Reviews

• V-OB-AMS-2 Video Review - "Competitive Obedience (Novice)"

  |By: Karen Fyke

  What an excellent video for the serious obedience trainer (by that I mean anyone contemplating walking into an obedience ring with their dog and hoping to do a good job). The presentation is well thought out, concise in demonstration, and explanation and totally understandable. Never once did I think "now what is she doing?" or "why is that dog doing that?" or "why is that person scratching their whatever." There was no time wasted in following unnecessary scenery. As a matter of fact, I didn't even get up for a coffee without pressing "pause." The premise for training with AnneMarie Silverton is that you train for the enjoyment of the sport and your dog. What!? No getting furious, stamping of feet and stringing your dog up (preferably with all fours off the floor) How wonderful -- sound like fun! I'll bet the dogs work a lot better and more consistently for praise and positive motivation than for fear of what will happen if they don't. To briefly summarize the video, all training consists of three phases:

  1. Teaching and motivation - the dog must first learn what it is you are asking of him, guided by the use of food, visible motivators and gently physical aids. You MUST praise enthusiastically for every action in the right direction.

  2. Correction - once the dog understands the exercise, if he fails to do it correctly he is given a mild correction and asked to repeat the exercise. Never give a dog an automatic correction - this is unfair, ruins motivation and teaches the dog no matter what he does he'll get a correction.

  3. Proofing - the dog must be good and consistent doing the exercise. He is proofed to ensure that he will perform constantly in any realistic situation.

  I guess what impressed me the most about this video is its usability. Once the kids are in bed, hubby plugged into the TV and the four other dogs shut up in the dog room, I get to work with Fido...if I remember what they taught me to do at obedience class five nights ago. Now it will be so easy to review the section of the video I want to teach and just go to it, everything fresh in my mind. Plus I can think of a few instructors who could really benefit from this video, to freshen up a few things in their minds.

  The step by step, logical progression of the training and the positive, up attitude of the trainer make this video a MUST for this obedience enthusiast. And yes, they do have a video for Open and Utility and for Selecting and training a Competitive Puppy.

  For more information or to order, contact Canine Training Systems at 573-214-0900.

• V-OB-AMS-2 Video Review - "Competitive Obedience: Novice"

  |By: Barbara Goodman

  HIGH CLASS VIDEO....... Over the years I've had the opportunity to view many training videos, some good and some bad. With out a doubt one of the best that's landed in my VCR lately is ANNEMARIE SILVERTON'S COMPETITIVE OBEDIENCE covering Novice level. This video is a polished, professional endeavor that breathes life in what has a tendency to sometimes be "keenly" dull in other videos. Visually as well as narratively, the action holds your attention and provides an indepth approach to Novice techniques that will surely benefit the viewer. I have not yet seen the Open or Utility segments, but I do highly recommend AnneMarie's Novice video. The video, incidently was filmed at the Silverton School For Dogs in Stockton, California.

  Barbara Goodman

  FRONT & FINISH

  NOVEMBER 1990

• V-OB-AMS-2 Video Review- "Competitive Obedience: Novice"

  |By: Edi Munneke

  There are so many good handlers offering seminars and clinics to the general public that there is no excuse for not learning how to train your dog to be a top performer--all you need is lots of time and lots of money. Of course, it help if you are working with a dog that has a good variety of titles in its pedigree. I have just received an excellent videotape from Canine Training Systems,. Ltd., 7550 West Radcliff, Littleton, CO 80123. The Novice routine is presented by AnneMarie Silverton, a top obedience trainer and competitor from Stockton, CA. She not only works with the usual Golden, Sheltie and Border Collie, but she tapes various other breeds--an Afghan, a Pomeranian, a Poodle, a Dalmation and a Labrador--all working equally well.

  Silverton believes in motivation from the very beginning. All of the dogs are enthusiastic, while at the same time very precise. You are shown how to lead the dog step-by-step through the various parts of the exercise. The exercise is never put together until every individual part is perfect. The Finish is taught as a separate exercise. The dog is never allowed to walk in on a Recall, but is always motivated to run by using food, toys and so on. After the Come is perfect, it is combined with the Finish to make the complete exercise.

  Retrieving is taught as a game before the "force retrieve" is taught. The tape does not show the type or degree of force. No doubt that lesson will be taught on the Open tape.

  The Novice work is taught with Open and Utility in mind, which makes sense because the basic work will always be needed and is very difficult to correct if it is taught incorrectly in the first place. The quality of the tape is excellent and the methods are professional and humane. Silverton has trained some outstanding dogs, and I am sure her suggestions would be very helpful to any dog handler or trainer.

  PAGE 46--SEPTEMBER 1990--DOG WORLD

• V-OB-AMS-SET Video Review- "Competitive Obedience: Novice, Open & Utility"

  |By: Helen Phillips

  TAPES TO REMOVE FROM THE SHRINK WRAP
  by Helen Phillips
  
  ANNEMARIE SILVERTON'S COMPETITIVE OBEDIENCE TRAINING TAPES
  
  Puppy Training $49.95
  
  Obedience I--Novice
  
  Obedience II--Open
  
  Obedience III--Utility
  
  Available from: Canine Training Systems, 9325 East Saint Charles Rd. Columbia, MO 65202
  
  Statistics may be available on how many do-it-yourself tapes have been sold throughout the USA but is is doubtful that anyone has done a survey on just how many of these have ever really been taken out of their shrink wrap, how many have been watched all the way through and just how many are considered worth their price. With the popularity of the videotape help-yourself movement, everyone -- regardless of their ability to speak, demonstrate or run a camcorder -- has wanted to get into the act and the result is a myriad of simply gruesome film.
  
  The light at the end of the tunnel is AnneMarie Silverton's four truly excellent dog training tapes on competitive obedience -- so professionally produced that they are a pleasure to watch; so well thought out that they don't have to be viewed over and over again to be understood. While AnneMarie appears in the demos and in some narration, most of the voice-over is smoothly done by a professional announcer and the picture quality is first-rate.
  
  The puppy tape contains a wealth of excellent material and wonderful ideas for those interested in doing some fun and gentle training during their puppy's early months. Topics covered are the moving watch, the play recall and motivated play front, the sit, down and stand and puppy go-backs. The philosophy behind each training technique, as explained in the narration, helps the viewer appreciate exactly what it is they should be trying to accomplish with the pup which should be of great value in all future training endeavors. This is not a tape for anyone wishing to complete a U.D., or even a C.D., before the pup is a year of age; it is designed for those wanting to have a fun time with their puppy while giving him a slight head start on future obedience work.
  
  The disappointment with the puppy tape is that it doesn't seem to be entirely sure of its direction. Although billed as a competitive obedience tape, at least the first twenty minutes of the tape cover general information on what to look for when buying a puppy and some general puppy care. This is information one would assume that most people buying a competitive obedience tape would already have. Far more useful would have been graphic descriptions of what to look for in the structure of the pup and demonstrations of puppy testing with an explanation of the results.
  
  Packed full to overflowing is the Novice tape which includes the moving and stationary watch; controlled sit; slow, fast and normal pace heeling; right, left and about turns; sit, down and stand stay; fronts and finishes; doodling in and out, back and up; signal sit and down; holding the dumbbell and glove; stick jumping; controlled jumping and the play go-out. Naturally, some exercises are given more emphasis than others.
  
  The foundation of AnneMarie's training philosophy is that the dog should be taught in three phases: a (1) teaching and motivating phase (2) corrective phase and, finally, (3) a proofing phase. She doesn't recommend a lot of gimmicks or equipment -- a riding crop or dowel, a couple of broad jump boards, jumping stick, treats and a toy will accomplish just about anything a handler wants a novice dog to do.
  
  Stressed throughout is the importance of motivation and attention, the usefulness of teaching the dog each exercise correctly in order to create a solid foundation on which the open and utility exercises will be based and the significance of avoiding pattern training. The ultimate goal is a willing and enthusiastic performance and a dog who can continue to be shown without becoming bored and stale. To this end, exercises are frequently half work and half play -- the dog is never quite sure which it may be.