Optimum Placement Technique (OPT)
a no-force Obedience Training Program
developed by Dr. Mary B Adelman
Obedience Training
The most important element in obedience is the handler/dog relationship.
Anything that destroys that bond is negative training.  The OPT program is designed to be totally positive,
thus allowing the handler/dog to work toward the desired goals without destroying the easy
companionship between them that most people desire.
Communication is the key and is a much more rewarding training approach
than subjugation, coercion or domination.

Since many people do not want to do any form of competition, this system is set up to give off-lead
recalls, loose lead walking, and also teach the dog not to jump up on people in the first lesson.
Socialization and home-living skills are the foundation of all our communications.

We live in dangerous times; our dogs can help us in many ways.  
One of the first things we teach the dog is to find each person in the family, especially children, by name.  
Your dog will then be able to help you locate them should this become necessary.
The OPT is designed to make the dog an integral part of the family,
giving pleasure, not creating discord, on a daily basis.    
The Retrieve:
Pictured is Australian Cattle Dog:
WTCH Int'l CH/Am CH Glendhenmere's Buruki CDX RE NA NAJ HIAd HSAcds HIC CGC HRD1s HTADIsd HTDId VQWX
at 11 years of age earning her Open Obedience title (CDX) at the 2006 ACDCA National Specialty with a 4th place win.         
Long Sits and Downs:
The German Shepherd Dog handbook, while specific to the German Shepherd in several areas,
is an all-breed obedience and tracking book.
I use it as the handbook in all of my obedience classes.      
Click the dogbone for information on ordering your copy of
The German Shephed Dog Handbook
or any of the
OPT Instructional Videos and Lesson Plans
from Canine Videos  

PayPal accepted, email for details: maryba@toast.net
Glendhenmere Kennels
Dr. Mary B Adelman
229 Glendhenmere Lane
Hazel, KY 42049
(270) 436-2858
email: maryba@toast.net


Order info
Buruki was seven years old when she learned to retrieve.  She is not a natural retriever.  
Any form of force training would have strained our relationship and stressed her out,
probably causing her ring performance to suffer.  She was trained with the no-force, OPT method.
She got her first leg on her Open Obedience title (CDX) with a 1st place at the 2005 ACDCA National, her
2nd leg with a score of 195 and finished at the next National with a 4th place, at 11 years of age.
At that point, I decided to start her in Utility.  If I used any force, I doubt we would be successful.

I think the most important thing in her life is keeping me happy with her.  If I give her any form of negative
feedback, she thinks I am mad at her.  At that point her energies become focused on getting me on her
good side again and she simply cannot focus on the job at hand.  Many dogs are like that.  If you continue
to correct them, which is a definite form of rejection, they will become upset and it will interfere with their
learning and their performance.  After so many corrections, many dogs will quit trying because they are
afraid that they will fail and do something that seems to make you mad at them.  

You can read more about the "fear of failure" syndrome and how to prevent it in my book,
The German Shepherd Dog Handbook.