Before You Get Your Puppy [Paperback]

Ian Dunbar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 2001

When you choose a new puppy, you need to meet six developmental deadlines before your puppy is just five months old. "BEFORE You Get Your Puppy" covers the first three developmental deadlines covering the period of puppy selection until your puppy's first week at home.

1st Developmental Deadline: Your Education About Puppy Education - Before you search for a puppy you need to complete your education about puppy education. You need to know how to select a good puppy and how puppies work. Selecting a puppy is similar to selecting a car: Do lots of research beforehand and "test drive" a wide variety. But first, you need to learn how to drive.

2nd Developmental Deadline: Evaluating Your Prospective Puppy's Progress - Before you choose your puppy, you need to know how to assess your prospective puppy's current socialization and educational status. Regardless of breed or breeding, if socialization, housetraining, and basic manners are not well underway by eight weeks of age, the puppy is already developmentally retarded.

3rd Developmental Deadline: Errorless Housetraining & Chewtoy-Training Make certain that an errorless housetraining and chewtoy-training program is instituted from the very first day your puppy comes home.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and author Dr. Ian Dunbar is Director of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior, Founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and host of the British TV series "Dogs with Dunbar." Dr. Dunbar is the author of numerous books and videos, including "SIRIUS Puppy Training" and "How To Teach A New Dog Old Tricks." Ian lives in Berkeley, California, with little brown dog Oliver, large brown dog Claude, and a kitty called Mitty.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: James & Kenneth Publishers (August 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888047003
• ISBN-13: 978-1888047004
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Dogs > Training
  • #32 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Dogs > Nonfiction
  • #50 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Home & Garden > Animal Care & Pets > Dogs > General

More About the Author

Consulting Editor Ian Dunbar, Ph.D., MRCVS, is the founder and an ongoing member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Consulting Editor Pamela Leis Higdon, an aviculturist of long standing, was an associate editor for Bird Talk magazine and the first managing editor of Birds USA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lifesaver for You and Your Dog, June 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Before You Get Your Puppy (Paperback)

What a difference this book makes! When we got our first dog, we suffered through accidents on the floor, chewed shoes, coats, cushions -- you name it -- because we didn't know what to do. I read this book before we got our second dog (a companion to our first), and it was amazing! With the Errorless Training system Dr. Dunbar recommends, the new dog didn't chew a single bad item (he loves his chewtoys and chews only them) and didn't have a single accident in the house. And the errorless system was incredibly simple to set up. I recommend this easy, owner-and-dog-friendly book to everyone I know. Although it says "Before you get your puppy," this book is completely relevant for adopters of adult dogs.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a goldmine for a new puppy owner., February 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Before You Get Your Puppy (Paperback)

If you are even thinking of ever getting a puppy or adopting a dog, please buy this book first. It covers everything you will need to know to raise a happy, well manered dog. If more people read this book , there is no doubt in my mind we would have fewer dogs in shelters. This book is part of the solution to animal over population. All breeders should send this book home with their puppies. On top of all of the great information this book provides, it is also easy to read with lots of entertaining pictures. A joy to read!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good content and arrived quickly, September 30, 2005

By 

N. Crouch (Los Angeles, California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before You Get Your Puppy (Paperback)

I bought this book because my puppy obedience class uses the sequel "After You Get Your Puppy." I wanted more details on how to "crate train" and this book has that. I wish I had actually gotten this book before we bought our puppy because it describes good things to look for in the puppy you choose, which would habe been helpful.