Control Unleashed and When Pigs fly books

[johann]

Any reviews of these? A local trainer offers a control unleashed class based on the book/exercises, and I'm really thinking of getting Johann enrolled in the next class. He is great onleash, but has no future as an off leash rally/obedience dog or agility because he Just Does Not Listen.

Another one I saw is "When Pigs Fly: Training Sucess with Impossible dogs". I can't tell if this one is more pet dog/manners based instead of competition focused.

Any feedback on either book?

 

[Sansal]

I love the control unleashed book. I'm sure some of the basic stuff you already know but there is definitely a lot of good training advice, ideas for games etc in there. Are you thinking of signing up for the class that TR teaches? I might actually sign up for one with Happy myself. We haven't been able to continue with agility because she is so uncomfortable around the other dogs.

 

[johann]

That is the class I'm thinking of. The times/days for the current classes don't work with my schedule, but I may do one this summer. Let me know how the class goes- seems like it has gotten great feedback from other students so far.

In the meantime, going to borrow Control UNleashed DVDs from my trainer and see what I can do on my own.

 

[whiskers]

I love Control Unleashed! Even better if you can find a CU inspired class, as most of the exercises in the book are geared for a class setting - I have found it difficult to start from scratch, implementing them in real life situations - but the concepts are great.

When Pigs Fly was good too but it left me a little disappointed. It basically focuses on finding what your dog will work for, thinking outside the box... a "when pigs fly" kind of dog is only interested in the training game if there's something in it for them; so you might not have a food or toy motivated or handler oriented dog, but you can reward with sniffing, toys to destuff, chasing squirrels, whatever it is your dog naturally WANTS. I think it also focuses a lot on shaping/capturing behaviors instead of luring, because a "pigs fly" dog is more willing to work WITH you if they think it's their own idea, instead of being coerced into it. It's good information, I was only disappointed because a lot of the information can be readily found online.