2026 latest great training you have found for dobes

[BGpa]

Refound this elsewhere, h/t to @Sunje
And starting this topic for 2026 to store whatever the latest and greatest is from your experience lately in dobes.

Dog Training Decoded by Michael Ellis

This isn’t just a dog training course. It’s 45+ years of experience — distilled, layered, and taught by your favorite trainer’s favorite trainer: Michael Ellis! This course was built from the ground up — every lesson, every rep, every rule — structured in the exact order Michael Ellis designed...

sitstaylearn.com

Its a screaming deal right now.

 

[Sunje]

Refound this elsewhere, h/t to @Sunje
And starting this topic for 2026 to store whatever the latest and greatest is from your experience lately in dobes.

Dog Training Decoded by Michael Ellis

This isn’t just a dog training course. It’s 45+ years of experience — distilled, layered, and taught by your favorite trainer’s favorite trainer: Michael Ellis! This course was built from the ground up — every lesson, every rep, every rule — structured in the exact order Michael Ellis designed...

sitstaylearn.com

Its a screaming deal right now.

I think it's a really good program, the parts of it that I've watched. Had to put it off for a while at this point, as we are not training/competing right now.

 

[Ravenbird]

One of the best trainers in my opinion, and yes definitely a great price.

 

[BGpa]

"The foundations of positive only training is cracked" -Beckman

Balanced training:

 

[Ravenbird]

The foundations of positive only training is cracked" -Beckman

Well, I agree with the statement, but I don't agree with his argument.

I'd argue that dogs can learn to do ANYthing with positive, force free training. ANYthing. But it is difficult to teach them NOT to do something with PP/FF. Especially self-rewarding behavior, like barking at the mailman or chewing the leg of the dining table. Dogs make terrible choices when left to do what they want without guidance or boundaries set by a leader that they respect. If they have a consequence to pay when they cross your line (of whatever is against your rules) then soon enough they will actually choose on their own not to do it.

 

[BGpa]

Well, I agree with the statement, but I don't agree with his argument.

I'd argue that dogs can learn to do ANYthing with positive, force free training. ANYthing. But it is difficult to teach them NOT to do something with PP/FF. Especially self-rewarding behavior, like barking at the mailman or chewing the leg of the dining table. Dogs make terrible choices when left to do what they want without guidance or boundaries set by a leader that they respect. If they have a consequence to pay when they cross your line (of whatever is against your rules) then soon enough they will actually choose on their own not to do it.

He mentioned that force free originated in rodents in a cage, which of course they could not escape...then was picked up by marine mammal researchers- animals in a tank or pen, they could not escape...

He said Karen Pryor started in marine mammals. I did not know that.

 

[Ravenbird]

He mentioned that force free originated in rodents in a cage, which of course they could not escape...then was picked up by marine mammal researchers- animals in a tank or pen, they could not escape...

FF worked in those situations for several reasons, mainly they were teaching them to DO something, and I agree that you can teach doing anything with FF. Also these were not companions that lived freely in the house, where rules had to be made and followed without a person there to reinforce the rules. Dogs can learn not to counter surf or chew the table legs even when you're gone all day, but usually it takes a negative consequence. Many dogs are naturally quieter and non-destructive and don't even offer behavior like that and it takes a very minimum of "no" for them to be a good citizen. Others will test you to the end of your rope. Back to training the dog in front of you!