Whole Dog

This is an interesting thread. I believe most points I would want to make have already been made, but would like to add one that I don't think has, although I didn't read the entire thread with the detail it deserves.

I've noticed of late that a lot of the interpretations of CM methods seem to me to be extreme and uncompromising. It is my belief that CM himself is not that extreme and uncompromising. It is my belief that he recognises that every dog is different, but simplifies his message for the masses. It is also my belief that both the fact that English is his second language and his lack of formal education affect his ability to communicate his ideas to an educated, English-speaking audience. I think these factors tend to cause him to simplify his message further, and I'm currently entertaining the idea that this is why a lot of interpretations of his methods seem extreme and uncompromising.

I'm making some pretty hefty assumptions based on a very limited amount of information, but after reading the first chapter of his book, I got the impression that his understanding of dogs was a lot more complicated than it often seems on his show. What frustrates me is that nothing in the book after that chapter really supported that initial assessment. I'm not ready to write him off as too simplistic, just looking for reasons why the hint of complexity I glimpsed fails to come through in the interpretations of his 'followers' or his television shows, or his explanations of his methods.

Corvus,
 
You make good points, as always.
 
Yes, there is great depth and understanding in this man. But if even the simplest basic concepts are difficult to discuss on a dog board, just imagine where getting into more details and depth will lead.
 
I think it's a walk before you can fly kind of "thing".
 
Having read his book which he was very pressured by the general public to get out, I think more in depth information will come with time. He's still a pretty young guy (from my 50 yr old perspective, but maybe not yours []). How do you put a lifetime of personal study into one book?
 
I am also interested to see where he evolves from here and if he incorporates more actual training methods in with his social and behavioral philosophies.
 
I personally think all three areas are of value depending upon the goal you want to acheive at a particular moment with a particular dog. A dog learning agility is a different situation from a dog who wants to kill every dog they see on the street when you try to take them for a walk.
 
 

ORIGINAL: fisher6000
Actually Ed, I can tell you from experience that this is not true. In fact, some of the more verbal "traditional" trainers left as the CM Influx began (anyone remember HD Kutz???).

Roger's still here, just posting less frequently and in other areas.  Maybe we could start a Kutz area of the forum so he'd come back. []