Comments on: Clicker Training for Obedience Shaping Top PerformancePositively

By: Jill M Henry

Jill M Henry — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:53:04 +0000

A great clicker training book!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I loved this book. If you have had an introduction to the basics of clicker training, it describes in great detail how to shape even the most basic to more complex behaviours, and the theories behind it.
If you are new to clicker training, then try to attend a clicker clinic or even rent clicker videos first to help you visualize how it all works. Once you and your dog understand the principle and the “rules” , every training session will nothing short of fun! Anyone from the recreational dog owner to the more serious competitor will benefit from this book.

By: D. Golovatchoff

D. Golovatchoff — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:19:55 +0000

Clicker Training for Obedience
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Here is an excellent and thorough book for teaching not only basic obedience but advanced exercises as they occur in AKC Open and Utility competition. I was already familiar with clicker training from my agility classes but found this a wonderful way of promoting willing and happy performance of sometimes complex behaviors. Do away with choke and prong collars, “ear pinches” and leashes and instead motivate your dog with clicks and treats. I found the variable reinforcement plan for heeling got my dogs to really focus and want to stay with me in perfect heel position, and the step by step descriptions for training directed jumping and scent discrimination especially detailed and helpful. This is clearly a book that has been very well thought out and planned by someone who also knows how to write lucidly.

By: R.T. JOnes

R.T. JOnes — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:32:32 +0000

DogRead book of the month
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book was chose to be on the prestigious ‘DogRead’ as a book selection of the month. We only do 12 books a year and this was July 2001. The author comes on line for the whole month to answer questions on the book. It was very well received by our 3000 member email group. The author was very knowledgeable and easy to understand even though also very in depth.

treshell owner DogRead
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By: S. Dodson

S. Dodson — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:54:28 +0000

Best book on clicker training
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Clicker Training for Obedience: Shaping Top Performance-Positively

Best resource for anyone interested in using the Clicker method of training for obedience and just a well rounded and happy dog. All thumbs up!!! I only wish I had found it sooner.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:48:32 +0000

Not for beginners!!!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This book was way too technical for me. All I wanted was book that gave me the basics of clicker training and a how to guide for very simple tasks. This is definitely not for the beginner or nonprofessional.

By: The Big Dog's Mom

The Big Dog's Mom — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:07:01 +0000

Not too impressive in person either.
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I met Mr. Spector and we had a long and rather uninspiring talk about various methods of dog training. To be honest I had no idea who he was, the name didn’t ring a bell and I’ve been training dogs for decades. He recommended his book and I borrowed it from a fellow trainer. I was as unimpressed with the book as I was with him and can not recommend it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:09:56 +0000

Even my dog loves this book
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m one of those obsessive types. Before I got my dog I read tons of books about raising and training them. I only wish I had found this one first. Every other book I read focused on what I was doing and how I was doing it. Morgan Spector makes you understand that the key is in the dog — which when you think about makes sense. Even though I have no intention of competing with her, I know that the most important things are being accomplished with the help of this book. Most obviously, she has been invited to visit my parents because her manners have improved so dramatically thanks to this book and its techniques. Don’t hesitate — if you aren’t comfortable yelling at your dog, Morgan Spector is for you. By the way, you can theoretically clicker train anything, so this book can help you with recalcitrant cats, children, and husbands too.

By: Jouko Hoo

Jouko Hoo — Sat, 08 May 2010 07:25:21 +0000

European view
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
From european point of view the drawback of the book is that it describes the tasks of american rules for obedience trial. As we in europe have different set of tasks in our obedience trial the book did not fill the need for specific instructions on those tasks. I was also looking for more structured and simplified clear instructions in the book things are more of discussed through. Still the book was worth the money paid for it. It has lots of grounds for why to do this way. The basics of the book is fluencies on what the obedience tasks are based on and those same fluencies are still usefull with european rules too.

By: E. Hughes

E. Hughes — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:31:19 +0000

The Bible of Clicker Training
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have never seen a dog training book like this. My dog is a crazy, hyper maniac without any focus but since I've been following this book he is learning insanely fast and having a blast doing it. I trained him to follow the target stick and the first time I ever tried it he heeled BEAUTIFULLY with it. Left turn, right turn, about turn, he was staying with me without crowding me, lagging or anything. He had no leash on! He was just following the stick! When I took the target stick away HE WAS STILL DOING IT! He had VERY little heeling experience before this. All I could get out of him was to maybe follow me somewhere in the realm of heel position for about 10 feet. Turns were out of the question. Not anymore! It's like....the target stick finally clarified it in his mind.

If I want to show him how to position himself for any behavior I just lead him with the target stick. Where the nose goes the body follows. He remembers the motion. Once he learns the que I can take the stick away. It's amazing.

For every dog I've ever worked with...clicker training has been a way of great motivation and very clear communication...hence the fact dogs catch on fast...but no book I read compares to this one. It's the closest you can get to having a very wise trainer with you showing you. He's very detailed and tries so hard to save you from making any mistakes that you will regret later. He helps prepare you for the path ahead and keep from digging any pits you'll later fall into. Having never competed in anything other than Rally and Conformation I need this!

You see...clicker training is a VERY POWERFUL, VERY EFFECTIVE, VERY FAST training method....but it's only as good as the trainer! You need knowledge! This gives you that knowledge!

I will update this review after I start trialing. I am certain I will be very successful. I've been to trials and the biggest problem I see is the dog not having what's expected of him clear in his mind to start with.

By: Courtney L. Lewis

Courtney L. Lewis — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:32:00 +0000

A Densely packed reference
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
In his introduction, Morgan Spector mentions that it took him approximately 6 years to write this book and you can see why. He has produced a book so densely packed with up to the minute references, detailed instructions for various obedience exercises, and managed to still lace throughout a profound love and respect of animals. Owning up to old, outdated, and cruel methods of training, Spector gives lots of credit to pioneers of clicking like Karen Pryor and has put an excellent bibliography within the book. If any criticism exists, it would be that some exercises are hard to picture (purchasing Peggy Tillman’s “Clicking with Step-by-Step Pictures” would be a helpful adjunct) and also Spector has used precise scientific language which causes the reader to slow down during certain passages. A fabulous book and a must on your shelf if you plan on doing fun and intensive training.