Customer Reviews

101 Training Tips for Your Dog: Learn the Experts Way to a Happy Well-behaved Pet

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I skimmed this book in a bookstore and it brought tears to my eyes.

This book advocates abusive training methods. I was appalled at the horrible suggestions.

I wish there was a 'zero stars' rating.

Try Good Owners, Great Dogs or The Dog Whisperer instead.

This book is the exact opposite approach taken by most trainers today. I don't approve of the methods suggested for corrections. There are many better, positive method training book available.

What an appalling book! You should never, ever hit your dog. If your dog has a problem that serious, you should consult a professional trainer -- not listen to a book written by a woman whose training ideas are from the 1950s. These methods could also seriously injure or emotionally traumatize a small or sensitive dog.

Hitting, choking and slapping haven't been used by intelligent trainers for decades. There are other, gentler ways (like leash corrections or clicker training) of getting your dog to behave.

I was very impressed with the overall perspective the author displays in her book. I am taking the trouble to write this review because I like pit bulls and the author shows in her work a very sensitive,caring, firm approach to them as well as to the other breeds.This is a book that has given me some very helpful information. It is a definitely a step up from the usual.

The more modern and progressive methods of dog training avoid hitting dogs with anything... this is not one of those methods. In fact, the author comes up with a variety of creative props to hit your dog with: a "jump-bat", a "large book, perhaps 12 by 10 inches, and a quarter inch or less thick", even "hot tap water, thrown forcefully in the dog's face"! Some of her techniques are shocking to read in print. For example, to train your dog to get along with your cat(s): "Let your dog see the cats from a distance. If they eventually walk by, in sight of the dog but out of reach, your dog will probably begin straining to get near them. If he does this, take the flat of your hand and slap him flat on the top of his head with your palm. Make the slap sharp and hard enough so he momentarily stops paying attention to the cat and pays attention to you. If he continues without pausing to try to get at the cats, you haven't slapped him nearly hard enough." The message is, if your dog is not behaving, you are not hitting him hard enough. The back cover says she focuses on "praise and correction, not punishment." Her distinction is a little fuzzy to me and I doubt that a dog will be able to tell the difference. To her credit, the methods are no doubt very effective. But if I caught my trainer using any of them on my dogs, I'd probably take them to court.

I bought this book because I recently adopted a rottweiler-lab mix puppy and I need all the help I can get. I thought this book looked like a good start. (I already have another, smaller, milder, gentler, female dog, and have trained her successfully). And I did find some good tips. But I was shocked by the author's suggestion to hit a dog with: 1. the flat of your hand. 2. a large children's book. 3. a "jump-bat" I thought those training methods went out with Descartes! I could never hit a dog, especially on the head, as she suggests. Those parts of the book made me literally sick to my stomach.

As a professional trainer running a very large training school, I'm disappointed to see that these outdated and abusive methods are still out there. This writer still recommends hitting dogs, pushing their noses into messes, and she even recommends use of a "riding bat", which she says is like a riding crop but "sturdier".

The proliferation of positive methods means that nobody should ever again feel they have no option but to hurt their dog and call it dog training. Please read "Positive Puppy Training Works" by Joel Walton, "The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller, and other excellent books by more positive trainers. Dog training has really changed for the better since this dog was published!

Becky Schultz, Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Golden Valley, MN

I train dogs for competitive obedience and I must say this is the WORST book ever written on dog training and it is certainly NOT for a novice. Using these methods especially on a dog with aggression issues will most likely cause the dog to react aggressively and attack you. Please don't buy this book, if you already have, burn it!! If you need training help or a different book recommendation, please e-mail me.

http://www.canadiank9info.netfirms.com

The guidelines for adopting a dog are absolutely ridiculous. Acopy of the adoptee's lease, a utility bill, meeting all members of the family, requiring notification of a move of the family, checking with the adoptee's vet, requiring two forms of ID, having to inform the original owner of a death of pet, even fifteen years later, spontaneous visits of original owner to adoptive owners, wanting to know what kind of employment the prospective owners has, getting deposit from prospective owner, wanting to know what happened to other pets and etc. is ridiculous.

The methods for disciplining a dog are silly. She says to use diapers if dog is incontinent but do not make them wear a sweater if the dog is embarrassed. Hello?? A coat will embarrass them but a diaper will not?

She suggests barking at your dog to discipline them. And also refers to "killing your dog" and that the vet will do it for you. Such compassion for the dogs.

This is the worst book I have ever read on training a dog. If you follow the rules for letting a dog be adopted, the dog will NEVER be adopted. This is the most asinine guide for giving dogs away I have ever seen.

To read what the dogs are thinking in certain given situations is the silliest thing I have ever seen. If my dog really thinks like that, I have no respect for them any more.

This is the worst book on dog training I have ever seen. We bought it, but I would never recommend it to anyone else.

WONDERFUL!
This book has the answers for how to peacefully co-exist with your dog(s).
Ms. Delano Condax hits the nail on the head with her practical approach to training your dog(s). I was looking to undo some bad habits and teach new commands as well and this book really covered how to do both. If you have a dog and you need a training book, my money is on this one! You won't be disappointed. My resuce dog has been able to build confidence and learn how to adapt to her new home and routine! THANK YOU!!!!