Although Koehler seems cruel to the novice, it is apparent on deeper inspection that he is, in fact, a great lover and respecter of dogs. (He was the Disney trainer for years.) One of his most famous arguements about training a dog with a firm hand is that if you LOVE your dog, how could you stand BUT to have complete and firm control over it at all times? Especially if it's about to dart in front of a speeding car? The dog should respond---every time---on your very first command because there will be times when its very life depends on that. To not have a well-trained dog is to put it in danger every minute it's outside its kennel.To use the Koehler method is to allow your dog to learn by making mistakes, so that it discovers on its own that to be an attentive and obedient dog is the easiest path.
I recommend first reading The Koeler Method---which outlines the logic behind his forceful and no-nonsense corrections---and THEN working into the other volumes after you have an understanding of the logic behind the discipline.
To train using Koehler's methods requires that the trainer train him/herself more than the dog. Many people find this difficult. (And many people have horrible, uncontrollable dogs who run the household while the humans say, "oh, he's just excitable," or "she's just nervous," or "he never acts this way when we're alone.") To learn Koehler is to have a harmonious dog/master relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
Many believe that Koehler does not take individual humans or dogs into consideration, but again, he answers that criticism in The Koehler Method and says that all dogs, being dogs, have certain things in common which can be depended on to aid in training. Read Koehler carefully and you will discover a man who dedicated his entire life to the care of dogs! He is not cruel. Read without bias and learn from an expert what you do not know---it is a truly eye opening experience.
This book is the best book for learning how to train yourself and your dog for "remote" commands. I recommend it highly to anyone truly interested not in being a softie and having a partially trained dog, but to those who wish to offer their beloved pet the most fulfilling and balanced life they can possibly offer it.
