On the other hand, this book is a gold mine for the serious trainer. While different training directors espouse different methods for schooling dogs in Schutzhund, Barwig and Hilliard consistently advocate time-honored methods in all three Schutzhund disciplines (tracking, obedience, protection) that are neither too trendy nor too harsh. A dog (and handler!) with the basic "equipment" to compete in the sport would not likely go wrong by following any of the advice given here. Considering the bewildering array of training methods that already exist in the Schutzhund world, this is a remarkable accomplishment in itself. And when coupled with the authors' accessible prose style, this is an important book that should not be overlooked by any Schutzhund trainer--or any curious reader willing to read between the lines.