About the Book
15 Years In The Making - Here's the REAL STORY on how to teach dog training classes! REAL classes with bitchy owners, howling spaniels, aggressive rescued dogs, kids at the end of a lead attached to a Rottweiler, in tiny halls with slippery floors, in windswept fields, with unhelpful bystanders, you name it - We've done it! Me and my friend Rowna learned the hard way and I've written down what I know so you can save yourself time, money, trouble and heartache and get to be as confident as we became after a few hundred training classes with a few thousand owners and their individual dogs in much less than half the time. I've collected dozens and dozens of methods and arranged them into a handy A-Z of dog training, and then there's a very useful section on how exactly to treat over fifty problems in the foundation exercises. There's handy tips on class control, how to deal with difficult owners, what to do about problem dogs, and everything I have learned over the years about how you make classes exciting, great fun, super safe and get the owners to learn much faster and in an atmosphere of calm support. Thousands of copies of Take The Class! have been sold worldwide and it has been received with joy and more acclaim than we have space for on this site.
If you are at all interested in many different dog training methods, how to teach properly and with absolute confidence, you really should invest in this manual.
Table of Contents:
Take The Class! Central Section - Contents * Acknowledgements 6 * Foreword 7 Part I - The Ideal Instructor * The Overview 8 * 1. Job Qualifications 8 * 2. Responsibilities 9 * 3. Job Specifications 9 * 4. Owners 9 * 5. Dogs 10 * 6. Training 10 * 7. Running Successful Classes 10 * 8. And Lastly ... 10 * The Ideal Instructor 11 * Knowledge 11 * Experience 12 * Effectiveness 13 * Attitude and Personality 14 Part II - Owners in Class * A. Dealing with Owners 16 * 1. The Owner/Instructor Contract 16 * 2. People In Class 18 * Men in Class 18 * Women in Class 18 * Husband & Wife Teams 19 * Children in Class 20 * Elderly People in Class 21 * Handicapped Owners & Handlers 21 * 3. Dealing With Difficult Owners 23 * Exceptional People Situations 24 * B. Instructing The Owners 26 * 1. Owners and Instructors 27 * 2. The Owner's Agenda 29 * The Basic Companion Class 29 * The Intermediate Class 31 * The Advanced Competition Class 33 * 3. Owners and Methods 34 * "Five Minutes On The Floor" 35 * Class Atmosphere 37 Part III - The Dog in Class 38 * A. The Florence Nightingale Principle 38 * 1. Running a Calm Class - The Stress Factor 40 * What is Stress? 40 * The Signs Of Stress 40 * Causes Of Stress 41 * Practical Tactics to Lower Stress 42 * 2. Dominance and the Dog Obedience Instructor 45 * The Problem With The Old Dominance Paradigm 47 * The Dominance Triangle 49 * B. The Society Under The Chairs 51 * Dog Behaviour & The Class Pack 52 * C. Factors Influencing Training Progress 54 * Age 54 * Breed 54 * Individuality 55 * Sex 55 * Temperament 56 * Size 56 * Prior Training Experience 57 * D. "Just Naughty" 58 * 1. Physical Problems 58 * 2. Psychological Problems 58 * 3. Training Problems 59 * E. Problem Dogs & What To Do 60 * 1. Seriously Disturbed Dogs 60 * 2. Borderline Cases 60 * 3. Potential Problem Dogs 61 * The Barker 61 * The Flyer 61 * The Snapper 62 * The Frightened Dog 62 * The Hyperactive Dog 62 * The Dog That Won't Do Anything 63 Part IV - The Training Class * A. The Venue 64 * Outdoor Classes 64 * Indoor Venues 65 * Split Venues 66 * B. Class Components 67 * Spectators & Bystanders 67 * Assistants & Assistant Instructors 68 * The Demonstration Dog 69 * C. Equipment 70 * The Instructor's Bag 70 * Recommending Equipment 70 * Clothing 72 * Articles 73 * Toys 73 * Retrieve Articles 73 * D. Safety In Class 74 * 1. Dog Training Class Safety Survival Rules * 2. Dog Bites 76 * 3. Controlling the Class 77 * Authority & Confidence 77 * Confidence Tricks 79 * Class & Group Authority 80 * E. Practical Class Control 81 * 1. Beginnings and Endings 81 * 2. Talking in Class 82 * 3. Controlling Movement and Placement 83 * Positioning & Control 85 * Do's and Don'ts of Class Positioning 86 * Voice & Control 86 Part V - The Instructor's Job * A. The Basics Of Instructing 88 * 1. Teaching A Brand New Exercise 88 * The Explanation 89 * The Demonstration 91 * Class Demonstration Pro's And Con's 92 * The First Application 94 * 2. Correcting Faults In An Exercise 96 * Verbal Corrections 96 * Correcting The Whole Class 97 * Praise 99 * Praising The Whole Class 100 * 3. Supervising Practise 101 Part VI - Obedience Class Planning 102 * The Curriculum 102 * Teaching What? 102 * The Lesson Plan 103 * Example Lesson Plan 1 106 * Example Lesson Plan 2: 107 * Class Patterns 108 * 1. Rules & Safety In Class Pattern Work 108 * 2. Useful Patterns For You 109 * Moving Out 109 * Heelwork - Automatic Pilot Patterns 110 * Advanced Automatic Pilot Patterns 111 * Stewarded Patterns 113 * Mixed Patterns 113 * Basic Class Patterns - Stays 114 * Temperament Test Patterns 115 * Patterns For Exercises At The Distance 115 * Super Safe Patterns For Distance Exercises * Patterns For Part Of The Class 116 * Patterns For Stationary Exercises 116 * Combination Patterns 117 * 3. Patterns and Instructing 118 * Patterns and Practise - Heelwork Suite 119 * Patterns & Practise - The Working Suite 120 Part VII - Take The Class! * The Week Before Class 121 * The Night Before Class 121 * The Hour Before Class 121 * The Class 122 * The Hour After Class 123 * The Week After Class 123 * About The Author 125 Take The Class! Section 2: EXERCISES A-Z S. A. Kent Contents A * Advanced Heelwork 5 * A-Recall 5 * A Scent 7 * ASSD (Advanced Sit Stand and Down) 7 * Automatic Sits 8 B * Back 8 * Backing Away Exercise 8 * Box Training 9 * Buffalo Girls 9 C * Commands 10 * C Scent 10 D * Distance Control 11 * Distraction Training (DT) 12 * Dominance & Relationship Exercises 13 * Down Position 15 * Down Stay 17 * Down at a Distance 17 * Drop on Command 17 * Drop on Recall 17 F * Filler Exercises 17 * Finish - Continental (German, Left Hand) 18 * Finish - English (Right Hand) 18 * Flat 19 * Forced Retrieve 19 * Formal Retrieve 19 * Footwork 19 * Fun Exercises 20 * Fun Retrieve 21 G * Games 21 * Grooming 23 H * Handler's Finish 23 * Head 23 * Heelwork 23 * Heelwork - General 23 * Heelwork - Global Commands 24 * Heelwork - Companion 24 * Heelwork - Companion - Corrections 26 * Heeling Off Lead (Heel Free) 27 * Heelwork - Competition 28 * Heelwork - Competition - Position 28 * Heelwork - Competition - Handler's Posture * Hot Lead see Heeling Off Lead 29 I * Instant Down (Drop On Command) 30 * Instant Sit 30 J * Jumping 31 K * Kindergarten Puppy Training (KPT) 31 * Kill 34 L * Long Down 34 * Look 34 * Loving Recall 34 * Loving Retrieve 35 O * Off Lead Training 36 P * Play 36 * Play Retrieve 37 * Present 37 * Puppy Recall 38 R * Recall 38 * Recall - General 38 * Recall - Full Progression 39 * Recall - Competition Novice Recall 40 * Release Commands 40 * Retrieve 40 * Retrieve - Formal Retrieve 41 * Retrieve - Play Retrieve 42 * Round Robin Recall 42 S * Scent 43 * Retrieve or Scent? 43 * Scent - Progression 44 * Scent - Competition Scent 46 * Scent On Cloth - Progression 47 * Seek Back 47 * Sendaway 48 * Socialisation Exercises 51 * Socialisation Exercises - Dog/Dog 51 * Socialisation Exercises - Dog/People 53 * Stand Position 55 * Stand for Examination 56 * Stay Command 57 * Stay - Sit, Down and Stand Stay 57 * Stays - Out of Sight 59 T * Temperament Test 60 * Tricks 60 * Turns 61 * Turns - Right and Right About Turn 61 * Turns - Left and Left About Turn 61 V * Verbal/Voice Commands 62 W * Walk On 63 * Watch Me 63 Take The Class! with S. A. Kent Section 3 - Trouble Shooting Training Problems Contents Introduction 1. Positions * Down 4 * Dog won't go down 4 * Dog goes down but gets up again immediately 4 * Sit 5 * Dog won't sit 5 * Stand 5 * Confusion On Stand 5 * Sideways Movement 5 * Forward Movevement 5 2. Recall * Recall - Return 6 * Dog won't come at all 6 * Dog does not come in a straight line (Banana Recall) 6 * Dog comes in too fast 6 * Dog runs past owner 7 * Dog returns too slowly 7 * Dog comes in class but not when outside 7 * Recall - Stay 8 * Dog won't stay 8 * Dog anticipates recall command. 8 * Recall - Present 8 * Crooked presents/off centre presents 8 * Present too far away. 9 * Dog slows down noticeably just prior to present. 9 * Dog anticipates finish. 9 3. Heelwork * Heelwork - Dog's Behaviour 10 * Dog climbs up the lead/jumps 10 * Dog chews lead/grabs lead. 10 * Dog wraps foot over lead/tangles in lead. 11 * Heelwork - Dog's Position 11 * Dog lags (too far behind). 11 * Dog pulls (too far forward). 12 * Dog crabs (walks across the handler). 12 * Dog too wide/weaves (moves between tight and loose heelwork position). 12 * Heelwork - Halts 13 * Dog halts wide/crooked. 13 * Dog heels in class but not when out of class 4. Stays * Stays - Basic Behaviour 14 * Dog won't stay at all 14 * Dog won't re-assume position once it has broken a stay 14 * Dog tense and likely to get up from the down stay/sit stay. 14 * Dog lies down on the sit stay. 15 * Dog shuffles or moves on the stand stay. 15 * Dog steady in sight but moves on out of sight stays 15 * Dog moves when owner steps away 16 * Dog moves on return 16 5. Retrieve * Retrieve - Play Retrieve 17 * Dog shows no interest in any article at all 17 * Dog picks up article but won't return 17 * Dog runs out after article but won't pick it up 18 * Dog won't retrieve/hold any other than it's usual article 18 * Dog drops the article 18 * Dog drops the article when commanded to sit. 19 * Dog won't give up the article 19 * Dog pounces on article 20 * Dog chews/mouthes article on return 20 * Dog mouthes/throws back article on present 21 * Retrieve - Formal Retrieve 21 * Dog won't open mouth to accept article/fights the article 21 * Dog accepts article being put into it's mouth but won't reach out for the article 21 * Dog takes the article from the owner's hand but won't pick it up off the floor 22 * Dog does not hold the article cleanly (mouthes, rolls, chews, throws back the article) 22 * Dog won't go out to the article 22 * Dog hesitates before picking up the article 23 * Dog pounces on article 23 * Dog returns slowly 23 * Dog drops article when handler reaches for it.
Review :
Take The Class! has been proved so useful to our club in so many ways. It is absolutely excellent, we recommend it to every one of our new assistants and refer to it often. P. Scholey, ABIPDT, Cobham DTC - Dear Silvia, having purchased most of your range of books and tapes over the past years I continue to use them for reference. I am in the process of training three members of my club to become assistants. Your book, Take The Class! is a great source of reference to them as it is the only book that I know on the market which doesn't simply tell you about how to plan the class, what shoes to wear and what the floor surface should be like but also give advice to on what to do if you have dogs eyeballing each other or you have petrified owners. Angela Pitman MIACE, BIPDT, APDT, Fido DTC - I have enjoyed Take The Class immensely, in fact have not been able to put it down and I feel sure it will prove to be invaluable for many years to come. I thought the advice given, the humour and the so obvious insight into all aspects of dog training and an instructor's role, absolutely excellent. I will certainly recommend that this book should be read, indeed must be read, by anyone who is involved in teaching dog obedience. Thank you for your help. Mrs Liz Killick - Dear Silvia, I recently purchased your book Take The Class and was so impressed with it, I just had to write and compliment you on your ability to write so concisely and informatively on what I consider a minefield of a subject. For the past few years I have been the secretary of a dog training club. I also assist on a one-on-one basis with behaviour problems within the class. However I have never wanted to "take the class" as I felt that I had neither the knowledge or the confidence. By the time I had finished reading your book I had been transformed from a dog handler into someone who has now the confidence to say that I have the knowledge of knowing where to start setting up a course of instruction. Thank you for writing an interesting, readable and immensely helpful book. Mrs Joyce Cooper - Dear Mrs Kent, I have just finished reading your book Take The Class and I felt I must write to say how much I enjoyed it. I have been training dogs for many years. The last ten I have run the Dawlish Dog Training School. All profits go to charity and we have managed to donate just over GBP30 000, a record we are very proud of. The School has four qualified trainers with years of experience and two assistant trainers, we have 300 doggy pupils attending 28 classes each week for Obedience, Agility and Flyball. What I really enjoyed about your book was the fact that we seem to think and work alike, I agreed with almost everything you said, you also reminded me of several exercises which we have not used lately, and one or two problems which have occurred recently I was able to check in the book to see if I had handled the situation as you would have done. I have read many training manuals in the past, most of them I consider rubbish, but I am keeping Take the Class in my office and I am using it regularly as a reference and to remind me of exercises which can make classes more interesting. We can all get stale and become repetetive, we follow a structured course which has proved to be most efficient but at our next Trainers meeting when my other trainers have read your book I am sure we will be making alterations, especially to the advanced competition class. Good luck with all your future activities, if you ever chance to visit Devon, please look us up, we would be delighted to see you in any of our classes with best wishes, Pat Neale, Principal Trainer, Dawlish DTS - Dear Ms Kent, thank you for my copy of "Take The Class!". It's Brilliant!!! All obedience instructors should be made to read it! I was going through a de-motivated patch at club recently but Take The Class has put things back into perspective and has made me laugh. I found your comments on Kindergarten Puppy Classes especially interesting, it explained so well some of the problems we had been experiencing. Good luck with the book, I hope it sells a million yours sincerely - Jackie Mallins - Dear Mr Burnett, Some time ago you sent me "Take The Class!" and made a note that you would like to know if it was use to a ringcraft instructor as I had mentioned in my order. My reaction was to write back immediately and say "of course it will be!!" but I have waited for the first term to be over to give you a proper assessment. I can now say emphatically that it has been of great benefit to me as I am neither trained a s a teacher nor as the Obedience girls were by a Police Dog Handler. Everything applied to my class. I have to be in charge, responsible for saftey, not overbearing, helpful, etc. I had fumbled through a few weeks before I read about your book and what a difference! I structured the class, wore something distinctive to make me stand out and give me confidence, carried my notes on a clipboard and did much more, all as suggested and did it work! It made the world of difference and everyone noticed, right away. So yes. This is a book for ALL who instruct anything to do with dogs. Yours sincerely, Mrs M Marshall Breed Judge & Ringcraft Instructor - Thank you for sending your manual "Take The Class!". This has proved most helpful as a resource and a "Back up" for the One Day Instructional Course I had planned for our dog club assistants and would be instructors. The day was highly successful and had all the participants requesting more! With many thanks - BC Pearson, Senior Instructor, Twyford DTC - Dear Mrs Kent, I am absolutely delighted to have discovered your book "Take The Class". How refreshing to find a book that deals with the practicality of dog training, putting across How To Teach in such a readable and instructive way. This was certainly a book that is much needed and one which I will value greatly. Yours sincerely - Neil Watts BIPDT, Senior Instructor, Lucky Dog TS - Dear Mrs Kent, I have recently received your book "Take The Class" and I am so pleased with it. I take training classes and so the information contained in the book is so useful, I refer to it every week when I set out my plan for training. Also when there is a problem in an exercise, it is so helpful to have something to refer to you can trust to work every time. I call it "my instructor's bible""! Thank you very much, you have made my job so much easier Sharron Davies (Mrs), Instructor - Have You Read? The Subtitle of S. A. Kent's oversized 300 page manual is "Success Strategies For Dog Obedience Instructors". It is written in an anecdotal, friendly style and is easy to read, and some of the wise advice is bound to stick where it is most needed. Silvia has had wide experience with different top class overseas and British dog trainers. She is a compassionate woman who hates to see dogs and their owners humiliated in front of other members of the class, so the first part of the book is an easy treatise on people psychology. The book then progresses to analyzing the types of dog temperament which may be encountered, with emphasis on dogs with problems which may prove to be a barrier to learning. She illustrates the practical use of the space available in the venue via new patterns and training games and variations which will keep the class interest high for dogs, owners and the trainers. Finally, there are detailed lists on how to teach exercises and perhaps more valuable still, what to do when there are problems - a goldmine of good ideas. A good buy this, and an essential part of the kit for every trainer, every class, no matter how long it has been running. Kay White, Review From Dog World.
