Dog Health Questions: The Koehler Method of Dog Training?

I am think about picking up the book "The Koehler Method of Dog Training" what I have read about it it looks pretty good. What are your experiences with this training? What are the pros and cons? Would you recommend this training? and lastly how well does this training work for the different ranges of dogs from soft to hard?
This specific book teaches the heel and other training right?
http://www.amazon.com/Koehler-Method-Dog…

Just like to add my dogs are very well trained and already know the obedience commands and I am just trying to read about different ways that I can incorporate with what I already do. Thanks!

So You Want A Career In Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
Koehler is definitely worth the read...but in my opinion it's damaged more dogs than I care to think about. People who don't understand being TOO harsh on TOO soft of a dog will create character problems. Also, the people who use it like a Bible will never see the full potential of their dogs because it's a 50 year old book based on 1 man's way of seeing things. This is the same reason Bruce Lee was so kick-***. Everybody thought their style of martial art was gospel...he instead took bits and pieces from boxing, karate, fencing, silat, and wing chun and we all know how that turned out...EXPLOSIVE! As a life-long martial artist I apply this 1 quote Bruce Lee said to all aspects in life, and that is: "Take what is useful, and disregard all that is not". Koehler method has some very useful info and technique, but people who "buy" into it as gospel...well, they don't win the Sch. Nationals anymore now do they? Not just Schutzhund either, the French are the best trainers in the World, they also use treats, so do the Dutch and most Germans...not using treats because you want a dog to "Obey you and not work for treats" is ridiculous, that's what the corrections phase of training is for, to teach a dog he MUST work regardless of whether or not you have a toy or treat or decide to praise him.

Aggressive Dog Training - Expert Advice

• Koehler ROCKS.
  
  DO NOT INCORPORATE KOEHLER -EMBRACE IT! Use it as a stand alone.
  Throw out everything you have done with your dog and start at the beginning of the method.
  Do not skip any steps. Koehler is like mathematics or language, one lesson builds on the next.
  
  Visit the website
  http://www.koehlerdogtraining.comPeople that knock it don't understand it.
  
  William Koehler trained THOUSANDS of dogs, his method is tried and true.
  
  I train PURE KOEHLER and I have the best dogs, who are easy to live with, obey on one command and one only, and win at the dog shows in Obedience.
  
  There is a FANTASTIC Yahoo Group on Koehler. This group includes Tony Anchetta who took over for Dick Koehler (Bills son)
  
  http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/KMODT…Join the group and learn the REAL facts and success of the Koehler Method of Dog Training.
  
  I have had the blessed fortune to work with someone who trained for many years with Bill Koehler.
  
  Last but not least my current dogs are EXTREMELY SOFT. There are those that will say it won't work on soft dogs. Yeah right. I have a Rough Collie and a Pomeranian who was confiscated by Animal Control for abuse and neglect prior to me getting her. Koehler gave this dog the confidence she so desperately needed.
  
  From the Canine Professionals Hall of Fame-
  William R. (Bill) Koehler dog trainer A teacher, trainer and author who worked as the Chief Trainer for Walt Disney Studios for more than 20 years, Bill still managed to find the time to write six books and act as Chief Trainer for the Orange Empire Dog Club. His list of accomplishments in the field of dog training are too numerous to list here. It is worthwhile to note that his Koehler Method of Guard Dog Training was named Best Dog Book for the Year of 1967 by the Dog Writers' Association of America.
  
  Of interest is the method of dog training he developed over the course of many years. The Koehler Method of Dog Training has been praised, championed, vilified and in some cases damned. When you excel you are actually sticking your head up high enough to get shot. Only if you are truly excellent will the shots all miss and leave you standing straight and tall above the masses. That was Bill Koehler. Quiet, unassuming, soft spoken and gentle of hand, Bill gave us a way to train dogs while at the same time honoring their very dog-ness. The Koehler Method of Dog Training is just as valid and useful in the Twenty-first century as it was in the Twentieth century and we suspect it will continue to have just as much meaning for as long as we have dogs to train.


• I got the book, read it.
  I think its would be a very good method. I'm still in the process of getting more information, re-reading the book and hopefully will start my pup on it in the next week or so.
  
  Good luck!


• I'm doing Koehler right now - so far BEST training method i've found with my dog. She's never been so in tune with my movements and never paid this much attention to ME without treats.
  
  Thing is you have to throw everything else out the window - you don't "incorporate" it you just follow the book step by step. The book explains why.
  
  You start by working a week of foundation training on a 15 foot line. Then move to a six foot leash. Then start with the sit, automatic sit, stay, down, etc. So yeah, it has a lot of commands to teach (same as any basic class) and has a lot on proofing, too.
  
  Only con is that it's not for any of the "bleeding hearts" who can't bear to discipline their dogs OR let their dog discipline themselves. This book bases training on allowing the dog to make their own mistakes - this includes letting the dog bolt, you walking in the other direction when they do, and letting them hit the end of the 15 foot leash.
  
  Even if you don't use the method, it's a good book to pick up and read. As i already said, my dog has NEVER been so attentive to me and i don't have to carry around a bag of treats to get her to be.


• Wow - just went and looked at the sight that was posted by another answerer. That is exactly how I used to train my dogs (didn't even know that the classes I were taking was a specific method!). Works amazing. They do win in AKC and the dogs are 100% trustworthy off leash. I still use the basic concepts (because that is how I learned to train dogs) and am always told how well-behaved our dogs are (I do not think they are particularly well-behaved because we only do the basics at the moment and nothing "fancy"). Absolutely go for it. This works and your dog will LOVE it!


• Greekman uses and recommends the Koehler method.
  
  Been reading through it myself.
  
  Might have to give it a try with my new boy.


• Its always worth it to learn something new. But remember when you're dealing with aversives your potential for fallout is higher. The corrections need to be just right in both timing, intensity, etc. A misdelivered correction can ruin a dog. A mis timed click, no big deal.
  
  If you're going to train this way you have to be prepared for the fallout. Not all dogs will suffer fallout, but why risk it?
  
  That's not to say there aren't corrections used here, but I avoid them when possible.
  
  I like Steve White's 8 Rules to Punishment http://outsidek9.com/2009/05/how-to-puni…