Bark Busters: How to Solve Your Dog's Behavioural Problems [Paperback]

Sylvia Wilson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia; Revised edition (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0731806204
• ISBN-13: 978-0731806201
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,664,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good for other dogs, not so good for yours., June 17, 2000

By 

dekester (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bite Busters S S Int: How To Solve Your Dogs Behavioural Problems (Paperback)

The author presents some interesting theories as to what makes a dog bite, but offers few solutions other than calling her in to fix things. For North American readers, this presents a problem as her Bark Busters business is in Australia. She also has many touching stories, but that's not why I bought the book.

I had hoped that this book would offer me tips on how to retrain my dog's aggressive behavior, but the tips given focus mainly on keeping a dog from biting you and not on how to stop bad behavior.

If you are interested in a new approach to canine aggression psychology, you might be interested in this book. If you are interested in dog training, I recommend trying a different book instead.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Information!!, February 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Bite Busters S S Int: How To Solve Your Dogs Behavioural Problems (Paperback)

Sylvia Wilson's information and advice are outstanding. I have personally used the techniques discussed in this book and I believe they have spared me from several potential dog bites. Anybody with children who spend time around dogs or who spend time in park areas where dogs are often off-leash, should read this book and teach these techniques to their kids.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for professionals, December 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bite Busters S S Int: How To Solve Your Dogs Behavioural Problems (Paperback)

This book is a decent primer for those who are completely unfamiliar with dogs. For those of us who are already in a line of work which involves dealing with potentially agressive dogs, there is nothing new here.

I found Ms. Wilson's section explaining why service personnel has such a high bite rate to be ridiculous, insulting and unfounded. She attributes the bite rate among meter readers et.al. to "fear of the unknown". Also, she claims misinformation is perpetuated through "lunch room talk", describing 3 types of people: those who advocate agression toward dogs, those who believe everything those people say, and folks who know what they are doing yet remain silent.

First of all, her research is suspect - meter readers are in the field all day. Where is this mythical lunch room upon which they converge and discuss work?

The reason we get bit is not through fear, and I resent her depiction of us as a bunch of cowering morons who don't know how to act around a dog. The number one reason we get bit is SURPRISE, not fear. And by the way, there is very little "unknown" for us to fear. We know our routes, we have information about almost all the dogs we must interact with. We get bit when a new dog shows up out of nowhere, or when their behavior changes suddenly i.e. the owner shows up on the scene and the dog becomes protective. Or when an owner actually sics their dog on us.

These are people who must enter a strange dog's home turf hundreds of times a day. I think this qualifies us every bit as much as dog behavior professionals as the author. Meter readers are a courageous bunch with a lot of heart - we have to deal with danger on a daily basis, and not only from dogs. I'd like to see the author spend the day breaking into backyards in a high crime rate neighborhood in 100+ degree heat for 8 hours. Then she would be qualified to tell the world how little courage we have. We are not a fearful group by any means, and the majority of us LOVE dogs.

If you are a beginner, take to heart the advice here. Don't corner a dog, don't offer your hand, don't stare, be extra careful around multiple dogs, be aware the behavior can change suddenly with the presence of the owner, etc. If you are a professional, don't waste your money. You already know everything in this book.