Civilizing the City Dog: A Guide to Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs in an Urban Environment [Paperback]

Pamela S. Dennison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2007

Residing in a large, congested city presents special problems to city dwellers who own aggressive dogs. There are few places to escape the constant stream of people, automobiles, dogs and other circumstances that may trigger an aggressive or reactive dog. Just walking out the door of the apartment can be a challenge.

Realizing the city dog is presented with constant action, with no room to avoid threatening situations, Pamela S. Dennison and Jolanta Benal have written a book addressing those very issues that make training an aggressive or reactive dog in a large city unique. With clarity, the authors guide the reader down the path to rehabilitation. They begin with recommending dry runs and having a helper, training indoors and working to prevent reactive behavior. Advice is included on what to do if the dog goes over the threshold or if a real catastrophe strikes, and how to become inventive in sticky situations. The authors also focus on teaching the owner/handler to learn how to handle their own anxieties or fears.

Although at times the authors refer to Dennison s previous book, How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong, this book is very capable of standing on its own. It is full of solid, well-thought-out information that the owner of an aggressive or reactive dog can put into use. With time, patience and dedication, readers will soon be walking their dog down a crowded street with confidence.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pam's work with aggressive dogs started when she adopted a one-year-old Border
Collie named Shadow. Unbeknownst to her, she had a human-aggressive dog on her
hands. It was through her work with Shadow that she was able to gain the observational and training skills necessary to work with aggression. In a mere eighteen months, Pam took Shadow from being a human-aggressive dog to one able to earn his Canine Good Citizen certificate and subsequent Rally Championship title (ARCH), RL3, CD, NA, NAJ, TSW.

Pam has been training dogs since 1992 and started her own business, Positive
Motivation Dog Training, in 1997. She teaches puppy kindergarten, beginners, Canine Good Citizen, musical Freestyle, Rally and competition classes at her facility in Belvidere, New Jersey. She works with every breed, from Dachshunds to Great Danes to every size in between, on a myriad of behavioral issues. Pam holds behavior modification classes for aggressive and reactive dogs based on her work with Shadow, as well as seminars and camps (Camp R.E.W.A.R.D.).

Pam started competing in 1996 and qualified and competed in the Eastern United
States Dog Obedience Championships in 1997. After switching to positive training
methods from traditional, punishment-based ones, she started her own school in 1997. At present she lives with three rescued dogs, all Border Collies. Her dogs have earned many titles to date, spanning Competition obedience, Rally obedience, and agility. Pam continues to compete for more titles in these sports, as well as training for sheepherding, tracking, carting and water sports. To date, her students have earned a multitude of titles and certificates in obedience, Rally, tracking, sheepherding and Canine Good Citizen and
Therapy Dog programs.

Pam is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training (Alpha
Books), Bringing Light to Shadow: A Dog Trainer's Diary (Dogwise Publishing), How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong: A Roadmap for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs (Alpine Publications) and Click Your Way to Rally Obedience (Alpine Publications). Pam also has two videos available, Camp R.E.WA.R.D. for Aggressive Dogs and Positive Solutions for Standard Behavioral Problems (both from Barkleigh Productions). Pam is a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), the NADOI (National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors), and the DWAA (Dog Writers Association of America). She is also a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants). Pam has published articles in the Blairstown Press, The Clicker Journal, various BowTie publications, Chronicle of the Dog (APDT newsletter), and Dog Sport Magazine, and is the training writer for the New England Border Collie Rescue newsletter, Have You Herd? She has been a regular presenter at various venues, speaking on a variety of topics relating to positive training and aggression. Pam also has worked closely with Sussex County Friends of Animals and Pet Adoption League and developed a retraining program for shelter dogs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 84 pages
• Publisher: Alpine Pubns (October 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577790898
• ISBN-13: 978-1577790891
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,099,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

NEW!!!! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training now has an ONLINE class! So no matter where you live, you can now train with me! www.idiotsguidepositivedogtraining.com


I started out my writing career by accident. I adopted Shadow and for some unknown reason, decided to keep a diary on his acclimation into my household. After working with Ted Turner (not Jane Fonda's ex), he mentioned that I should turn that diary into a series of articles. And voila! Bringing Light to Shadow was born! It took me over a year to find a publisher for it though, but in the meantime, my agent found me another opportunity to write a book for the Complete Idiot's Guide series - and then came The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training. And the rest as they say, is history. Five books, four DVDs and 35+ articles later, I am still writing and in fact, would really love to delve into fiction, except I have no clue how to go about it.

Of course, I am still training dogs and helping people to help their dogs and create positive relationships. I speak across the country and across the ocean as well on many different topics - from positive training in general, to working with aggressive dogs, to free shaping, to Rally obedience and competition obedience. I went to Australia last year and spoke at the APDT conference - once I got over my fear of flying, I was thrilled to be there. I have some seminars coming up soon - in Chicago, IL, Richmond, VA and of course here at home.

I have a 7,000 sf facility in the wilds of New Jersey - yes there really are wilds in New Jersey and keep busy with my business and my own dogs. Shadow is still here - he is now 10 years old and doing great! He continues to surprise me with how "normal" he is. It used to take him months to warm up to new people and now, it only takes seconds. After earning his CGC (Canine Good Citizen certificate ) back in 2001, he has gone on to earn his CD (Companion Dog title), NA and NAJ, has a few legs of Open (agility), his ARCHEX and Level 3 titles in Rally obedience, (and he has been in the Top 20 for National Ranking for 3 years) his TSW (Team Swim certificate for Canine Water Sports) and is now working toward his certification for tracking. He could get it now if I were a better handler.

My other dogs at present are Emma and Beau - both rescued Border collies. I compete with them in most sports and are very successful. They have also been on stage and screen - Emma was in an Olympic Paint commercial, Beau was in a Mack Truck print ad and Beau and I were both in the movie "I am Legend!" Don't hurry out to buy it on my account - we are only in for 6 seconds (I counted) in the very last scene.

My complete listing of books:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training, 2nd edition, Alpha Pearson
Bringing Light to Shadow; A Dog Trainer's Diary, Dogwise
How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong; A Roadmap for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs, Alpine Publications
Civilizing the City Dog (a supplement to the above title), Alpine Publications
Click Your Way to Rally Obedience, Alpine Publications

My DVDs:
Positve Solutions for Standard Behavior Problems, Barkleigh Productions
Camp R.E.W.A.R.D. for aggressive and reactive dogs, Barkleigh Productions
The 2 above were seminars that were taped
The Magic of Shaping; Explore the Possibilities, Tawzer Dog Videos
Training the Whistle Recall, Positive Motivation Dog Training
The Magic of Shaping; Explore the Possibilities

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for City Dogs, February 20, 2008

By 

Tami M. Hawes "tamikat" (Hillsboro, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Civilizing the City Dog: A Guide to Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs in an Urban Environment (Paperback)

Pam's book "How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong" helped lots of people with their reactive/aggressive dog but left many city dwellers wondering how to do the work in their crowded urban areas.

"Civilizing the City Dog" gives you the tools on how to do the work with your dog and hopefully calm your reactive dog.

Pam addresses how to prepare before you go out on many of the exercises - either by yelling at the TV or whistle training a recall with your dog. How to handle doorbells and elevators, walking on the street, how to practice with other dogs, and much more. Pam also covers those 'oh oh' moments that you may not have prepared for too.

If you live an urban area without suburbs close by, this is a must have book for you and your dog.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great information on training dogs with issues., July 29, 2008

By 

Carol A. Byrnes "Diamonds in the Ruff" (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Civilizing the City Dog: A Guide to Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs in an Urban Environment (Paperback)

Pam Dennison has done an excellent job of outlining step-by-step how to work successfully and safely with aggressive dogs in a difficult setting. The best part of the book are the many excellent photographs that clearly show each technique being executed in the environment. If you have a dog with aggression issues, this is the book for you. - Carol Byrnes, CPDT

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine pick for city dwellers who hold aggressive dogs in urban places, March 5, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civilizing the City Dog: A Guide to Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs in an Urban Environment (Paperback)

CIVILIZING THE CITY DOG: A GUIDE TO REHABILITATING AGGRESSIVE DOGS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT is a fine pick for city dwellers who hold aggressive dogs in urban places. Pamela Dennison and Jolanta Benal address the special training needs of such animals, offering concrete training tactics and details for owners of such animals and making for a reference any urban library strong in pets and dog training will want.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch