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Awesome Obedience
- GenresDogsNonfictionAnimals
270 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 12, 2019
Looking for a great introduction to the details of obedience trials?
Curious to understand how positive training and precise training can overlap?
Well written (Hannah is hilarious and on point) with great illustrations and photographs to enhance the material through the book this is a great addition to a dog trainer's bookshelf. Even if, like me, obedience isn't your jam you'll learn lots and think even more about how to use science effectively in training. I really appreciated the clear look at many terms that confuse people: latency, fluency, luring, and so much more. From the basic skills needed, through to polishing a performance to getting in the ring and winning - this book will quickly become a classic. It's earned a spot on my shelf beside my favourites!
Curious to understand how positive training and precise training can overlap?
Well written (Hannah is hilarious and on point) with great illustrations and photographs to enhance the material through the book this is a great addition to a dog trainer's bookshelf. Even if, like me, obedience isn't your jam you'll learn lots and think even more about how to use science effectively in training. I really appreciated the clear look at many terms that confuse people: latency, fluency, luring, and so much more. From the basic skills needed, through to polishing a performance to getting in the ring and winning - this book will quickly become a classic. It's earned a spot on my shelf beside my favourites!
August 14, 2021
This is a “cookbook” full of tons of “recipes” to get started in competition obedience. The way Branigan breaks tasks down to their smallest components may seem tedious at times but they really add up into clean, enthusiastic behaviors. The heeling chapter in particular was very beneficial for my dog and now she has beautiful head placement and brisk, joyful heeling. I’ve seen plenty of flat dogs at trials and handlers over correcting things so a positive training based book like this that is so thoroughly detailed is a wonderful resource for any obedience competitor who believes the sport can be mutually enjoyable for dog and handler alike.
May 9, 2020
I finished this months ago and forgot to review it 🤣 Fantastic book for teaching a dog all levels of competition obedience from scratch using only positive e reinforcement methods. Not sure if I’ll ever get on the competition obedience train with my current dogs, but definitely keeping this in my back pocket for a future sport prospect!
April 28, 2023
I really appreciated the great detailed plans for training specific exercises, definitely intend to go through at least a few of those even though we're not planning on actually competing in obedience! Hannah also has a wonderful way of just thinking through any training situation and breaking it down.
January 19, 2020
Easy, on point and perfectly written! My dog could probably read this and get obedience👏🏼
December 14, 2021
Entirely positive reinforcement/clicker-based books on competition obedience are a rarity--and this book fills that niche. A nicely illustrated book with step-by-step instructions on training all of the behaviors required in competition obedience (especially AKC obedience, but not exclusively so).
Unlike many older training manuals that provide a nod to the possibility of competition, this book does not stop at Novice--in fact, it doesn't even really *begin* at novice, because rather than organizing the program according to competition level it organizes them according to theme. The earliest phases of the program are building blocks to future behaviors; you don't start with heeling, you end up there after working on a variety of smaller pieces. You build the framework for exercises that you won't see in competition until Open or Utility before you've put together everything for Novice. In a lot of ways, it makes a lot more sense--applied well, it hopefully prevents a lot of training problems (and resulting NQs) before they ever occur.
While the book is set up in a way that enables it to be followed systematically, I haven't personally found that I can do so with my dog--this isn't really a failing of the book, just a function of each dog being an individual. I do find there is a little lack of clarity on how much the dog is expected to know at the beginning of the program, which again--is generally fine, because this is going to be different for everyone who picks up the book. I started it with a recently-acquired young adult dog who appeared to know "Sit" and his name, and a weak "Down." Another person might come to it with a dog that is already almost ring-ready using a different method, or a brand new puppy.
The great beauty of a book like this is that, even if it doesn't work perfectly for you and your dog, it's a solid foundation and it isn't going to do harm in the way more aversive methods might. It's definitely a book on competition obedience, and probably won't fit the needs of someone looking for basic good manners--but if you are interested in dog sports, it's worth reading.
Unlike many older training manuals that provide a nod to the possibility of competition, this book does not stop at Novice--in fact, it doesn't even really *begin* at novice, because rather than organizing the program according to competition level it organizes them according to theme. The earliest phases of the program are building blocks to future behaviors; you don't start with heeling, you end up there after working on a variety of smaller pieces. You build the framework for exercises that you won't see in competition until Open or Utility before you've put together everything for Novice. In a lot of ways, it makes a lot more sense--applied well, it hopefully prevents a lot of training problems (and resulting NQs) before they ever occur.
While the book is set up in a way that enables it to be followed systematically, I haven't personally found that I can do so with my dog--this isn't really a failing of the book, just a function of each dog being an individual. I do find there is a little lack of clarity on how much the dog is expected to know at the beginning of the program, which again--is generally fine, because this is going to be different for everyone who picks up the book. I started it with a recently-acquired young adult dog who appeared to know "Sit" and his name, and a weak "Down." Another person might come to it with a dog that is already almost ring-ready using a different method, or a brand new puppy.
The great beauty of a book like this is that, even if it doesn't work perfectly for you and your dog, it's a solid foundation and it isn't going to do harm in the way more aversive methods might. It's definitely a book on competition obedience, and probably won't fit the needs of someone looking for basic good manners--but if you are interested in dog sports, it's worth reading.
January 8, 2025
I would like to give this a higher rating, as it is probably the (second)* best book to introducing people to obedience trials and competition obedience. However, I found the info within a bit scattered. Some exercises, for example position changes, would go into delightful detailed breakdowns to make it easy for the reader to follow along and explaining how each of the steps affect the other. Very beginner friendly yet detailed. Other exercises would be lucky to get a paragraph, with no step by step breakdown or explanation on the importance of each step and how they affect each other and long term obedience goals. So for the disparity, a little lower than I would like to give.
Lots of photo illustrations. Where the book is good, it is very good. Combining the history of American dog sports, covering some minor details that lead to success such as clear footwork.
*Since reviewing this book I have read "The Gentle Dog Training Method", which despite being over 30 years old, is a very good and positive introduction to formal obedience. I found it way more useful and better laid out than Awesome Obedience.
Lots of photo illustrations. Where the book is good, it is very good. Combining the history of American dog sports, covering some minor details that lead to success such as clear footwork.
*Since reviewing this book I have read "The Gentle Dog Training Method", which despite being over 30 years old, is a very good and positive introduction to formal obedience. I found it way more useful and better laid out than Awesome Obedience.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews