DICK KOEHLER

1934 - 1998

THE MYTH, THE MAN, THE LEGACY

No discussion of Dick can begin without reference to his father, William R. Koehler, author of several books on the Koehler Method of Dog Training. Of the three Koehler children, Dick was the only one to follow in this father’s footsteps, dedicating his life to dog work. This is an intimate, sometimes personal look back at Dick’s life. We all know Bill as brilliant, internationally renowned, well respected, and in my humble opinion, unsurpassed in his field. How would you like to grow up in the shadow of Bill Koehler, let alone try to follow in his footsteps? Dick did a great job at both.

Dick’s first dog bite came at a tender age, when warned about not teasing the family’s Scottie, Dick found the dog napping and blew in it’s ear. The surprised Scottie took revenge on Dick’s nose, and Dick learned that listening to his father was worthwhile! By the age of eight he had trained two of his own dogs (to his father’s demanding standards); and was then allowed to work with dogs that came in for private training. By the age of 17 Dick was running training classes and the world’s best dog training instructor was born. He did a tour in the Navy after graduation from high school and when he returned home he threw himself into the dog training business. By this time Bill was writing more books, and Dick was teaching more classes. Dick also did a large portion of the film work on movies like: Swiss Family Robinson, The Shaggy Dog, Big Red, and The Incredible Journey to mention just a few.

Dick had at least three god given abilities that set him apart from, and far ahead of his would-be peers. One, he was a natural with dogs. Two, he could get more out of your dog in 5 minutes, than you could in two hours. And three, and perhaps best of all ... he knew exactly how to teach you to do it yourself! These abilities simply improved with the passage of time, leaving Dick unsurpassed as a training instructor. Bill, never one to openly compliment Dick, told many people that Dick was by far the best instructor he ever knew! And, coming from Bill, what else could I or anyone else add to that statement.

In a recent Front and Finish article on Dick’s passing, Vicky Hearn stated that Dick "was abrupt, difficult, cranky, given to startling and unsettling remarks and actions." She added, "He had not one ounce of his father’s gifts for public relations, indeed, he just never could keep his mind on self-promotion projects long enough to make them work." Vicky must have had a bad hair day.

Dick and I were together for sixteen years and even after a difficult divorce, we remained extremely close and always the best of friends. No one knew Dick any better, or loved him more, and I think that qualifies me to speak of his character. Dick wasn’t perfect (who is) and at times he could be difficult to understand. He was also extremely intelligent, articulate, humorous (I’m going to miss that laugh), caring, compassionate, kind, loyal, complicated, private...and often exasperating! He was also extremely generous, with a heart of pure gold. I would be a richer woman today if I had a nickel for every person Dick allowed to go through a class free, because they could not afford to pay. Richer still if I added all the patient, caring and free advice he dispensed to anyone who needed his help. A psychologist friend once told me that Dick was a "fireman", he simply loved to help people. She hit the nail on the head! As for self-promotion, he didn’t believe in it and more importantly he didn’t need it. His actions spoke more eloquently than any amount of self-promotion could! And all those thousands of people he reached out to in his fifty plus years of classes, not to mention all the friends he made along the way ... they promoted the DK we all knew and loved.

And promote him, they did. Our classes averaged 20 to 30 dogs, and much of the time they ran into 40 and 50. Five nights a week, and on Saturdays at Cadence Kennels in Ontario. Week after week, year after year, for over forty years. Quite literally thousands of dogs (and their owners) passed through this man’s hands. If Bill was brilliant at a typewriter (and he was); Dick was equally brilliant in bringing that philosophy to life in the tapestry of the class itself! In this respect, Dick had no equal, and I sincerely doubt that he ever will. Well versed in the use of peer-pressure (politically incorrect by today’s sloppy standards); he brought a standard of excellence to the class that forced his students to face their own petty insecurities in order to get the job of training done. Sometimes he appeared to be hard on people, because he knew what they achieved (or did not achieve) in class; would be forever directly linked to the longevity of the dog at the other end of the leash! Besides, anyone who really knew Dick, knew that his bark was much worse than his bite! If he had to be hard on you in class to get the message across ... he never failed to pick you up, brush you off, and offer you whatever extra help you might need. At orientation he would tell people he wasn’t there to hold your hand or be your friend, as nice as that might be. He was there to teach you how to train your dog! He used peer-pressure, humor, praise ... whatever it took ... to get the job done. Even his harshest critics would have to agree that he did get the job done, and done well. 

Dick sometimes told people that he knew their dog better than they did, and this was always met with a quizzical expression. But the truth is, he did. You may have owned six Shelties ... but would you like to guess how many Shelties have been through the classes in the last forty odd years? He knew your dog, inside out and right side up. This is why when he had your dog at the end of a leash, it was pure magic! He could, quite literally in a five minute period, get more from a dog he had never met, than the owner could in two hours. But it didn’t stop there. His greatest magic was his ability to teach you how to get the most out your dog.

The Koehler Method (and the two men behind it), have always been embroiled in controversy. Much of the criticism (harsh, cruel, inhumane) was aimed at the techniques described in the problem section of The Koehler Method of Dog Training. What many people don’t understand (and our critics choose to deny); is that these techniques were only employed as a last resort on the hardest dogs. Dogs who were headed on a one way trip to the vet! If you owned and loved a dog with an aggressive biting problem, you would want to solve the problem, not destroy the dog. Over the years many people approached Dick and Bill with exactly this problem. They had been told by animal control, their vet, and four or five other "dog trainers" ... to put the animal to sleep. Dick and Bill firmly believed that it was much more humane to offer people a training solution ... instead of dead dog. If this is harsh, cruel, or inhumane ... I know a few dogs who might disagree... because they were trained, the problems were solved, and they went on to live happily into old age. .. thanks to Dick! I know Dick was extremely proud of the fact that we never turn down a problem dog. The Koehler Method has never been concerned about being "politically correct", in vogue or in style. Like the Monks of New Skete, Bill and Dick felt they owed their loyalty and compassion to the dog ... and they answered to a much higher authority than mankind.

If Dick excelled with problem dogs, and the people who loved them, he also excelled with the brightest and the best. Not many trainers, of any era, can claim two scores of 200 in Utility, by two Irish Setters, on the same day in California Top Dog competition! Dick could. Check out the pictures in the front of the Utility book. Dick personally worked with club members from Orange Empire and De Anza Dog Clubs for many years. If you like research, check the statistics for the late seventies and early eighties and you will find high scoring records broke and set by these two fine dog clubs. This was in no small measure due to Dick’s expertise and love for the sport of obedience. He always had a smile when he heard that The Koehler Method was "ok", but not for top competition!

Many people have asked if Dick had a favorite breed? He didn’t! He quite simply loved all dogs. Over the years he owned bull terriers (which his father bred), Danes like the ones in Swiss Family Robinson, Heinz 57, Airedales,

Doberman’s, Miniature and Standard Poodles. He loved them and they adored him completely. He did have one dog that held a very special place in his heart, a little black Poodle he used almost exclusively for demonstration work at clinics and seminars for many years. They both shared something that only God can give ... heart and soul!

Dick’s legacy, of course, is his love and devotion to man’s best friend. He was by far the greatest friend any dog ever had!

Some might think that with Dick and Bill now gone from our midst, that The Koehler Method will fade into the twilight. Think again. Dick and Bill were wise enough to leave their legacy in the very capable hands of people like Pam Green, Pat Smith and Tony Ancheta. They personally trained, tutored, and mentored these people, people they knew understood, respected and loved the method as much as they did. People they trusted to carry on the legacy.

You can rest assured that these folks, along with hundreds of people whose life’s were enriched by knowing Dick and Bill; will see to it that their work will never die.

I recently talked to a lady who knew the Koehler’s very well for over twenty years. For many years this lady competed in Top Dog Competition with breeds that weren’t "noted" for their abilities in obedience, and the competition was always in for a "surprise". Although she trained strictly "Koehler", she also attended classes offered by many other instructors. In other words, she is well versed and well educated in the sport of obedience. She told me she had just recently come to a "startling discovery" ... "The Koehler Method was always way ahead of its time, and never truly appreciated." I think she said it all. I’m not sure if the dog world realizes what they have lost ... I do... I hope you do to.

Don’t weep for Dick, he is happy, free and with those he loved the most.

He would want us to celebrate his life, and honor his memory every time we pick up a longe line and start a new pup. And you can bet your annual income that if the good Lord owns a dog, Dick has him in class by now!