When to Doubt Your Technique or Your Trainer
How to Expose the Weaknesses of Your "Current" Method!

From the Book - Hidden Secrets Behind Dog Training
(A Game-Changer in Dog Psychology!)

Have you ever wondered what makes a certain method fail-proof? This chapter will force you to re-examine all the pros and cons of your training technique. Trust me; this isn't easy even for the most experienced experts in the business. After all, who wants to admit any of their flaws?

Every trainer or dog school you talk to proudly brags about their way being the greatest and the most effective. Dog books and canine behaviorists claim their approach is the best, promising you real and long-term results. Heck, some will even throw in “scientifically proven” at you. So how do you really know who’s telling the truth, who’s exaggerating, and who's skillfully trying to mislead you?

I’ve spent years carefully observing and comparing different philosophies and behavior modification. I was actually fascinated by how, why, and what makes one approach better than the other. So in a way, I’ve already done the hardest part for you here.

You see, whether you are trying to get results from a book, an instructional DVD, a TV show, or by working with a private trainer, these seven components will be the stepping stones to your success. And if your trainer happens to follow each of these principles, you should congratulate yourself for finding a “Diverse Expert.” Trust me; you’ll soon realize that there aren't that many of them out there.

So What Makes a Training Method Complete?

It all boils down to seven key elements. But then again, what do I know? I've been involved in the dog world for over two decades, helped thousands of pet owners worldwide, don't turn down difficult cases, and have written a twenty chapter book on the subject.

I am blessed to have a job that I truly love and get to fly all over the world. People are smart and don't hire someone to hop on a plane so I get their dog to heel nicely, do some cute tricks, and have it fetch to impress the Joneses. Bottom line, when all else fails, I won't. Or, their dog really isn't that bad, but they want to hire someone that doesn't have any doubts in his/her abilities.

Here's their mindset: No more of the dog place, the dog guy, the dog lady, or the dog walker... let's call in the "The Dog Prodigy"! Now with a title like that, people expect you to deliver. No monkey business! Alrighty then! If you don’t toot your own horn once in a while, who will? But enough about my qualifications.

Let's see how much you can accomplish without hiring me. After all, that is the main reason I wrote this book. Here we go, folks.

Never Underestimate These Seven Elements:

1. Make sure that you see the logic in your method. Lack of common sense always stalls everything in life and dog training is no exception.

2. Always aim for long-term results and a real-life approach. If your training isn’t practical, you’ll definitely look clueless around distractions that are unavoidable. Again, I'm referring to your visitors, other dogs, kids, cats, or in any outdoor settings.

3. Don’t rely heavily on the use of treats. To be most effective, surprise your dog with goodies once in a while. But if you have to wave or pull out a treat in front of your dog before giving each command, you are literally bribing him. What would you call it?

4. Always keep your training sessions short, sweet and simple. Your dog will love you for it. Not every dog or human cares for an hour or even a thirty minute training session.

5. Be firm and kind or kind and firm. Whichever you wish to put first, it’s your choice, but both are extremely important to owning a happy and balanced dog.

6. Try lots of different training tools to see which works best for you and your dog. Sorry, but that is the only way you can find out which ones work and which are just a waste of your time and money.

7. Don’t settle for just positive or negative reinforcement. Be smart and follow “diverse reinforcement." Let's think of our behavior for a second. Does a positive approach work on everybody? How about a negative? Of course not! Then how can we expect to get the same outcome from our dogs just by sticking to one strategy over and over again? Now—

You Are Probably Scratching Your Head Wondering...

Why in the world would anybody consider training their dog with a method that isn’t logical, practical, or humane? To make matters even worse, the routines are complex, not flexible, rely on treats for everything, and won't let you experiment with different training tools if and when needed.

Well, the truth is, not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of dog owners like you around the world make these mistakes E-V-E-R-Y D-A-Y!

Did I Get Your Attention?

In fact, when you carefully study different methods, you’ll be shocked to find that just about every one of them is missing the most important factor of all: Diversity!

Let me put it in a different perspective: Imagine going to a buffet that restricts you to one dish. Even though you paid for ALL you can eat; they let you try only one item. (Don't forget now. I am talking about a buffet here. Where you can pig out all you want, all day long.) But, you are told, "Hey, just look, smell, and maybe even stir a few pots here and there, but you are NOT allowed to try more than one dish." Wouldn’t you be tempted, frustrated, and definitely feel as if you've been ripped off? Sure you would!

But that is the mindset of the majority of dog trainers and dog schools everywhere. They never let you try different tools or techniques. So, once you are aware of something different, it's very hard NOT to give it a try. That’s just human nature.

Those of you who aren’t allowed or happen to be too naïve to try new ways or new tools as a last resort, will never be able to achieve solid and long-term results.

Back to our weird buffet: How can you possibly know how a dish is supposed to taste if you are only going to judge it by how it looks or smells? (Chocolate looks like you know what. But people still can't resist it. By the way, the price of chocolate will skyrocket in twenty years or so due to low production. In fact, it will be considered something of a luxury. Mmmmm....I'm having some right now as I'm typing this. I've got one word for you: JEALOUS!)

So, after failing miserably or being misled, some owners give up or assume that either the dog is too old, too dominant, too messed up, or beyond hope to change for the better. When in reality, it was YOU all along making every decision in regards to your dog.

I wrote this chapter so you are NOT following a dumb method, wasting your time on some dumb class, and prevent you from paying some dumb trainer.

And now, I'll explain each factor in much more depth.

* * * * * * * *

Seven Steps that Make Your Training Bulletproof!

1. Look for "Logic" in Your Method: In fact, if we can’t make sense of something, most of us won’t even try it. I was amazed by how many of my clients admitting that the method they were told to follow didn’t make much sense, yet they put all of their hope and trust in the trainer or that strategy. (Not any different than the blind leading the blind.)

2. Aim for Practicality: Ask yourself; can I honestly pull it off anywhere and at any time? Will my dog behave and obey me around other dogs? Folks, if the method is practical, you should be able to put it to use in any situation. In other words, it MUST work around perfect strangers, kids playing, when the mailman shows up, at the vet’s office, and even from a distance and off-leash!

Have you ever thought about what would happen if your dog suddenly managed to get loose and bolted out the door? Again, you really can’t call your training practical if it stops working out in the real world.

3. Do NOT Give Treats "Before" Commands: Don’t forget that relying on treats for everything isn’t smart or healthy. It's just not natural. If you still insist, then make sure the treats are given as a surprise and at the END of your training session, and not before each command. That’s the only way you can be sure beyond a shadow of doubt that your dog responds to YOU.

4. Keep Your Training Sessions Short and Sweet: When your training exercises drag, neither you nor your dog will enjoy them. Look for simplicity. The training exercises need to be easy for you and your dog to follow. Let’s face it; anybody can make something complicated. I can make a drill so long, boring and complex that your head will spin and your dog may even turn on you. But sadly, not every trainer bothers to make things fun, simple and effective. A couple of fifteen to twenty minute sessions throughout the day will do just fine.

Aim for Progress, Not Perfection!

I always tell my clients that we need to aim for progress, not perfection. Nobody’s perfect. Dogs and people do and will make mistakes. It’s not the end of the world. We are not in obedience trials to be judged for a perfect score. Learn from your mistakes to see where you lost focus and where you need to improve. And go at it with everything you've got!

5. Be Firm and Kind: There should be NO exceptions to this rule! You don’t need to yell, hit, kick, punch, hang, slap or slam your poor dog to train or reprimand him. There is a big difference between being assertive and being aggressive. You don't need me to tell you that the above examples are definitely considered as harsh and abusive.

6. Experiment with Different Training Tools: Often you'll have no choice but to rely on something new and improved. Don't we do so in other aspects of our lives? So why keep using a certain tool that doesn’t really work?

Unfortunately, even though there are more tools available today than ever before, the majority of dog schools limit your options to the use of only one. The good news is it is your dog and your choice. (No dog trainer is going to stalk you or move in with you. So what you ultimately do in your private life and on your daily walks is your business.)

7. Have an Open Mind and Be “Diverse.”: Just as there are many ways to drive from one city to another; there are lots of different ways to teach dogs commands or to modify their behavior. When you are working with an expert, the more versatile s/he is, the more comfortable and productive you’ll be. In fact, by following a diverse method you are guaranteed to achieve concrete results. People love having many choices and I’m sure you are no different.

The Next Level and the Future of Dog Training

The “Diverse Method” is the only way that meets all of the seven requirements. I find this fascinating! This is why I am predicting that it will become the future of dog training!

Let's compare it to cooking. If you love to cook, you are probably a person of hospitality. And the greater the variety of dishes you can prepare, the more you can impress your guests. But imagine if you could only prepare one dish, and even worse, that dish tasted horrible.

Let me give you another example that some men can appreciate. (Not that I’m saying men can’t cook, and if you can, hey, then you are even sexier to your significant other!)

Let's Compare Dog Training to Martial Arts!!!

The most effective fighters today are those who are fluent in different styles of combat. Take UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (You guessed it. I'm referring to those who fight in a cage). This is one of the rare sports where among other things, almost everything is allowed, except for biting, head-butts, eye-gouging and kicking or punching to the groin. (Whew. Thank God for that.)

Nobody predicted that someday a new style of combat by the name of “Mixed Martial Arts” would take over boxing. Let’s face it; boxing alone isn’t as popular or as exciting as it used to be. And here's how I'll prove it to you: Try to remember the last biggest boxing event. Unless you are following this sport religiously, I guarantee that whoever you remembered is very likely retired or already has been defeated.

Now, when you see the next big match of UFC advertised on the home page of Yahoo, it definitely counts as a game-changer. But if you carefully observe this sport, you'll see boxers, kick-boxers, wrestlers, grapplers, and those who are highly skilled in Taekwondo and Jiu-jitsu. These fighters are trained to kick, punch, throw, restrain, sweep you off your feet (and I'm not talking about Prince Charming kinda sweep), lock your joints and keep on fighting just as fluently and tirelessly on the ground. Actually, some are known for their ground-fighting skills.

In a nutshell, this sport made people appreciate different styles of fighting being put to the test, which is the same as—“Diversity!” What's my point? Well, it's just—

Dog Training Became too Boring...
Too Predictable with Too Many Restrictions!

So, we have mixed martial arts. Who said there can't be mixed dog training? After all, it’s no different than combining the modern with alternative medicine—or new school with old school. Wouldn't you agree that there is a time and place for both?

* * * * * * * *

As someone who used to teach Taekwondo, I can tell you for certain that the reason mixed martial arts became so popular is that people love watching a fight that comes as close as it gets to an actual “street fight.”

You see, we can talk dog training theories all day long, but trying it out in the real world is a totally different ball game. So forget theories; I'm talking about real life here!

The point I’m making is: You’ll have more fun and will skyrocket your results when you train or modify your dog’s behavior by combining various methods.

Think of it as being limited to using only your left arm to fight. You could whine and say, “But I am right-handed and want to use everything I’ve got.” The officials would shrug and say, “Hey, rules are rules. This is how we’ve done it for years and we are not going to change it for you, bud. Besides, you can punch, pinch, karate-chop him and even slap and scratch him silly, but don’t you dare use your other arm, your legs, and oh, no chokeholds either. Or I'll choke you out myself!"

Weird Trainers + Weird Rules = Weird Outcome

Here’s a typical curriculum by typical trainers who are also typically, very strict, irrational and definitely NOT diverse. Almost all dog trainers ask you to walk your dog on the left side of your body. In fact, many will make this mandatory.

This never made sense to me, especially since a large number of the population happens to be right-handed. To prove my point, I'm sure that most of you reading this don't really care to show, do competitions, or go hunting with your dog. This is why I let my clients choose whatever side they prefer to walk their dogs. (After all, they are the ones who ultimately write my check, not the doggie.)

What’s sad is many pet owners don’t even dare to challenge the trainer on this issue. Even more strange is the fact that the majority of the trainers don’t realize why they are doing this. They are just on autopilot and blindly teach you what and how they were taught by their mentor.

Folks, if you are not crystal clear with your objectives, that trainer would most likely prepare you and your dog for show confirmation, obedience trials, gun training, or Shutzhund training. Don't you find that odd?

Think about this for a minute. All you really care about is to be able to take your dog for a nice walk, to some park, or even to PetSmart, and they are making a hunter out of you or preparing you for shows, or as I call them, doggie modeling schools.

Look, if you truly want to show your dog, that’s great. But what if you don’t even own a pedigree dog or your dog is altered, why bother following their weird curriculum? Again, most trainers don’t think of the real-world. If you still doubt me, be my guest, and observe a few dog training classes, watch different training clips, read a few dog books, and see lots of obedience graduations.

When you see these weird training requirements exposed right before your eyes, you’ll be convinced that even the most popular methods today are incomplete and lack at least two or three of the seven factors I just mentioned.

Bottom line, the more versatile you are, the more effective you’ll become and THAT is the true power of being diverse.

Written by International Trainer and Dog Psychologist, Kevin "The Dog Prodigy"

Taken from Kevin's Book, "Hidden Secrets Behind Dog Training"

We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”

--Chuck Palahniuk

1. Yourself - Your thoughts, beliefs and perception of your current and previous dogs.
2. Your Dog - Why and how your dog thinks and responds in different scenarios.
3. Your Method – Unravel the strengths and weaknesses of different techniques.
4. Your Tools – Which training tools work and which eventually stop working.
5. Your Trainer - Their philosophy, expertise, expectations and limitations.
6. The Dog Training Industry – How to use the system to your advantage.
It took ten years of hard work, intense research, and studying thousands of cases
to write this book.

My Mission: To Find All the Reasons Why Dogs Didn't Thrive to Their Fullest Potential.

I was shocked to find that the "real cause" had very little to do with the dogs' age, breed,
size, intelligence, history, or even personality, but had everything to do with the
“human element.”

Dog owners and even dog trainers from all around the globe were skillfully misled, influenced and even brainwashed. Sadly, all this had a tremendous affect on their beliefs, attitude, technique, drive, sense of hope, creativity, and of course--their level of success.

Book's Description: This book takes a deeper look at modern dog training and canine psychology while it also introduces you to the next level and the future of training and canine behavior modification—“The Diverse Method.”

Think about it. If there are more than four hundred different breeds of dogs in this world, how can they possibly all respond to only one way of training? Have you ever considered that fact? You see, every dog was bred specifically for a purpose. So for any expert to argue that you can train EACH AND EVERY ONE with just Positive Reinforcement or Negative Reinforcement show their arrogance, lack of experience and diversity.

The secret is to follow a "Diverse Reinforcement" because, just as with humans, dogs don't always respond to a strictly positive or negative approach. Here's where it gets more interesting. All dog trainers know this, but don't or can't teach it in their training method.

!!! Now Did I Get Your Attention??? !!!

Look, you are definitely NOT going to be safe, smart or successful if you rely on just one way of training as a crutch. The key to greatness is to arm yourself with different training techniques that will prepare you for ANY dog, despite their age, size, strengths, intelligence, past history or personality. Again, I am talking about being "Diverse" because no method and no training tool is guaranteed to work in every situation and on every dog. That's just a fact!

This is one of those rare books that will make you smile, make you laugh, make you think and even challenge you to push yourself far beyond your leash or your bag of treats. It is filled with life lessons along with my incredible journey with dogs from all walks of life.

If you are the sensitive type, you may get a few lumps in your throat. I've spent a decade writing this book, which inspired me to learn something new from every dog, every owner and every trainer I've encountered. So, in a way, the book has grown with me.

My hope is that when you finish it, both you and your dog will be able to communicate with one another much more effectively.

--Kevin "The Dog Prodigy"
Master Dog Trainer / Author

About the Author:

Kevin Salem is considered to be a prominent philosopher and one of the brightest minds in the world of dog training. It’s hard to paint Kevin’s image with the same brush as others, as his unique way of "Diverse Method" and philosophy, makes him very distinct.

Ever since he was young, Kevin has been able to relate and communicate with dogs in a very special way. You know when you meet a natural. We’ve all seen one. These individuals are rarely taught, but rather born. In over two decades of working with different breeds, he has successfully trained well over 10,000 dogs worldwide, earning him the nickname,“The Dog Prodigy.”

He is one of those rare experts in his field who has the knowledge and the expertise to accept challenging cases that the majority of dog schools simply don’t want to deal with. We are referring to “red zone dogs,” and those already given up on by many trainers, veterinarians and even animal behaviorists. He is proud of saving hundreds of these dogs from abandonment, shelters, or worse, euthanasia.

Kevin gained his experience from studying and practicing different methods of training. To expand his knowledge even further, he also compared the strengths and weaknesses of different theories from more than a hundred books on dog training, dog behavior, and canine psychology.

Mr. Salem currently operates his school, Dog Secrets, where he offers house calls not only throughout the US, but globally. You may also send your dog to his most popular program, the Doggie Boot Camp.

!!! More Extremely Thought-Provoking Articles Worth Reading !!!

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20 Reasons Why Your Doesn't Listen When it Matters the MOST!
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Dumb Trainers - Smart Dogs!!! Most Dog Schools WILL Fail You!
97% of trainers and dog classes can't deliver real results. How many will you try?

Inside the Mind of Veterinarians and Their Staff (Dog Etiquettes!)
All vets and vet techs are dying for you to master these proven tips. Learn how.

Turning a Childhood Tragedy into Triumph! - Kevin's Sad Story!!
Everybody has a story, a cause, or a reason of why they do what they.
Read Kevin's touching and remarkable story.

Have you noticed that the very best things in life are rarely "things". They are your loved ones, your happiness, your passion, your health, your attitude, your love, and your accomplishment.  

--Kevin "The Dog Prodigy"

!!! Dog Secrets .com !!!
Where You See the Difference Between"Average" and "WOW"!!!

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