Laminarman
07-14-2009, 10:29 PM
I will give my modest, novice point of view on these two DVD's as I own both. I will be training my third lab starting very shortly, a little chocolate out of Ryder named "Chooch" (from the Italian word ciuco for "ass" or slang for donkey/jackass).
Hillman is a day by day diary of him training a young lab named Nick, and while I don't think I'll get the same results as Bill, the DVD is very enlightening. The downside is it's expense and at $130 it is that for sure. Considering what we spend on dogs, food, treats, guns, hunting...etc it is like peeing in the ocean to spend this if you get a few tips, it won't make a big difference in what you invest over the life of your animals and I believe it is well worth it. My take away from this is two things that I think are abundantly important: 1) make training a positive experience and rewarding for the pup. Note of how well Bill reads his dog. Watching him anticipate, never get loud, frustrated or rough is eye opening. He shows that it is the bond between dog and owner that grows through these daily exercises that moves both of them along. 2) I was impressed by the progression of training he designed and how he keeps building one day on top of another. He always returns to the basics in some form each day and builds a base over days as you watch this pup just transform (he makes it look so easy). After watching this three hour DVD and his methods, while he makes it look easy, I think there's more technique here than first greets you. He is an impressive trainer. And while this DVD will not get you a finished dog, it provides some help to a solid start and his methods seem sound.
The Fowl Dawgs I DVD is inexpensive at $20, and I only have the first disc in the series and that compares to most of what Hillman provides in his disc. The first thing that is evident is that while the quality is fine, it is a homegrown DVD. The Hillman is also "homegrown" but the Hillman DVD connects with you in a personal way the Fowl Dawgs just does not. I'm sure Rick Stawski is a fine trainer but unfortunately I don't think this DVD relays that. Again, speaking from inexperience here (or modest experience) I am not judging Rick, only how the DVD came across to me. To his credit he provides a lot of video footage of everything from sit, to stay, to heel, to force fetching and doubles...etc. To my disappointment, his style just doesn't click with me, and that might be certainly so since I watched the Hillman DVD first. Let me say that for most folks the Stawski DVD will provide more "bread and butter" training tips, ideas and footage to help you along than the Hillman, but his style I find harsh, inconsistent and somewhat disconnected from what he says. For example, when he's force fetching a dog, he does what he needs to do and is firm, as he should be, but tells the viewers to "give a lot of praise, be positive" but that just doesn't come out with his style. He says it in a cold, almost scripted way. Hillman doesn't have to tell you to keep the praise coming, you can FEEL it in his style and the sincerity of his love for his pup. Rick Stawski again, while I'm sure a great trainer, was looking rushed in many clips for the cameras sake and almost robotic in his commands. For example, when teaching "sit" I had to fast forward through it as his quick, staccato, repetitive style was not only too forced, but somewhat inconsistent in what he wanted the dog to do. I think throughout the DVD he trains for the camerarather than just training the dog like he would.
In summary: Fowl Dawgs is well worth the $20 and you will get a few tips and it may bring you further than the Hillman DVD as far as drills...etc. Hillman will show you what a trainer is like who understands his animal intimately and can connect with the dog. When all is said and done, at the end of the day I want a relationship with my dog like Hillman has and a bond that you can feel in the footage. That has to count for something (or at least does in my book). While the Hillman DVD lacks depth of material and a "training menu" (being only about 26 days of training), his style makes it the better product and is my choice for the better value even at $130.
Hope this helps someone and thanks to others who have given reviews of products here. I don't know either trainer and have no affiliations with them, this is just my two cents. Let the flaming begin.
Hillman is a day by day diary of him training a young lab named Nick, and while I don't think I'll get the same results as Bill, the DVD is very enlightening. The downside is it's expense and at $130 it is that for sure. Considering what we spend on dogs, food, treats, guns, hunting...etc it is like peeing in the ocean to spend this if you get a few tips, it won't make a big difference in what you invest over the life of your animals and I believe it is well worth it. My take away from this is two things that I think are abundantly important: 1) make training a positive experience and rewarding for the pup. Note of how well Bill reads his dog. Watching him anticipate, never get loud, frustrated or rough is eye opening. He shows that it is the bond between dog and owner that grows through these daily exercises that moves both of them along. 2) I was impressed by the progression of training he designed and how he keeps building one day on top of another. He always returns to the basics in some form each day and builds a base over days as you watch this pup just transform (he makes it look so easy). After watching this three hour DVD and his methods, while he makes it look easy, I think there's more technique here than first greets you. He is an impressive trainer. And while this DVD will not get you a finished dog, it provides some help to a solid start and his methods seem sound.
The Fowl Dawgs I DVD is inexpensive at $20, and I only have the first disc in the series and that compares to most of what Hillman provides in his disc. The first thing that is evident is that while the quality is fine, it is a homegrown DVD. The Hillman is also "homegrown" but the Hillman DVD connects with you in a personal way the Fowl Dawgs just does not. I'm sure Rick Stawski is a fine trainer but unfortunately I don't think this DVD relays that. Again, speaking from inexperience here (or modest experience) I am not judging Rick, only how the DVD came across to me. To his credit he provides a lot of video footage of everything from sit, to stay, to heel, to force fetching and doubles...etc. To my disappointment, his style just doesn't click with me, and that might be certainly so since I watched the Hillman DVD first. Let me say that for most folks the Stawski DVD will provide more "bread and butter" training tips, ideas and footage to help you along than the Hillman, but his style I find harsh, inconsistent and somewhat disconnected from what he says. For example, when he's force fetching a dog, he does what he needs to do and is firm, as he should be, but tells the viewers to "give a lot of praise, be positive" but that just doesn't come out with his style. He says it in a cold, almost scripted way. Hillman doesn't have to tell you to keep the praise coming, you can FEEL it in his style and the sincerity of his love for his pup. Rick Stawski again, while I'm sure a great trainer, was looking rushed in many clips for the cameras sake and almost robotic in his commands. For example, when teaching "sit" I had to fast forward through it as his quick, staccato, repetitive style was not only too forced, but somewhat inconsistent in what he wanted the dog to do. I think throughout the DVD he trains for the camerarather than just training the dog like he would.
In summary: Fowl Dawgs is well worth the $20 and you will get a few tips and it may bring you further than the Hillman DVD as far as drills...etc. Hillman will show you what a trainer is like who understands his animal intimately and can connect with the dog. When all is said and done, at the end of the day I want a relationship with my dog like Hillman has and a bond that you can feel in the footage. That has to count for something (or at least does in my book). While the Hillman DVD lacks depth of material and a "training menu" (being only about 26 days of training), his style makes it the better product and is my choice for the better value even at $130.
Hope this helps someone and thanks to others who have given reviews of products here. I don't know either trainer and have no affiliations with them, this is just my two cents. Let the flaming begin.