Sileny Method Training

[Texrab]

Is there a big difference or any difference in The Bill West vs. Rick Smith Vs. Janet's video on Silent Training? Can you learn as much off one of the videos versus going to a training seminar? I have heard great things about seminars and Rick Smith is coming my way in September. I guess a better question is has anyone attended a seminar and felt like it was worth the extra money versus getting a video?

[Greg Jennings]

Because you're from my home town and I really like ya, I'll tell you what I've found....

The biggest help I've had has been going to visit a pro trainer that handles my breed/line of dog and helping them train for a couple of days. Repeat as often as possible.

A video or a seminar puts a picture frame around a small part of a really big space out there.

You really need all the space around that frame in order to put what the trainer is doing into context.

With that foundation, I think you can pick up lots of tips from videos and seminars. Without it, you'll have to "paint in" all that space around the picture frame by yourself.

BTW, I'll be in the MJ area Labor Day weekend if you want to get together. I'm not a pro trainer, but I'm a little ahead of you in trudging through the swamp and would be happy to point you to where I found my answers. Yours might be different but you might find them in the same places.

Best regards,

[Britmandogs]

Texrab, IMO there is big difference in the methods of training that you mentioned, the silent piece of the West method is really a small part of the method, many people don't understand that part. To me it really comes down to how the dog is handled during training and the steps involved.

To answer your other question a good seminar is worth every penny. A good video is also worth every scent, like the video of the training seminar that Bill West and Bill Gibbons just did in Texas. Nine hours of excellent information. But as was previously mentioned nothing beats spending one on one time with a pro but that is not always an option.

[TAK]

Britman sumed it up!

[kninebirddog]

Rick Smtih seminar is a very good one...Everyone that attended Ricks seminar said it was the best one they had been to "Got more then their money's Worth"...which some of them had been to others and didn't feel the same....

but then it all comes down to what you feel works for you...
I thought Ricks seminar was extremely good myself ...and talking to Rick about the accomplishments he and his dad have done ...Awesome...The most incredible one is that of Handling the only brittany to win the 3 hour endurance Pacolet Cheyenne Sam and also about some of the other they handled to HOF status.....


Any of the dvds are great reminders to the seminars....
I have asked Rick to think about putting together a series of tapes taping a weekend seminar like John Lyons did with his horse symposium...I know I would buy it in a heart beat....

[Small Munsterlander]

I attempted to post this earlier but for some reason could not. So some of this has already been stated.

There are considerable differences between the Smith and Bill West methods and to a smaller extent the philosophies behind the silence portions of each.

As Greg suggests seminars are only a large snapshot in where you and your dog are at attendance time. The videos or DVDs are a good follow-up because during a seminar you are likely going to be bombarded with information that few can totally absorb. The big plus to the seminar is you can ask questions. Hard to do with books, videos, and/or DVDs. And of course you can get answers. But even more important to many is you get to be observed and receive feedback about your handling. (I'm talking timing and consistency). Often lacking with many newbies and even some experienced handlers. Perhaps as equal in value is the instructors are also experienced at teaching (humans). Some pros are not.

Having said that Greg's suggestion of seeking out a pro might be the next best choice. An additional factor that many often forget and the students also are unaware of, people learn in different ways. Some learn best by doing, some by reading, some by watching and yet others by trial and error (hard on dogs but works for the person). Fortunately, most learn by a combination of these and other methods. So everyone can learn from each of the above sources if they are motivated. Bill

[ezzy333]

I don't know how many of you get the channel RFD but they have a couple of hours of horse training on everyday. It's too bad someone doesn't do that with dogs. Would be a great show. Either tape the seminars or better yet just tape a half hour segment of the actual training and show it once a week.

Wonder what it would take to get someone interested in doing it?

Ezzy

[Ayres]

Wonder what it would take to get someone interested in doing it?

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