FAQ

Will these techniques work on an older dog?

Yes. They will work on a dog of any age. It is recommend that the teaching be started at an early age but if the steps in our videos are followed and repeated over and over, they will train your older dog as well.

Wouldn't it be better to have a professional dog trainer train my dog?

Not necessarily. Most people think training a dog is very difficult and time-consuming project. Our videos prove them wrong. If you will take ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the afternoon with your dog and follow the simple steps outlined in our videos, you will have a well-trained dog in about four months.

Some of the more advance training for hunting dogs may take a little longer, but you will see dramatic results in the very first lesson.

And, remember there is a difficult training gap when your dog leaves the professional trainer whom has trained him and goes back to you, an unknown entity to your dog at that point. For many dogs, it is a difficult transition.

I'm planning on getting a dog, shouldn't I get the dog before I buy your video?

It is recommended that you get and study our videos before you get a dog. By doing this, you can be a knowledgeable dog buyer and get the breed that is right for your needs. You will also know how to choose the correct puppy in the litter and what equipment you'll need for your new companion. By viewing the tape in advance, you will know the responsibilities of owning and training a dog. In some cases, the video may help someone decide that owning a dog is not what they really want and avoid an unhappy situation.

In most cases, it will show the potential dog owner how to end up with a dog he or she will enjoy for years to come.

What about changing a dog's bad habits like chewing, jumping, or not coming when called?

Our videos address these common problems and show you how to correct them through repeated conditioning and substituting other behaviors.

Please note, we recommend that buyers of "Game Dog", "Gun Dog", or "Water Dog" also get our "Family Dog" video since it addresses the basics of commands which are the essential foundation of all sporting dogs.

How can the electronic collar help me train my dog?

First, the electronic collar does not train your dog. It only reinforced the commands and drills your dog already knows. So be sure that your dog knows "Here, Sit, and Heel", before you put a collar on him.

Secondly, the collar makes the training much easier for you and your dog because it gives you a one thousand foot leash. This allows you to correct your dog the second he makes a mistake.

What's the difference between "Top Dog" and "Top Dog II?"

Both videos teach you how to properly use the electronic collar to train your dog. "Top Dog" picks up where your "Water Dog" video stops and shows you how in simple steps to solidify and extend the lessons learned. It covers basic commands, handling marks and blinds on land and water and it adds the exercises to teach your retriever upland hunting.

"Top Dog II" further reinforces and extends the skills learned in "Water Dog" and "Top Dog" to take your dog to a finished and advanced retriever. This video shows you in simple drills how to train your retriever to honor lines and many other advanced and proven methods. Through the correct use of the electronic collar, "Top Dog II" will transform your retriever into a non-stop hunting machine or a championship field trailer or hunt tester.

What about the "Top Dog" Book; how can it help?

"Top Dog", the book , is the first book to take you, the trainer, from the very beginning of pupphood to the most advanced methods of electronic training for the finished retriever. However, unlike the videos which bring sight and sound, it is limited to written pages and illustrations. Nonetheless, this new and revolutionary training guide combines all the proven, easy-to-follow techniques into one package and gives you, the trainer, a manual you can take with you to the training field and pond.

Should I get the book instead of the videos or should I get them both?

As I've said, the book is limited to the written page and illustrations whereas the videos give you moving visual details and verbal instructions. But it does serve as a manual that doesn't require a VCR to play. We recommend for complete understanding and for the most thorough training that you have both the videos and the book.

Which videos does the book cover?

"Top Dog", the book covers the techniques taught in four of our videos: "Family Dog", "Game Dog", "Water Dog", "Top Dog", and "Tog Dog II". For pointing dogs, it covers most of the same ground except for the "Whoa" command which is the same as "Remote Sit". So for the pointing dog owner, we recommend getting both our "Gun Dog" video and the "Top Dog" book. This will give you the basics and show you how to also properly train your dog with the electronic collar.

On the PC, video game, "Top Dog: Hunting and Retrieving Ducks", is this just for fun play or will it help me train my retriever?

The game does both. It is the first game that not only allows you to call and shoot the flying ducks, it allows you to guide your chosen dog to retrieve the ducks you've shot. So, in many ways, it shows you all the basics of duck hunting: the equipment needed (decoys, guns, duck calls, camo clothing, and your retriever), the setting of the decoys, the calling of the birds into shooting range and the skill needed to shoot the ducks. This is all fun and exciting. But, in this game, you learn the basic commands to guide your dog to a duck your dog does not see fall, just like in real duck hunting. Once you've taught these commands, which are the same commands used in our acclaimed training videos, you can guide your retriever to the fallen ducks. This is not only fun, it is also educational. It appeals to kids who've never gone duck hunting and opens them up to the outdoors and to a wonderful new sport. that the whole family can enjoy!

How difficult is this video game to play?

It's very easy and self explanatory. If you have a windows compatible PC computer with the equivalence of a Pentium II 350+, you simply install the game from our game CD onto your drive by following the simple instructions it will give you. Unlike the complex nature of console games for the Playstation or Dreamcast that require you to several buttons at once to play them, "Top Dog: Hunting and Retrieving Ducks" involves simply knowing how to use the mouse on your computer.

It's great fun to play with your hunting buddies and friends because you can compete for the highest scores. With this game, you don't have to wait for duck season. Now, you can duck hunt all year long! And, at such a low price, it makes a great gift.

How is Joseph Middleton related to Richard A. Wolters?

He and Richard were long term friends and Mr. Middleton was chosen by Richard to be the co-executor of his estate and the trustee of his financial trust. Richard and Joseph discussed turning his books into videos since Joseph had a successful career as a filmmaker.

After Richard's untimely death in 1993, with the help of many professional dog trainers who were devoted to Richard's training methods, including Charles Jurney and Tony Hartnett, Joseph converted Richard's books and techniques into videos.

The "Top Dog" PC game, the "Top Dog" and "Top Dog II" videos and the "Top Dog" book do not represent the work or views of Richard A. Wolters and has not been endorsed by Mr. Wolters or his family.