Bad Dogs Need It: Good Dogs Deserve It: An Encyclopedia of Behavior Problems and Training Solutions [Paperback]

Nick L. Terrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1999

A comprehensive, working guide on training dogs for basic obedience and handling dogs for show. Provides several solutions to try for the most common dog behavior problems. Workbook available.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Terrell's encyclopedia was written by Nick Terrell to share his wealth of experience and knowledge of dog training. It was written especially for people who want the very best behavior from, and relationship with, their dogs - people like you. Nick Terrell has a real love for dogs; in fact, a love for animals of all kinds. As a small boy, he became enamored with countless fish, snakes, tadpoles, rabbits, pigeons, and other pets. He found them, and their varying behavior, interesting. Raised by his Grandfather, a horse trainer, nick showed an early understanding of animals, and of their behavior. This was noticed by his science teacher, who encouraged Nick to put his expertise to work by raising and breeding animals for test. Beginning in the late 1940s, Nick began training dogs, and entered many of them in the American Kennel Club's certified obedience trails. His dogs proved to be consistent winners, scoring as high as 199 of a possible 200 points on two occasions. Those successes led Nick to open a training school, Dog Services of America, where he began a series of dog obedience training classes, which he named "Home Obedience Training." In fifty years of classes, Nick and his assistants have worked with more than 10,000 dogs (and their owners). Nick also personally trained many hundreds of dogs in private training sessions at his Dog Services of America kennels. Throughout his dog training career, he has learned or developed many unique methods for creating strong and loving bonds between dog and owner. Those methods are outlined in this book. Nick earned a Bachelor of Human Relations degree from Missouri Valley College, and a Masters Degree in Psychiatric Social Work from the University of Kansas. He has earned the Master of Respect and Obedience title from the many dogs he has trained during his career.

About the Author

Nick Terrell began training dogs in the 1940s, entering many in the AKC certified obedience trials. He then opened a training school, Dog Services of America, where he began a series of obedience training classes. In 50 years of classes he has taught over 10,000 dogs at the school and many hundreds in private lessons. He has a Bachelor of Human Relations from Missouri Valley College and a Masters Degree in Psychiatric Social Work from the University of Kansas.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 442 pages
• Publisher: Leathers Publishing (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890622559
• ISBN-13: 978-1890622558
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,517,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ... A very strong manual on how to train doggies ..., February 26, 2002

By 

Yeoh Siok Kee (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bad Dogs Need It: Good Dogs Deserve It: An Encyclopedia of Behavior Problems and Training Solutions (Paperback)

If you don't believe in physically reprimanding your dog under any circumstances ... then this is not your book ...

But if like us, you believe that perhaps, there may not be such great divide between new and older training methods, as many are wont to have us believe - and you are prepared to keep a reasonably open mind ... then give this book a try ... there is much to learn here ...

This is very much a reading book, but the writing is well done, humorous and light. The author writes convincingly in a conversational manner but without excess and remains focused on the primary purpose of the book - teaching us how to teach our doggies ...

Content-wise, the book is substantial and covers a wide range of behavioural & training topics, from (a) how to teach the basic commands, (b) how to deal with common problems, from excessive barking, jumping, biting & aggression, to (c) training the doggie for the obedience ring.

Remarkably, all the above is accomplished in a comfortable & complete manner. At no time does it seem that Mr. Terrel is dealing with or rushing the reader through any issue in a superficial manner. Nor were we left with the impression of impossible complexibility. The book is well balanced and there is always much to appreciate & consider.

Characteristically, an issue or problem is identified or discussed, the author then provides a series of possible alternative training methods, some his own, others which he has read or heard of, and may or may not have tried. Where appropriate Mr. Terrell presents his caveats and recommendations in reasonable detail, explaining how and why a particular training method might or might not work. The author explains that no one training method is suitable for all dogs.

Many training manuals simply suggests a method for training or eradicating a problem, but stops there, and does not tell us what to do, when it doesn't work! This book offers multiple options, which we find particularly useful (and we are free to choose what we think best for us & our dogs). This adds the much-appreciated dimension of flexibility.

Structurally, book is reasonably well indexed, and makes it easy for a more experienced trainer (or those wishing only to address a particular issue) to read selectively without need to plough through all the pages; adding value and making the book a good reference source.

Yes, Mr. Terrel is not adverse to 'paddling' the dog, but it must be said that the author does represent this (often most sensitive) aspect of training carefully and only advocates physical handling or reprimand within very limited boundaries & within the context of the severity of the problem faced by the trainer.

Nevertheless and while we are ourselves not particularly convinced that physical reprimand is the answer ... that does not detract from the value of the book as a whole. We take the approach that we don't have to agree with all that Mr. Terrel writes, to appreciate he has much experience, from which we can (albeit selectively) learn. Whenever physical reprimand is suggested, we substitute the physical reprimand with another form of acceptable reprimand such as low growls, withholding of attention, temporary confinement etc etc ...

Good training manual.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I was a little disturbed by his chapter on reprimanding, September 15, 2000

By 

Meh - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Dogs Need It: Good Dogs Deserve It: An Encyclopedia of Behavior Problems and Training Solutions (Paperback)

I enjoyed the introduction, but the chapter on how to reprimand left me cold. I am quite disturbed by his "paddling" suggestions. I am thoroughly against hitting dogs so I suppose I'm one of the "80%" who, in his opinion, are not firm enough with their dogs. It seemed obvious to me that after his "reprimand" the dogs obeyed because they were afraid of him. This is not the relationship I want with my animals. This book was a mistake.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for all dog owners, July 25, 2000

By 

James Solomon PHD (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Dogs Need It: Good Dogs Deserve It: An Encyclopedia of Behavior Problems and Training Solutions (Paperback)

After purveying what seems to be countless resources in the specialty of dog training and obedience, I have found exactly what I was looking for in this book. As an AKC Certified trainer, I am very pleased with both the format and steady stream of experience based solutions this book contains. Mr. Terrell clearly exhibits a solid knowledge and understanding of canine obedience and show training. While many authors simply offer re-hashed cookie cutter solutions, Mr. Terrell provides a wide variety of solutions with multiple angles to multiple canine obedience problems - a very unique approach that I have found to be quite effective in my daily dealings with the dogs and owners I am personally responsible to. I highly recommend this book to any dog owner seeking to know and understand all canines.