The Best and Worst Dog Trainers - Page 3

Einstein did bad in school. He didn't know how to tie his shoes until he was in fourth grade, I believe.

I think he had high functioning autism, but I don't think they were diagnosing that back then.

I agree that the best dog trainer is one who continues to gain knowledge about canine psychology and new training techniques to see what works better in their program and for them.

Link to Chaser

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaser_(dog)

Researchers now have a fish that can distinguish between individual human faces by spitting water at individual faces it knows .. it seems the critters are catching up with the humans or perhaps we never had much of a lead to begin with.

Thanks for the link. I learned something new. We have a fish tank and I notice the fish seem to know when people are around. Can't say I'm a big fan of the tank though, it seems like a high maintentence hobby around here...

Any way, going in a different direction, General W N Hutchinson was a reknowned dog trainer and author in the mid 1850's,  and also is mentioned here in a rather interesting read, "Bygone Performing Poodles".

Some trainers were showmen, obviously.

The celebrated dog-trainer of the second half of the 19th century, General Hutchinson, remarked: "It is hard to imagine what it would be impossible to teach a dog, did the attainment of the required accomplishment sufficiently recompense the instructor's trouble. Most of us have heard of the celebrated dog 'Munito', who, at some private signal from his master, quite imperceptable to the spectator, would select from a pack of outspread cards that which the spectator had named to the master in a whisper, or merely written on a piece of paper." General W. N. Hutchinson, Dog Breaking: the Most Expeditious, Certain, and Easy Method Whether Great Excellence or Only Mediocrity Be Required With Odds and Ends for Those Who Love the Dog and Gun (London: John Murray, 1909; first published, 1848; 10th edition mentioned in introduction to the 1909 edition: this masterpiece has a hefty bibliographial history), p. 237. 

Hutchinson continues: "You may have seen the account of the marvellous tricks which Monsieur Leonard, by kindness and perserverance, taught his dogs Philax and Brac. That a dog could be tutored into playing as good a game of dominoes as a man, may sound preposterously unreasonable, but the respectability of the writer compels us to give credence to the recital...." to which paragraph (434) he attaches this illustration of Domini and "Dominos"; and follows with his own observations of a troupe of dogs performing on the street, according to immemorial tradition. 

Munito had many imitators, among them "the scientific bitch" (who could read and count, tell time, and describe colours); the immortal Signor Corvi used Poodles in his show in the park of St. Cloud in 1850; in 1860, Bianca (a Poodle) amazed with her ability to translate and to write in 19 languages. (Henry, pp. 17-8.)

http://poodlehistory.org/PCIRCUS1.HTM

First, a modern trainer (and one that's posted here from time to time) Claudia Romard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of0tm5Vlbpc

Anyone who can train a JRT to do that, is pretty darn good in my book! If you look at her website, you'll see that Mr. Murphy was quite a challenge, too. The thing I love the most about this video is the way his little tail is wagging as he's hanging off the sleeve. He's obviously having the time of his life.

Second, Ivan Bablanov gained my respect when I talked to a lady who's in a wheelchair, and found out Ivan had showed her how she could still train her dog to protect her, despite her physical handicaps. (She'd done schutzhund before, so that helped.)

 

 

Third, I'd like to say some words in support of 2 trainers who are frequently dissed in the dog world.

Did you know that William Kohler was an animal trainer for Disney, and trained the cats for The Incredible Journey and That Darn Cat? Yes, there's some awful stuff in his book (taping the dog's mouth shut, etc.) but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Anyone who can train cats has to know how to adjust their training to suit the animal in front of them. And IMO, THAT is the difference between a good trainer and a bad one: - the ability to adjust their methods and tailor them to the individual animal, instead of just using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Secondly: Cesar Milan.

Cesar certainly does things I don't like. He is often too confrontational when working with problem dogs. It makes for exciting TV, especially when he gets bitten, or almost bitten, but is not good training. But what I DO like are some of the things he constantly shows in his training: tailoring the method to the breed, stressing the need for exercise for both the dog's mind and body, and setting rules and boundaries. I've seen far too many positive-only trainers let the dog do whatever it bloody well pleases! (Well, maybe not the trainers themselves, but the people who supposedly follow their methods!)

Cesar has also shown his willingness to learn, and to listen to other trainers. In one of his books, he interviews a number of the top people in the dog training business, and has them explain their approach. He interviewed people with very different approaches, for example, Ian Dunbar and someone from the Weatherwax family, who trains dogs for movies and TV.

Lastly, I love Cesar for his support of pit bulls, and showing that humans are at fault when it comes to dogs being aggressive. The dog breeds should not be punished/banned for the problems we have caused!

beetree, when I studied animal behaviour in university, I learned about Clever Hans, a horse that could do mathematical problems by tapping out the answers with his hoof.

Some scientific-minded investigators were trying to figure out how he did it, and asked Han's owner to hide behind a screen while the horse was performing. Hans was unable to solve the problems with his owner out of sight. It turns out he was relying on some cue in his handler's body language that was too slight to be noticed by anyone else.

The one that understands that he is only just as good as the DOG he/she is training.

The one that learned to read the GSD breed back words, and puts the dog before dogma.

Some of you might enjoy this fascinating read, a history of dog training— in the paper entitled, "The Evolution of Modern-Day Training & Obedience" by Mary R Burch, PhD, dated 7/15/2002

 

Of note for this thread, is the mention of: Helene Whitehouse Walker.

Dogs shows in taverns

Beginning in the late 1700s, in England, informal dog competitions were held in events much like county fairs. By the 1800s, informal dog activities had become popular. Many events were held in local taverns and the townspeople came to cheer on their favorite dogs. A British tavern called The Blue Anchor was the main headquarters for the Toy Dog Club, and a specialty show for Toy Spaniels was held in The Elephant and Castle tavern in 1834.

In 1859, English dog fanciers held the first organized dog show. The show included only Pointers and Setters, showing the interest at the time in dogs who had been trained for sporting activities. Fourteen years later, The Kennel Club (England) held its first official dog show.

As in England, the earliest interest in organized dog training in the United States focused on sporting dogs. In the 1700s, George Washington maintained a kennel of foxhounds at Mt. Vernon and competitions involving pointers, setters, and hounds were popular. In 1884, a growing national interest in pure-bred dogs resulted in the formation of The American Kennel Club. Initially, the primary focus of the AKC was to maintain a stud book and serve as a central governing body for dog shows.

From the mid-1880s until the 1930s, there were no obedience events at AKC dog shows. An idea that was borrowed from other countries, dog training was becoming well known in the United States in the 1920s, even though there were no AKC obedience competitions. Owners could have their dogs boarded and trained by professional trainers. Some owners trained in groups and had local competitions. Training dogs for competition and to earn AKC titles didn’t begin in this country until 1933 when Helene Whitehouse Walker decided to show everyone that her Standard Poodle was far more than just another pretty face.

 

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Helene Whitehouse Walker

Walker was a breeder of Standard Poodles, dogs who were thought of by many at the time as “sissies.” She knew about the behavior tests that were being held in England for working dogs. An effective and persuasive woman, Walker began approaching dog clubs and breeders with her idea of holding competitive obedience tests at dog shows. In 1933, in Mount Kisco, New York, eight dogs competed in America’s first obedience trial. The slogan “Train Your Dog,” became popular across the country and in 1934, North Westchester Kennel Club and Somerset Hills Kennel Club held obedience tests at their conformation shows. By 1936, the American Kennel Club had developed and was using the “Regulations and Standards for Obedience Test Trials” at licensed obedience events.

 

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On the road again

Inspired by the public’s enthusiastic response to obedience and dog training, in 1937, Walker, her friend Blanche Saunders, and their dogs went on the road in a 21-foot-long trailer to give obedience demonstrations across the country. In 1941, the New England Dog Training Club became the first obedience club to become a member club of the AKC. Dog training had arrived in the United States!

 

- See more at: http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/article/the-evolution-of-modern-day-dog-training#sthash.TlAHZqJp.dpuf

Dogs are the best dog trainers. Most of the abilities which dogs have that humans value are those the dogs are born with ... No human can teach a dog to track .. they know it from puppyhood. Most of our training involves learning to communicate our desires to the dog in the case of poor trainers and learning to listen to the dog communicating with humans for the good trainers. Putting the dog's inherited talents on cue does not constitute training anything other than communication which is what most so called dog training is. The history of the relationship between dogs and humans is one of the dogs training humans more than the humans training the dogs. The most recent and most likely scenario of how dogs joined into a symbiotic relationship with humans has the dogs domesticating the humans rather than the humans domesticating the dogs. The history of evolutionary advantage gained between humans and dogs generally favors the dog versus his closest relative the Grey Wolf who did not domesticate itself. In remote areas where wolves are more numerous and humans are less murderous and numerous wolves have made friends with both domestic dogs and humans.
 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150322-romeo-wolf-dog-animals-wildlife-alaska-ngbooktalk/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/130302-dog-domestic-evolution-science-wolf-wolves-human/

Those were some really sweet reads. I fell in love with Romeo, myself! I totally agree with your point about dogs training humans, as my dog Mojo, has been training us for a very long time.

Here is a rather entertaining history from the first member inducted into this canine profressional organization's, Trainer Hall of Fame. Quite a few trainers of note on that list.

The following is an excerpt: 

Frank Inn dog trainer

(taken from 'How to get your Pet into Show Business' by Captain Arthur Haggerty) 

In the mid-1930s a car came sailing across the highway and smashed into Frank Inn. He was rushed to a hospital in Culver City, California, where he was pronounced dead by Dr. George Ham and sent to the morgue. A group of student morticians were waiting for their instructor to appear. They were learning embalming, and their project lay in front of them-Frank Inn. Thank God, the instructor was late! One observant student determined that Frank was still alive. It was not to be the end of Frank Inn but rather the beginning. If it weren't for that sharp-eyed student there would be no Cleo, no Benji, at least not in the form that we know them. 

Frank had an enormous hospital bill staring him in the face, and no hospitalization. A friend, Art Close, took Frank under his roof and started the long nursing process to bring Frank back to health. Frank, confined to a wheelchair, was housebound. Art's son, Bobbie, had a dog that "followed me home." Bobbie's mother tried unsuccessfully to find the owner of the stray, much to the joy of her son. The stray's owner probably knew the dog was in a family way and wanted to avoid the responsibility. Shortly thereafter the stray presented a litter of pups to the family. The dogs were placed, except for Bobbie's favorite. The boy explained to Frank that if Frank told the family he'd like the dog for company the pup could stay. The Closes gave permission, and Frank had company when the family went to work and school. Both he and the pup learned from one another. 

Frank's companion, 'Jeep'-named after a dog cartoon character, preceding the fabled American military vehicle by a number of years-managed to take a dump in his room and nearly wound up at the pound. Frank, wheelchair bound, couldn't walk Jeep and had to learn about housebreaking. Fast! The solution was to cut a hole in the door. There were no doggy doors then but the family made one. Thin slices of sausage were what Frank used to motivate Jeep. One day the paperboy arrived and Jeep put his mouth on the paper. Frank threw a sausage to stop Jeep from slobbering on the paper. The ritual continued every day. Frank knew how to stop Jeep from slobbering on the paper and Jeep learned how to get sausages. The movement of one arm and one leg was all Frank could manage at the time, but Jeep picked up on those cues. They taught one another how to teach Jeep to retrieve and hold the paper. When asked today about food reward, Frank says, "I use whatever is necessary to do what needs to be done." Frank is not a "foodie." He is a trainer. 

One day, when Frank was encouraging Jeep to come closer, he reached over the side of his wheelchair. Frank tumbled over and the chair landed on Jeep, who let out a ghostly series of howls. Jeep was pinned under the wheelchair. A neighbor, hearing the howling, came rushing in and righted Frank while releasing Jeep. The neighbor told Frank if he needed any help at all to let him know. Now Jeep was afraid of the wheelchair. Frank encouraged him to come closer with the ever-present sausage. It was slow work, but Frank had time and was making progress. One day Frank was again leaning over the side of the wheelchair and, again, it nearly tipped over. This time Frank righted himself before falling, but not before Jeep started to bark. Frank learned that he could get Jeep to bark with a wiggling movement of the wheelchair. He could also get the neighbor to come in and help him reach something by getting Jeep to bark. Frank, Jeep and the neighbor were well on their way. They were all learning about training. "Training is nothing more than common sense" explains Frank, "which few people have." He is quick to add, "including politicians." When Frank was back in one piece, or in a series of semi-mended pieces, he returned to work at MGM. The people at the studio liked Frank, and knowing of the accident, gave him some light work sweeping up cigarette butts. One day on the set he watched Henry East the grand old man of film training, handle a dog for a film on the sound stage he was sweeping. Frank spotted the error that East was making in his handling of the dog. The dog was supposed to climb up a flight of stairs, enter a bedroom, jump into bed, crawl under the covers, and stick his head from the other end of the covers and bark. The dog was not working because East put the food reward he was using under the covers. The dog smelled the food, and rather than climbing under the covers, he bit at the blanket where the food was located. Frank told Henry he had a dog that could perform the routine. The skeptical East said, "Oh, yeah. I'd like to see that." The cast and crew broke for lunch, and Henry continued practicing to get his dog to perform. Frank went and got Jeep. He showed up and repeated his statement to Henry East. Frank took a ball and used it to lure Jeep up the stairs into the bedroom and onto the bed, and gradually he got Jeep further and further under the covers. Frank tricked Jeep into thinking the ball was under the covers and the dog worked his way down under the covers and out the other side. By this time Frank had replaced the rocking, tilting chair with a finger signal, which he gave to Jeep. Voila' Jeep barked! Henry East was impressed. He offered Frank fifty cents a day and a place to sleep if Frank would come to work for him. Frank explained he was making $29.10 a week. East said that, in addition to the fifty cents, he would give him $5.00 a day for each day at the studio. Frank accepted. East putting a roof over his head was worth money, and what Frank didn't tell East was that his salary was garnisheed because of his hospital bill. After the $15.00 for that was deducted, he netted $11.00 a week after taxes. At fifty cents a day Frank was on his way! 

Sport is just a trick training and I do not care what anybody won. Yes it is great to be the best in sport. But that make you only great dog sport trainer. But IMO the best dog trainer is the one who can make the dog to do what his owner wants the dog to do. Best dog trainers actually train dog for work. Now people like Ivan Balablanov can do both. I admire Balabanov. I also admire Cesar Milan not just for how he can fix dogs which is my passion but also his life story. The guy is truly great.