THE TOOLBOX FOR BUILDING A GREAT FAMILY DOG
by Terry Ryan
DO OVER DOGS - GIVE YOUR DOG A SECOND CHANCE FOR A FIRST CLASS LIFE
by Pat Miller
FOCUSED PUPPY
by Deb Jones and Judy Keller
MINDING YOUR DOG BUSINESS - A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO BUSINESS SUCCESS FOR DOG PROFESSIONALS
by Veronica Boutelle and Rikke Jorgensen
UNLOCKING THE CANINE ANCESTRAL DIET - HEALTHIER DOG FOOD THE ABC WAY
by Steve Brown
DOMINANCE THEORY AND DOGS, 2ND EDITION
by James O'Heare
CAUTIOUS CANINE - HOW TO HELP DOGS CONQUER THEIR FEARS, 2ND EDITION
by Patricia McConnell
KIDS AND DOGS - A PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO HELPING FAMILIES
by Colleen Pelar
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julia
Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Dec 2008
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Tue December 09, 2008 3:46 PM
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I was following some of the threads on here recently (although I must admit I did not read everything) and thought I would add my two cents to the topic.
A few weeks ago I purchased the Don Sullivan package I saw on TV. Not to actually train my dog, but rather to see what it is all about. I was kind of hyped up about it and very curious. Personally I train using more traditional methods (koehler) , but that is not what I am here to discuss. I just want to give you all my thoughts on the DS "system".
Personally I thought the "system" was a huge rip off! The only part of it that is worth any money is the DVDs. The command collar (for lack of a better term) is a piece of shit! Not only that, but could easily break, proving to be dangerous to the untrained dog and dog owner. I can see someone using this collar and easily losing control of their dog as the dog breaks free from the collar!
The freedom training lines are worthless. DS seems to think that you can only have success using these lines. He is a good sales man and tries to pitch you these collars and lines. I will tell you differently. Save yourself the money, go to the hardware store and buy some rope. Cut them in three different lengths and you will have your "freedom" lines. You are probably better off buying them at the hardware store and picking a better quality. DS lines are made from hollow braided rope-if your dog chews through these again you can have a dangerous situation.
The DVDs are definitely worth money. But definitely not $59+tax. I would say maybe $20-30 for the DVDs alone.
The information on the DVDs was great. He shows how to execute commands and addresses many of the "what ifs" that a person with an untrained dog may have. I do agree with him on a lot of things he had to say. He did shed some light on other topics including dog parks, and how to train a dog to retrieve. What I don't agree with him on is the premises of his training methods. He talked briefly on his beliefs about dogs and he made it sound as if he believed that all dogs by their very nature are "bad". I do not believe this. On the other hand I do not subscribe to the line of thinking that "all dogs want to please. We just need to show them how". I personally believe that dogs are opportunistic and left untrained can become problematic. I do not think that all dogs are bad like DS believes. My mother used to say to me "an idle mind is the devils playground". I think dogs need to be mentally stimulated and kept active or else they can fall in to the pit of "bad behaviour". Some dogs are bad, others are good by their nature.
I also did not line how his product is very deceiving! When I saw the commercials I thought I was going to be buying a dog training system not just a collar and lines with DVDs. I thought he actually had a method! I thought he was going to be like David Dikeman. I loved the David Dikeman videos and audiotapes. I miss that guy!!
What I found deceiving about the Don sullivan system is that while he pitched his collar and leashes non-stop...he rarely used them himself! In most of his DVD he was using a choke or pinch collar! He was even using E-collar in some parts. Very deceiving and disappointing.
Oh and the "tricks" section of his DVD was stupid! I can get my dog to do those things. I when I think tricks I think dancing, back vaults, etc. No climbing up on things and picking up items! I was hoping to see some fancy tricks.
Overall the DVDs are okay if you are just looking to teach a dog some basic commands. The rope and collar on the other hand are complete garbage! If they sold the DVDs alone I would say they are worth paying for ($20-30 max). One would be better off buying the DVDs separately and then heading to the hardware store for some rope and a prong collar. Personally even though I subscribe to more traditional dog training methods, I don't really like the prong because of spring like feel to it making it hard for corrective turns. I rather use a choke collar or martingale. But that is just my preference. I also like e-collar work, but understand this may not be an affordable option to everyone.
As for other TV trainers..well I have various opinions on them. There are thousands of people who swear by Cesar Milan and it makes me sick! There is even one local Milan fan who comes to my local dog park and "whispers" to the dogs by going "shh" to every dog he sees as "aggressive" when they are being...dogs! This guys swears by Cesar and thinks he is the be all and end all! I like some of what Cesar says, but I have never seen him actually train a dog! He is more of a dog behaviourist (if you can even call him that?)
Brad Pattison is better IMO. While I don't like everything he says, I do see that he actually trains dogs. I think his methods draw mainly from Koehler. I was on a few yahoo lists where his name came up (posts from years ago before he was on TV) where this had come up. I think he is OK, and his show is entertaining. On the other hand, like Cesar, he is not the be all and end all of dog training. There are people that follow his methods and are not willing to hear anything else. I do not like that, I think at the very least people should be open minded and willing to learn even though they do not agree.
Like I said, I believe in more traditional methods. That said I do have an Ian Dunbar book that I am reading right now.
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RottieWoman
Senior Member
Posts: 4535
Joined: Nov 2006
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Tue December 09, 2008 4:51 PM
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julia
HI!
echoing Susan :-) ..........check out anything by: Karen Pryor, Bob and Marian Bailey, Sophia Yin, Jean Donaldson, Suzanne Clothier, Pamela Dennison, Susan Garret, Kay Laurence, Ken Ramirez, Victoria Stillwell <also a tv-trainer alternative>, Terri Ryan, Paul Owens, Ted Turner, <late> Patty Ruzzo, Dr. Patricia McConnell, Dr. Karen London.............
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Rottie Mommy in WI - USA
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