Absolute dogs training/online training classes?

[Wolfie11]

Hello,

I have an 11 week old Alaskan Malamute puppy and I am keen to start some kind of training course. He was booked in to puppy classes that I planned to carry on as he got older but obviously at the moment we don’t know when we will be able to attend. It has been a long time since I’ve had a puppy, I lost my last Alaskan Malamute at 11 years old last year.

I have been looking at the Absolute Dogs website and was quite intrigued. It seems slightly different to how I have trained previous dogs. Does anyone have any advice? They seem to have a specific puppy dvd/download and an online academy that runs month to month but I’m not sure which would be best (if either!). Or, if this is more of a gimmick, can anyone recommend any others?

Thanks in advance, pictures of the little monster attached @ 8 weeks and nearly 11 weeks.

[jbhelent]

Well, I have done quite a few of the courses. They can be quite repetitive and I have grown a bit tired of all the irritating hype at the beginning of each video (fast forward 5 minutes if you can). However, if you stick to one of the cheaper short courses used to "lure" you in such as STAS, you will be fine. The games there definitely help build a relationship with a puppy. After that I would STOP. The price you pay to hear all that hype for a simple game is not worth it. Some of the videos in the top price courses are too long to stream well and keep breaking up. Having said all that, if you can ignore all the irritating: "Hi Gamechangers, you are definitely in the right place" etc.ad nauseam, you can pick out some insights into dog behaviour from Tom Mitchell's podcasts. Nothing totally new and world shattering enough to justify the overall price though.

[TheVeryThing]

I have mixed feelings about the AD programme. I have done sexier than a squirrel, the boundary games DVD, and naughty but nice 7 day challenge.
The games are fun and a good way of connecting with your dog and building a relationship but if you have a dog who is quite challenging it will take a very long time and a lot more than a few minutes a day to see changes.
I got sucked in with the ads for changing your dog's behaviour and having great recall in just 25 days and I think it's very misleading.
Once you get into it a bit more, read the facebook group etc, you may realise that really you need a slightly different programme and that's more money to fork out.
They do explain some concepts quite well and if you are prepared to invest the time, you will have a much better understanding of your dog.
However, the marketing is annoying and it all feels a bit cult-like at times.

[PollyRoulson]

Although to check it out without paying they have a free sexier than a squirrel podcast and you tube channel

[PollyRoulson]

There is no doubt that Absolute Dogs are good at marketing. However they do organise the games in a way that the owner (with no previous experience) and the dogs know what they are doing and why they are doing it.

If you are happy working on your own and motivated enough to follow video tutition then it is a good programme.

freedombecking absolute dogs take on board that all dogs prefer different ways to grasp a concept and that is why you will get numerous different games (approaches) to try.

It is a pretty harmless fun organised approach to train your dog. Your dog will enjoy it.

[freedombeckoning]

It is not that you are not good at the games. One method does not work for every dog and owner. Look up.. how to teach your dog a recall..on the internet. Oh how I wish I could help you as training a dog is really like everything else, very simple when you know how.

[freedombeckoning]

I am a retired dog behaviorist, training class instructor, have worked competitive obedience, and much more for many many years. There is an enormous amount of hype about Absolute Dog and in my opinion it is indeed very, very clever as whoever thought of the idea is making one heck of a lot of money. Training through play is what I and every other reward, positive based instructor have been teaching for years. All training I have been involved in is in fact play to the dogs and fun for owners. For example, every reward based trainer will probably start with what is known as the puppy recall. This is not just for pups but for all dogs starting to learn a recall. I wish I had called it the chase mummy game or something similar, put it on a dvd together with other games and made a fortune too. That is actually what Absolute Dogs have done. In fact all this information is available on the internet absolutely free. Teaching through play is an age old concept. Taking financial advantage of people who are needing to learn a new skill (in this case.. how best to teach their dog) is despicable to me. Consider... if you want to learn how to knit.. would you spend over £100 on a dvd?

[Chocolateandamaretto]

It's not a magic bullet by any means but we did sexier than a squirrel and still use the games out and about to keep our dog's focus on us. He really enjoys all the kibble throwing stuff. I will say they have a lot of content on youtube which is free so maybe have a look through that first before you commit?

[OohMrDarcy]

We love absolute dogs! It is very marketing heavy, but I just ignore all that.
The games based training is fantastic, and me, the kids and the dog all love them - its an easy way to get kids interacting with the dog in a way that actually helps the way we want to grow him (rather than their usual method of encouraging over excitement!)

It isn't cheap, but I do think its worth it - the facebook groups / lives / extra challenges all help bring the training academy together, but I also use TA to extend / find alternate games when needed.

If you are looking at the specific courses, absolute puppy is the newer version of pup 2 perfection (which was one of their first offerings I think). However if you look at the cost of it - its the same as 5 months of the training academy. That also includes calm and boundary games badges which are invaluable. All the games in the puppy programs are available in TA, the only difference is specific guidance for doing them with a pup and showing how to grow it.

I definitely recommend it as a training method, it can take longer to get a bomb proof dog, but when you do they should be the bomb proof in all situations, rather than needing retraining for any new scenarios they come across.

[Dee99999]

I’ve just completed the 25 week Sexier than a Squirrel course on line delivered by Absolute Dogs. Whilst it’s true the games encourage engagement between owner and pet I haven’t achieved the basics of recall and to stop jumping. Maybe I’m just not very good at the games! It hasn’t worked for me.

[DreamingOfAFullNightsSleep]

I was going to a training class with my fairly new rescue dog based on Absolute Dogs, so using all their resources. The trainer was great and my dog did improve. Mind, we still have huge issues, I have a thread up about her now as we're really struggling with her behaviours.

The other dogs on the course made huge improvements! And my dog did too, just we have such a lot to work on, and had to go in reeeeeeally tiny steps due to her anxiety eg she wouldn't let the trainer play a game with her or touch her for 4 weeks of the 6 week course. The second has been cancelled after 1 session due to the current situation.

I thought the theory was very good, and the games have been great... and again lots of our issues now are lockdown related. Overall though I'd take her back/use this method

[jinxpixie]

Here is a link to the boundary games ebook-I think it still works. It may help you decide. It is not the best one for encouraging to stay close to you. I think it leash off game on would be better for that.

BUT dont blame me if you enter your email you will get a lot of emails but very easy to unsubscribe

[Voldethought]

After reading this thread I was intrigued and have been looking at the website. Does anyone have any thoughts about the ‘Boundary Games’ dvd? I’ve got a 10 month old springer who, true to breed, is wildly excitable on walks. Her recall is pretty good but she has a tendency to wander a little too far away from us for my liking - I’d like to encourage her to stay closer to us off lead. Her loose lead walking is improving very slowly, but I was wondering if this dvd would help?

[Scattyhattie]

The training academy only opens a few times a year to join (closes later today) and is like netflix of all their videos/courses/ older super trainer seminars, its subscription so if you leave lose access to anything not separately paid for or given as freebies.
There are courses and can search by problem & will bring up relevant games solutions, in this way its a little more abstract than traditional classes of to teach x do y but is about changing way dog view things to make better decisions & improve value of handler over other exciting things in environment.
It has few facebook groups so can share progess & get advice from others. Tom & Lauren do regular Facebook lives & can ask questions.
The digital Courses sold have lifetime access

I've followed a while but not long started properly & I watched the super trainer live they had on Facebook recently and much of what they say makes sense and training is positive, fun for dog/person .

Tom Mitchell is a vet/ behaviourist/trainer & Lauren Langman is pro agility in GB team & trainer. I found both bit irritating till got used to them but they do know their stuff.
I dislike AD's rather pushy/FOMO marketing strategy used but obviously its been highly successful for them.

[Wolfie11]

Thanks for the replies! I was thinking of either joining the Academy or possibly downloading Pup 2 Perfection and Leash on/Game off. Does anyone know which would be more suitable?

Malamutes are very stubborn dogs, he is only little just now but I’m sure he will get a telling off at some point in time 😬🙈. I would like to primarily try to train him with positive methods though.

[jinxpixie]

Enjoy your new puppy he is so cute

[jinxpixie]

They do use the same basic games over and over again so you will see magic hands, DMT, boundary games etc on calm,sexier than a squirrel and Training Academy.

Training Academy has the most content

[cantlivewithem]

Also if you look at the different courses you get boundary games and calm courses for free with Training Academy. I think you get Sexier than a Squirrel too but could be wrong.

[cantlivewithem]

We’ve joined since lockdown and it’s really good fun. Loads of games to play to build confidence, calm, recall etc. The facebook group is really supportive. Can’t really tell you if it works yet as we’ve not been doing the games for long. We really like it though.
The training academy closes today though, apparently it only opens to new members a few times a year.
You could join today while you can and then if it’s not what you wanted you can get your money back before 14 days.

[tabulahrasa]

It’s fine... I do think it’s very expensive for what it is though...

[jinxpixie]

Absolute training is an optimistic, games based training. Dog Love it.It is positive training and lots of rewards and activities to do with your dogs.You may find all the information and games overwhelming to start with so do pace yourself and take your time. There is a very positive and supportive face book page - no wankyness allowed

However it is a bit cheesy and you will be sent a lot of marketing info once they get your email BUT it is a great online way to train and you will get support to stop your feeling isolated.

Re Frostedviolets comments positive training has nothing to do with only rewarding good behaviour and ignoring bad - if only it were that simple! It is setting your dog up for success and giving you opportunities to reward the correct behaviour -very very very different from what she is suggesting.

Which course are you looking at doing with Absolute Dogs?

[frostedviolets]

I think what concerns me personally about absolute dogs, and I am more than willing to be told I’m wrong as I have never done an absolute dogs course, is that it appears to be entirely positive training, by that I mean there seems to be absolutely no consequence or deterrent for so called ‘bad’ behaviour, ever.

I am all for training using games, toys and treats for rewards.
All for it.

But I really don’t agree with this concept that ‘bad’ behaviour should be ignored and that it is damaging to tell off/correct your dog and from what I have seen and heard, absolute dogs does seem to be in that camp.