If you're training your dog for competition dog sports, then you want this book; it is radically different from anything else on the market. This book will help you understand your dog on the most fundamental level, so that you can be a more effective trainer for YOUR dog. The one you have NOW. The one in front of you! Rather than assuming that the basis of competition dog training is specific techniques or mechanical skills that can be applied to all dogs, this book starts with the assumption that teaching specific behaviors is not the challenge at all! The challenge is meeting the dog's individual needs through a customized training plan, so that your dog can be successful in the competition ring. When this basic training plan is not created, then training will either progress painfully slowly or will fail altogether, if you're dog doesn't happen to do well with the cookie cutter approach that you've probably already tried. This purpose of this book is to help you understand who your dog is, so that you can apply training in a way that works for your dog, so that the training will "stick." The dimensions that will be considered to create your customized training plan include an assessment of your dog's overall level of confidence, environmental vs. handler focus, degree of flexibility, underlying drive structure, amount of power, biddability and handler softness or hardness, and impulse control. This book will also consider your individual dog's use of movement within training and the quality of the dog and handler match. This book is practical, realistic, easy to read and....radically different from all other dog training books on the market. If you're struggling in your training class or you're not enjoying your training time with your dog, then you need to change something. This book will help you to do that.