Advanced Schutzhund

Great book that explains Schutzhund, how to select and raise a candidate dog, how dogs learn and get motivated, and the details of the 3 phases of level 3 competition and practical solutions. I got because I was interested in learning more and preparing for my first Schutzhund dog... it doesn't have everything I need as a complete novice, but I know where to go for the lower level information.

Ivan's and Karen's book was extremely helpful and is a must have. It gives you some problem solving techniques and advices you how to approach most common problems. I especially liked the suggestions on overcoming distraction issues. The different methods described really teach you how to think like the animal, and use it's innate abilities to your advantage. In the end you get a wonderful, obedient world competitor that is happy to do everything you ask.

Training for Schutzhund has been an art passed on by club members. Most of the successful trainers in this sport are not as effective as teachers for the adult human. This book has bridged the gap providing effective communication to the handler on how to communicate effectively with the Schuthund dog.

Too often in the dog sports we find ourselves looking for answers to training problems. There are many good books that give an overview of schutzhund, but not many that get down to the meat of things. I received my copy of this book just a few days before a trial and found myself thumbing through the book to find a solution to a pre-trial problem with my dogs Guard and Bark. Ivan and Karen's well thought out book, not only pointed out where my problem came from, but offered a solution. Not many fixes work that easy, but I walked away with a Sch II on my Malinois after the trial was over. Advanced Schutzhund will be in the equipment bag along with the sleeves and the dumbells from now on.

This book is well written and helps to explain a very complex subject. Ivan's methods are humane and help develope the dog's natural abilities based on the dog's drives. I found this book to be in the same catagory as Helmut Raiser's "Der Schutzhund(translated by Armin Winkler), Gottfried Dildei and Sheila Booth's "Schutzhund Obedience" and Sheila Booth's "Purely Positive Obedience". All three of these books are outstanding and should be a part of every Schutzhund trainer's library. "Advanced Schutzhund" adds the finishing touches to competition training.

This book will take you from buying and raising your first puppy to the trial field. Ivan's training methods work by making the dog work to please you and how to REALLY be your dog's bet friend. Better then 10 seminars. Douglas Loving, Chantilly, Va