Dalene McIntire
I wrote the introduction below 16 years ago when my web site was first constructed. It is all still true today; however, I now have something new to offer people wishing to train their dogs in obedience...whether for the obedience ring or to acquire a loving canine companion that is a joy to have around.
The year of 2016 was a milestone for me as that was when I quit training public classes and concentrated more on private lessons. At the same time, my 3-DVD set (professionally filmed by Pound Studios) was ready for distribution. The lessons on these DVDs are exactly how I trained my very successful classes. The big advantage to them is now you can train at your convenience and don’t have to keep up with a class schedule. With today’s hectic life, it is difficult to commit to the same day every week for classes; now, with the DVD set, that won’t be necessary.
You can order the DVDs (the cost is $75, plus $4 postage) and if you feel you need some help to begin with, you can schedule a private lesson ($30 each) before you start using the DVDs; or use the DVDs on your own and schedule a lesson after you have worked with it a while to double check you’re doing it correctly; or just use the DVDs on your own. If you have any questions you can call me or email me (253-852-0605 / dalenemcintire@q.com).
Even if you buy the DVD set and feel you need at least 2 private lessons, the cost is still less than classes run now days. Under “Classes” on this web site you will find order information for the DVDs.
Now — here’s the earlier introduction to read about my background and qualifications in obedience training...
I began training my first German Shepherd, Crusader, in 1960, and that was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with dogs in general and German Shepherds and obedience in particular.
In 1963 I bought The Koehler Method of Dog Training book at a dog show in Cincinnati. This was only my second obedience book, and unknown to me this was a brand new book on the market. After reading it, I couldn't figure out why it was supposed to be so great — it was just full of common sense! I hadn't been in obedience long enough then to realize to what extent some people go to, the gimmicks they come up with, to train their dogs in simple obedience.
In January 1966, after completing Crusader's utility title, I began teaching classes for the German Shepherd Dog Club of Washington State, using the Koehler Method. In 1970 I journeyed to Lodi, California, to attend a Koehler Obedience Clinic, and ended up attending several other of his clinics in other areas. Later I invited Bill Koehler to Washington twice to put on clinics in our area. After seeing his method demonstrated "live", I was entirely hooked on this man's idea of making the dog responsible for his own actions, and to train for off-leash reliability.
Bill Koehler became immensely popular, giving seminars all over the country and even in South Africa. But, as in all things, new people coming into the sport wanted to make changes. There are only so many ways you can make a dog "sit" so obedience became like politics, and people began knocking Bill's training methods and coming up with "gimmicks" to make their training look "new and improved." Anyone who tries to tell you The Koehler Method is cruel or inhumane just plain doesn't know what they are talking about. This man worked with dogs all his life (he was the head trainer for Walt Disney Studios for over 20 years
( and along the way won several Patsy Awards) and trained dogs such as Big Red, The Shaggy Dog, Roy Roger's Bullet, one of the
dogs and the cat in "The Incredible Journey", the Great Danes in "Swiss Family Robinson", one of the Great Danes also starred in “The Ugly Dachshund”, and the list goes on...you only had to watch him work a dog for a few minutes to see his love for and fairness to dogs.
The Koehler Method has stood the test of time over my 35 (Now 51) years in training and showing; you can't beat it for reliability. So whether you are training because you want to show or because you want a well behaved dog, The Koehler Method addresses both desires.
In 1973 I began teaching my own classes usually 7 to 8 classes a year with Novice and Open work, and one Utility class each year. Many of my students have gone on to win obedience degrees on their dogs, and along the way have won many placings and High In Trials. Many students have also used their dogs as therapy dogs after going through class. Over these years I have had many repeat customers who either owned several dogs or acquired new dogs, in some cases I have had generations of a family as students. It is not unusual to have one or more people in class now days who first came to my classes 12-15 years ago, and have searched me out when they acquired a new dog and they were ready to begin training again. Quite a few students have completed a ten-week course and then a few weeks later entered a dog show and earned their first qualifying score toward their Novice degree (or CD, which stands for Companion Dog).
Not everyone, of course, who came to class ended up showing their dogs in obedience trials. The vast majority do not, but they did end up with very well trained dogs. It makes no difference if your dog is in the obedience ring or in your living room or yard, a sit is a sit. Who would not want reliability? Who would not want a dog that obeys on one command? Why would you want to aim for anything less? In class we all aim for perfection; few, if any achieve perfection (myself included), but they do end up with
dogs that are a joy to have around. It's fun taking them with you, especially when you receive so many compliments from people about your dog being so well behaved.
My role as owner, trainer, and obedience judge completes my well rounded education in dogs, for my participation in judging, showing, and training are all inter-related, and each
contributes to the whole of obedience.
Aside from my German Shepherds, I have also owned a Yorkshire Terrier and two Miniature Poodles, all of which were trained and shown through their CD, my first Poodle earning her CDX as
well. I acquired my first Poodle because people thought I was only good with large dogs, and I wanted to prove them wrong and I did. My first and my second Poodle went to classes with me every week. People were always coming up to me and telling me they didn't like Poodles, but they sure like mine. What's the secret? They are trained, that's all. And because they are trained and well behaved, I can take them everywhere with me, which also adds to their enjoyment of life. They are not left behind, and even if they aren't allowed in the grocery store, they sure enjoy the ride there and back!
So learn how to train your dog with common sense and sensibility!
"Reliability off lead should always be the most significant criterion when evaluating and comparing training methods." (Koehler, 1990)
