Thread: *Rant* Deer Dog BluePrint

Hey guys,

Feeling pissed off and keen on having a vent. What better place than the internet ah?

I have a 7 month old Lab X GSP (Harley) who I have been following the deer dog blueprint with. So far I have been happy with the product and Harley is coming along nicely. The videos are ok in terms of production quality, they are very clear and easy to follow and replicate training scenarios. My only gripe so far would be that he goes over the same shit over and over again in the course of a one hour video (could cut it in half without losing effect) - I guess you've got to cater to the lowest common denominator though...

Any how, here is the bit I'm pissed about - I may have my wires crossed and/or be going off half cocked but interested in your thoughts. Up until now I have been paying $USD10 per monthly episode through Vimeo to watch in my own time and use as I see fit. I have just seen via the FaceBook page that the prices have gone up to $USD22 per episode! What the actual fuck?! Who does that? Get people half way through a training programme and then more than double the prices! There are still another seven or eight episodes to go before the training is complete according to Mr Michaels and to double the prices, what a gyp!

Harley is an awesome dog for her age and stage of training. She has a good sit (I can wander out of sight and leave her for 5 mins no problem), all her basic commands and house training ("out", "up/down", "don't beg" etc) are weighed off, she's confident walking in front and her range is good (even in the bush) and her response to non verbal commands are getting there (stopping when I stop etc). She has the basics of ground scenting sorted but yet to do anything complicated here (100m skin drags over open country is about it), and her winding is pretty average tbh (generally only gets on properly when within 20m). She is fine with guns (didn't like the 338 Edge with a break though).

I know there is still heaps to do to get her to the point of shooting a deer over her but really wondering if it is worth continuing with the blueprint videos. I can afford it but it's the principle - as you can tell I'm pretty dark on it... Am I going to ruin my dog and waste all the good work I've done if I just make it up as I go now?

Anyone else in the same boat or care to offer an opinion?

I've not seen any of the videos but have heard good things from others.

The mistake he has made is selling them video by video. He should have sold the course as a whole, either full payment up front or pay as you go monthly etc.

Once a client signed up for the whole series of videos they get that same price for all monthly videos etc.

In my opinion he set his initial price way to low.

I own a business that sells a Web based video training programme, completely different niche but still same principles apply. We don't sell the video modules seperately, the course is only available as a whole.

We have put our price up several times since we first started it in 2009, but once a client commits to the programme, their monthly price stays the same for all of the modules.

Putting it up way thru is a bit on the nose, but it's still cheap I reckon. Our 12 module course is $5600.



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I recon in an open source world its too expensive. I was contemplating buying them month by month and then he made the statement on his youtube channel that when its done hes going to double the price and only sell it as a complete course so its over $700usd (and anyone who has bough parts of it but not the whole thing will have to buy them again). I don't know about others but that's just not affordable for me. It might be a fantastic product, but so is a Koenegsegg, I just cant afford one.

Ah well. Wait until a forum member buys it and you can all have a movie night

I am following the blueprint with my gwp pup poochy, I really like the training so far. I was a bit annoyed when he upped the prices too. but 22 bucks for a good training video is damn cheap. if you get the whole lot is it 12 in total he said i think its pretty cheap if you consider taking your pup to a training course. I would stick to it if i were you. as you can see his dog Print is turning out bloody amazing and it would be a bit silly to miss out on getting your pup to that point over a grudge. I know its annoying, but just stick to it and the results will pay you back 10 fold. just my 2 cents

ring up the guy and talk to him face to face rather than posting all this vomit?

Originally Posted by scoped

ring up the guy and talk to him face to face rather than posting all this vomit?

I responded to his Youtube video directly, he didn't respond to my comment. At the end of the day he can charge as much as he likes, it is his product. I'm just a little disappointed that he is no longer going to be making it available in a format/cost that is reasonable to me. To each their own, other people have greater means than I.

In my opinion if it were me I would prefer written feedback on a forum than a bunch of stingy bastards giving me calls asking me to drop my price.

Originally Posted by scoped

ring up the guy and talk to him face to face rather than posting all this vomit?

Really @scoped, I have spoken to him and dont think i would waste my time again. Yes he has some gd material i have to agree, but not very personable spent 20mins telling me he was the best dog trainer in NZ, trained more dogs that anyone in NZ and does a way better job than "all the others" and most of all banned me from his facebook page due to my association with forum members on here and the other pub lol.

End of the day he can do and say what he wants but if your one and others feel the same it will come to an end soon. Bit stupid and not the best business move for existing clients, sure new ones yup. Attitude and business acumen is not at the same level as his dog training if you ask me.

Gd luck with pooch ah

Hamish

Certainly not averse to giving him my feedback and I likely will. Main reason for my post was to see others opinion, particularly about whether or not abandoning the training programme and going solo is a bad move.

You need to put the cost/investment of the course into perspective. What does it cost to buy a good dog? What does it cost to feed it for 12 months, how much would you spend on vet bills, how much do you spend on other hunting kit, rifles, clothing etc, and annual cost of fuel to go hunting.

And how much would it be worth to you to have a well trained dog that was a real asset to your hunting?

I do believe his training programme is pretty good value.

Paul Michaels knows his stuff and has a business to run

Alot of people have freely given their advice on these forums.....do you expect him to do the same?

Probably gets p1ssed off with tyre kickers wasting his time and wanting training info for free

Imagine the poorly trained dogs with serious issues .....the owner turns up at his place asking him to fix it ....no wonder he has focussed on a training video !

The next series has him hunting over the dog and looking forward to it

Buy the series and train to it and you will have a handy/useful dog

Originally Posted by Echo

Paul Michaels knows his stuff and has a business to run

Alot of people have freely given their advice on these forums.....do you expect him to do the same?

Probably gets p1ssed off with tyre kickers wasting his time and wanting training info for free

Imagine the poorly trained dogs with serious issues .....the owner turns up at his place asking him to fix it ....no wonder he has focussed on a training video !

The next series has him hunting over the dog and looking forward to it

Buy the series and train to it and you will have a handy/useful dog

That is all good and well
I have had a yak on phone with him and have brought 3 of the videos so far .
Good stuff in there and he has put a great deal of time and coin into his investment.
But I have to agree its a bit off putting that if I don't buy rest of series now I will have to pay for whole package again to get rest.
While I are lucky enough to have the coin to do it I are guessing there are a lot of other hunters who will and rightly so have problems having access to a lump sum straight up before offer runs out.
Most people myself included purchased on the idea of buying the next video as needed was easier on bank account .
Its his business but surely he should be honouring those who are already customers?

Yeah he probably has a good business set up now selling the videos and can spend heaps of time hunting

Interesting. Paul has obviously invested a lot of time and money into his business and project. Its up to the consumer to now decide what the investment into his products is worth. Most people though don't like to be trapped into paying more for an ongoing series than they think they ought to.

A road map or strategy of some sort is important when training a dog.

Paul did leave the other forum for some reason or other. I recall that he preferred people to agree with him on things and got a bit prickly when they didn't.

I just think doubling the price half way through is a dick move of the highest order. I can afford to pay bit probably won't on principle.