Dutch Shepherd Forum

I've read recommendations for Susan Garrett's Crate Games dvd on here and all over the internet. I'm tempted to buy it since I could use some tips and fun ways to help Zane with his focus/distraction proofing, but it's really quite expensive for a dvd and I've read reviews that suggest you need a big yard and multiple crates to take full advantage.

Do any of you who have it recommend it? And, if so, would it work for an apartment dwelling dog without access to a yard? If not, are there other general purpose training books/games/dvds you'd recommend?

I wanted to buy it also. If it is really worth it I will.

Leih - I think you know about crate games. What's your opinion on purchasing the DVD?

I highly recommend it. It's only when you get to the more advanced games that you need to have outdoor space.

If someone wants to pay postage both ways, I might be convinced to loan it...

leih merigian wrote:I highly recommend it. It's only when you get to the more advanced games that you need to have outdoor space.

If someone wants to pay postage both ways, I might be convinced to loan it...

I'm sold!! I am going to purchase it. Thank you for the offer of lending it, but I want to have it for the archives.

lol I kinda laughed cause when I was first considering purchasing it I also though it was a little expensive... now after compiling almost the entire Michael Ellis collection and a whole bunch of other sport dog DVDs.. man at $30 odd bucks I think it's a friggin steal! :p

It is worth every penny! It is very much a foundation of a lot of Susan Garrett's stuff. I've done her online Recallers course and crate game foundations were mentioned over and over and one of the first go to foundations for solving training issues. They really do teach so many valuable behaviours and patterns upon which you can further build on all sorts of more complex training.

You absolutely do not need multiple crates and a large field. Not sure why some one would say that. You will be perfectly fine with a single crate in a tiny apartment. Most of the initial concepts you can certainly do in a small room if that's all the space you have.

cool, thanks everyone! I think we'll get a copy next payday.

And regarding other recommendations:

Since we're on Susan Garrett.. her book Ruff Love is often recommended. I personally didn't enjoy it, as I was reading it I was already doing most of what she was talking about so it was a bit of a waste of time (I was a little ticked because the person who recommended I buy it knew me well enough to know this was going to be a redundant read for me) but there is some good stuff in there. It's pretty much a book about NILF.

I much more enjoyed her other book Shaping Success and have gone back to it a number of times. It's essentially a training journal of her raising one of her dogs so it contains tons of great info about the type of training she does, how she solves all sorts of problems she had with this pup, it describes a great number of her foundation games, and many of the other games she uses to build focus and drive in her dogs.

My one other favourite which was one of the first books I have read would have to be The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. I think every dog should come with it as a manual. It's funny, witty, and really puts into simple terms how dogs learn and what are some effective ways to change their behaviours. It does a really good job of separating myths and unrealistic expectations people put on their dogs from facts and realities while training.

Read Ruff Love and I really liked it. Actually, Odin was put on this program when we got him. Husband reading Control Unleashed now (I'm next) and we just bought Culture Clash along with Dogs are from Neptune. Needless to say, we'll be doing a lot of reading for a while. Oh, and bought Fight by Jean Donaldson too. Just started Click to Calm by Emma Parsons.

We are new to the dog training/behaviour world and find it really interesting. Also, learning so much from all the experienced dog trainers/breeders/handlers right here.

Thanks! I'll check out Shaping Success, that sounds like exactly what I'd like to read. Sometimes it's hard to see how to fit certain types of training into everyday life, so a journal-style account with foundation games sounds perfect for me.

I also recently ordered a few of Patricia McConnell's pamphlets (the cautious canine was the one I was particularly interested in since Zane is sometimes scared of guests in the house) to see if those are useful. Has anyone used her materials?

You can also rent it. http://www.bowwowflix.com/detail.php?id=83

It's like a Netflix for dog training DVDs.

alexis wrote:I also recently ordered a few of Patricia McConnell's pamphlets (the cautious canine was the one I was particularly interested in since Zane is sometimes scared of guests in the house) to see if those are useful. Has anyone used her materials?

Patricia McConnell's materials are highly regarded. I have some of her books.

CaroleBoaz wrote:You can also rent it. http://www.bowwowflix.com/detail.php?id=83

It's like a Netflix for dog training DVDs.

Thanks - that's amazing! Renting it sounds like a much better plan than buying (at least for the first viewing!).

CaroleBoaz wrote:You can also rent it. http://www.bowwowflix.com/detail.php?id=83

It's like a Netflix for dog training DVDs.

I've never seen that site! That's awesome! Thanks

CleanRun.com also has pay per view available for many of the DVD's they sell.