Review of DogStarDaily.com

Recently an online site created by the Dunbar family (Dr Ian Dunbar) was brought to my attention. It was brought to my attention in the same thread that compared traditional dog training to "war dog training", which I found a concerning phrase. Now, as far as I know, The Monks of New Skete did not specialize or perhaps even deal in the training of "war dogs". Not that I even know what that statement could mean. I believe the poster may have been trying to say working dogs. Dogs in the military have all sorts of jobs that do not require "aggression" or a "hard dog nature" as implied. However, I found this "war dog" idea as a pretty standard thread of DogStarDaily.com. I should disclose that I am not an actual fan of The Monks of New Skete, at least how their older manual existed.

Bill Koehler, while having been in the military, became famous due to a series of training books aimed at group lessons for pet dogs (through the AKC obedience tests that were out there) , tracking dogs, and hunting dogs. While they may not be heavy on the treats, they are all about praise and partnership with the appropriate tools. In fact, before going to Margot Wood's seminar on her Bedrock Training Method which is an offshoot of what she learned on her own and from Bill Koehler, the metal training collar (also known as the choke collar) was not my tool of choice at all. Seeing it in this method, I realized how easily it was applied to train a dog to be on no equipment at all, and not with "heavy handed" corrections. It was a huge part of accomplishing a successful goal this year of getting Jack his Companion Dog title. Mr Koehler was very well known in the movie and commercial side of dog training as well. In his books, I don't see methods talked about that advocate the breaking down of a dog so the "stronger rise and the weaker fail".

That being said, are there some parts of his book that I don't use? Yes, some of the suggestions that are separate from the methods of dealing with "real hoods", I don't use. First of all some of the "real hoods" are probably dogs that don't belong in your average dog owners home. I say this having worked with dogs that have or are capable of biting a human or animal. I say this also having rehabbed them from wanting to do this as any sort of common occurrence. So I am not saying that dogs can not be rehabbed, especially from behavioral problems that have cropped up due to misunderstanding the needs of their dog for direction, leadership, and discipline (remember a time out in a crate can be discipline, and saying no can be discipline, as can restraint by leash and collar).

Second of all, I have never met a dog with a housebreaking or barking issue that wasn't fairly easily solved with regular old training or medical attention. 95% of his books, however, I do use. I see no reason for throwing out a perfectly extraordinary way of training my dogs for a couple of items that I have never seen fit to use with a dog and aren't even part of the "method". It was a different time, and he was the grandfather of an amazing dog training method. I would love to ask Mr Koehler about some of his recommendations, but he has been dead for sometime. There are a handful of people that trained with him or took his classes that may be able to answer some questions or speculate on what he would change now, if anything.

There are always things in dog training that we can take or leave as we see fit. However, the sect of people calling this "war dog" training has just found another argument that is too general to possibly be disputed. Some techniques that are used with dogs, are used with humans in these arguments. When relevant points, written evidence, and facts are logically discussed, what happens is the use of "extinction" (common purely positive technique in if you ignore it, it will go away) comes into play. If we ignore them long enough, they will go away. It's somewhat insulting when these are used on the human parties involved, especially since it's gloated so much about in certain circles. "War Dog training" was a new excuse to me as to why not use "traditional training", as "science" was the old one. It's a general term used to be way more important than it actually is. Science, as it turns out, is the observation that dogs like food as payment. It is also the more important facial expressions on dogs and body language. However, the thing it is not, is a total dog training program for every temperament of dog!! Canines still remain individuals regardless about what are theories are of "how things should run".

The other tactic that is used is to suppress information and make sure everyone allowed in spews the same lines. Look up "traditional training" on the Dogstardaily.com site. Go on, find out if I am lying there, and be sure to read beyond the first paragraph. I have let the Dunbar family know of my disdain for calling traditional training the "darkside". Kelly Gorman Dunbar offered the following in her e-mail "I am going to change any old verbiage that is negative or inflammatory. That is not where I want to take the site." The unfortunate thing, is that's going to be well over fifty percent of the articles that are on there, and the site has already been taken in that direction. Also, the question of how this recently developed site, allowed all these old and negative articles to get on there? There are plenty of new blog postings with the same mantra going on. You need to be an approved author to blog, though not comment. Your comments are however monitored, and this has been a frequent theme in the more fanatical movement that strove to take over the APDT.

When I expressed my concern over new dog owners finding this site with very simplistic information, Kelly Gorman Dunbar offered the following "Ian's big focus is the prevention of behavior problems and early puppy training. That is how he thinks dog behavior problems can be resolved, by teaching people to prevent them". Well that would be all very well and good, if this was disclosed or promoted anywhere on this site in any way. As she disclosed to me in her e-mail "This is a starter resource and we" (believe she meant do not here) "promote working with trainers for anything other than the basics." Which is a good thing, as the accomplishments or graduating class photos of some of the esteemed bloggers there are not too impressive.

It's as likely that an adopter of a rescued adult or someone that did not bring puppy up exactly right in the first place, may very well be the visitor to this site. It's promoted as being the best minds in the industry, and there is no doubt that it's all advice slanted towards one direction and in one discipline. This is why I am so careful as to point people interested in this field towards the open minded trainers. Such organizations are able to speak on the strengths and weaknesses of any method, and through the actual experience of dog training. They also have alliances with people in the biology and behavioral science arena, that may be able to understand that there are limitations to a persons' knowledge, even if they are possessed with a Phd.

Now that being said, I have always maintained that someone who was a merger of the two (training in a measurable way, and not just beginning Novice type stuff) would really be top notch. However organizations and people that instill shame and fear, instead of references and help for dog problems that may be easily solved using another method or tactic.

I could say a lot more here about touching a dog and dog training, and how important touch is to dog training. No I did not say smack or even correct. Touching, shaping, and molding are not domination exercises, but socialization exercises and letting the dog know they can trust you. There is nothing wrong with correctly handling your dog. Nor is there anything wrong with saying the word "No". Dog is about to get into the face of an older dog trying to sleep "No", may distract the dog an avoid an incident. Or perhaps you let the older dog do that, as he is likely too, if you can trust that no over reaction will occur. There is nothing wrong with saying no. This is where this movement becomes so darned dangerous. Now something simple is considered "dominance", "extreme war dog training", and words like tradition that meant practices of a long time are re-termed to indicate "smacking", "helicoptering", or "violence". Excuses are made later that "oh, we weren't talking about you, we were talking about the general "them".

Additionally, if your dog works happily without treats, why would you want to train him to work only for treats? If you don't need to bribe your dog to want to be with you, I don't see why this would be a requirement in dog training. The "Food Critic" article on DogStarDaily.com seems to be suggesting (beyond that traditional is the dark side") to treat your dog at any cost.

At a later time, I will talk about the movement of "pet dog trainer" vs "dog trainer". You can see it in the professional titles of two professional organizations "Association of Pet Dog Trainers" and "International Association of Canine Professionals". How did this come about, and what was the disconnect here? It will be a very interesting article on how the dog training profession views dog owners, and how this effects the philosophies involved!!

Dr Ian Dunbar has a long history with the "Association of Pet Dog Trainers" and it is believed that his business model is part of what started the disconnect amongst philosophies. I believe there are a couple of articles out there or videos in which he may express his regret at this. He has become an professional member of the "International Association of Canine Professionals" which is home to many traditional dog trainers. In my opinion, he is a shining example of someone trying to get it both ways, and hurting animals, people, and organizations in a perhaps unexpected way in the process.

Dog training is a method that improves the relationship, and does not only address a symptom. If you do this the right way, your dog will "wag more and bark less":)

Got a behaviorally challenged pup or adult dog. Call Mannerly Mutts at 207-361-4395 or e-mail mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.