Unlike people who train working dogs, and therefore select the dog they are working with and discard ones that don’t respond properly, those of us who train pets have to work with dogs at all variations in the temperament spectrum, from the ones who need a severe leash correction or even electric shock just to get their attention, to ones that will fall apart from a harsh word. A really good trainer can work with any of these. And a good trainer will know their limitations.

There are clubs in Holland that use ONE method to train EVERY dog that comes in for training…and it works. The only difference is, how much of correction does a dog need, based on temperament.
My bottom line method, what I find works for every dog that I have trained is the cause=effect method..giving a dog a choice between performing a behavior or suffering the consequences, just like we humans do. Hope I helped!

Clicker-training is currently very popular. I’m using it on my new puppy and I have to say that it’s pretty brilliant, it’s very precise and it also forces the dog to think for itself. I also handle and train my dog by using dog language, cooperation, bonding and luring.

Does it work? Yes, it worked on my first dog and it’s working on my new puppy, who has a completely different character. Does it work better than the old-fashioned methods? I believe so. My pup is above average when it comes to self-control and she’s way ahead of the other puppies in class when it comes to obedience training. Much of it is of course breed related, but I believe that the way she’s trained also plays a large role. The dog trainer we have now uses the new methods and he’s trained military dogs, so it’s not just a training method for the softies of this world. Also I believe people like Ben Kersen and Silvia Trkman are using similar methods.

If you’re interested in this sort of training, check out Melissa Alexander’s Clicker Solution’s Group on Yahoo, Turid Rugaas and Roger Abrantes have written some very good literature on dog language and dog communication. Anders Hallgren and Victoria Stillwell both work with what is considered the new methods and there are plenty more to chose from.

If someone suggests a DVD and it doesn’t work for YOU, I can see you blaming that person, but the bottom line is that, if you don’t follow the plan, and if you’re not consistent, then no plan will work right for you.

Google dog training and visit various websites and see which feels most comfortable to you. The training plan you are most comfortable with is the plan that will work best for YOU. The plan that works best for you may not work at all for me and my dog.

There is no plan that will work permanently UNLESS YOU WORK PERMANENTLY. Cesar has many good ideas. He also has some I don’t agree with. Since you’re in the UK, why aren’t you watching Victoria Stillwell’s show? -!-

The problem a lot of people have with Cesar now is that he’s teaching others how to physically correct their dogs in a manner that may very well get them bitten or may serve to further disconnect your dog from you. The forced alpha roll especially is, to me, completely outdated. We have found several trainers who have a more positive outlook on training. He IS correct about the amount of exercise a dog needs in order to be able to focus…however, that idea has been around long before he became popular. Plus, I have a hard time trusting anyone who puts their techniques on TV to "teach" people but then has a disclaimer to never try this without a certified trainer…so what exactly is he on TV for? So we can see how brilliant he is??

Personally, I use two different techniques. I have a shy dog and so, for her, things like alpha rolls and leash pops only serve to terrify her. She only gets positive training through "clicker training" and the "NILIF" (Nothing In Life Is Free) technique. Those things work beautifully for her. My confident, dominant girl gets a stricter training and has been physically corrected but I would never DREAM of alpha rolling her now that I know better…she would likely bite me now if I tried. There are so many websites out there now dedicated to those two ideas, so a quick Google search will help. There are TONS of great books and DVDs to look at, depending on the personality of your dog.

Control Unleashed – Leslie McDevitt
The Power of Positive Dog Training – Pat Miller & Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash – Jean Donaldson

Dog trainers and their techniques to find (they’ve all written books as well):
Jean Donaldson
Ian Dunbar
Leslie McDevitt
Patricia McConnell
Turid Rugaas

This is all, of course, if you want to try a more postive based training method. These trainers are all really great in my book and their methods have helped me with BOTH my dogs. It’s always really great to understand a dog as much as possible before trying to train it, which is where books like "The Culture Clash" and "On Talking Terms with Your Dog: Calming Signals" (Turid Rugaas) . Seems to work out much better.

Of course, if you prefer Cesar’s methods, do it that way. I just prefer these and you might find you will, too.

There is no ‘updated’ training method – just new methods that everyone will jump on for a while, then eventually find something wrong with it and move to a different method. The best thing to do is find your own way of training that works for you, and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.

But if they dont have any signs at all..the best thing that you can do is to train them, it will takes gradually but will be worth it eventually. If they poo/pee on your house, make it sure that you smack them with the rolled news paper, dont worry it wont hurt them, the noise makes them scared and think that they done wrong. Keep doing it, until they give you some indications that they need to go outside just to pee. It wont happen for wks, it will takes a months..just be patient.
and when they do it then, you need to reward them of something. they love squicky toys or dry foods.