative behavior. The water bottle suggestion for nipping is one I have tried without much success as Vesta just considers it a game. Using treats to elicit good behavior and withholding them for bad behavior seems to be a better plan.
August 21, 2012
The bible of dog training. Only complaint is that they make it seem like training only takes a few minutes instead of needing practice of several days in some cases.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews