The Complete Canine Training Video

Originally selling for $175, this encyclopedic guide to dog training from Southern California dog trainer Paul Moran combines good information about obedience training and several helpful tips about dog care in general. The opening program--after an opening barrage of purple prose about the "domestic adjustment program" for canines--settles down to covering dog psychology ("in your dog's mind, you are a two-legged canine,") the evolution of dogs, a discussion of various breeds, and an interview with Robert Rush, General Manager of the Department of Animal Regulation in Los Angeles, concerning dog bites. The second and third tapes in the series demonstrate the actual training, from equipment suggestions through the basic commands (heel, sit, stay, down, etc.). The final program examines a wide variety of topics, ranging from health concerns to correcting bad behaviors (digging, chewing, etc.). The generally high quality of the information is offset by two recurrent problems: 1) Mr. Moran often talks at warp speed, and 2) testimonials abound throughout the four hours--all of them praising the uniqueness of "the Moran method." (While Mr. Moran undoubtedly commands a good fee for working with those yappy dogs owned by Beverly Hills housewives, the man has not singlehandedly reinvented the wheel.) These objections aside, The Complete Canine Training Video course is the most comprehensive dog training video instruction we've seen to date, and it is recommended. (Available from most distributors.)