The Dog Listener: A Noted Expert Tells You How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation [Hardcover]

Jan Fennell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2001

Jan Fennell's remarkable gifts have earned her the nickname "the dog whisperer." Her unique knowledge of the canine world and its instinctive language has enabled her to bring even the most desperate and troubled dogs to heel. This easy-to-follow guide to Jan's simple techniques draws on her countless case histories of problem dogs -- from biters and barkers to bicycle chasers -- to show how we can bridge the language barrier that separates man from his best friend.

The Dog Listener is a moving and inspiring story. Jan tells of the tragic death that first led her to reassess conventional attitudes toward dogs. She describes how she grew determined to find a more compassionate alternative to standard "obedience" training techniques. Most important of all, she brings the reader to an understanding of her method, one made all the more remarkable by its simplicity. Her book will fascinate animal lovers and prove indispensable to dog owners.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Standard dog training has long advocated the use of force choke collars, sharp smacks, harsh language. Fennell, a dog trainer in England for 30 years, wants to change all that. Expanding upon the theories of horse trainer Monty Roberts (the basis for The Horse Whisperer), Fennell believes one can best train dogs by emulating natural behaviors, that is, by treating them as they would treat each other in the wild. Her intelligent, straightforward and humane method has engendered controversy and increasing enthusiasm. After Fennel's dog Purdey went manic, injured Fennell's young children and had to be euthanized, she was fearful of owning a dog again. Lured back into it by the pleasure of showing spaniels, she adopted a high-strung young shepherd, Sasha, and investigated alternative training methods. Fennell's simple and succinct method posits that domesticated dogs are confused, believing themselves to be the pack leaders, and humans their subordinates. Fennell retrains dogs to accept a human as their alpha leader. She spurns the use of force, even in training language, employing instead a system of Pavlovian rewards. Those wanting true canine companionship will find Fennell's commonsense approach attractive and easy to apply with puppies as well as with older dogs. She addresses common problems, from separation anxiety to barking at guests to the mistrust of strangers that rescued dogs often harbor. Her knowledge and love of dogs is expansive and her concern for their well-being balances kindness and appropriate discipline. (Aug.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Fennell, a longtime dog owner, trainer, and champion show-dog manager, provides a comprehensive guide for creating peaceful coexistence between dogs and their owners. An advocate of nonviolent pet training, Fennell shows readers how to successfully train their canine companions using gentle, respectful techniques and also shares anecdotes and advice from her years of experiences (both good and bad). Fennell's techniques appear to deal efficiently with canine problem behaviors by teaching owners to establish leadership while eliminating separation anxiety, nervous aggression, and destructive behaviors, such as biting. She also notes ways to reassure overprotective dogs and much, much more. Fennel emphasizes that there is no quick fix for most of these behavior issues; her methods require time and a lot of patience. Although every training technique she outlines might not work with every dog, her book contains quite a lot of useful information. Most current or prospective dog owners would benefit from taking a look at it. Kathleen Hughes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (July 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060199539
• ISBN-13: 978-0060199531
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #592,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last - an open door into the canine mind, July 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dog Listener: A Noted Expert Tells You How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation (Hardcover)

Jan has delivered a stunning piece of work here - her years of observation and research have enabled her to develop her technique of Amichien Bonding, the likes of which I have never before seen in dog training manuals.

Having read stacks of dog training books, and always feeling like there was something missing, I was left with my dog still barking at strangers, misbehaving off-leash, and howling for hours when I left for work. Jan explains it all, and how to fix it, in such a clear and easy way that readers are left wondering why they never thought of it that way before...

All the missing puzzle pieces are not only found in The Dog Listener, but assembled into a stunning portrait of the canine psyche. Jan explains how to enrich both our lives, and theirs, by learning how they think, and how to communicate with them in language they can understand. Her testimonial case studies are incredible and encouraging for owners with dogs who have similar problems.

Truly a breakthrough in training - changing the way we think about dogs, changing what we know about the way they think, and building a bridge between the two. A must for any dog owner, especially if the dog in question presents behavioral problems that seem to be unsolvable.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! It really works!, October 9, 2001

By 

Gini B (Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dog Listener: A Noted Expert Tells You How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation (Hardcover)

I am so grateful for this book! I have two HUGE dogs whom I love very much. I have never minded how excited they get when I first get home. But others are not as amused to be mauled by 210 pounds of maniacal raving canine exuberance. I have tried the old standbys: stepping on their back feet, kneeing them in the chest, scolding them, and nothing worked. I bought this book with much scepticism and a jaundiced eye (I've tried others). I am pleased to report that the first time I tried Jan's techniques I saw a huge difference. And they're embarrassingly simple to do! You don't need props, you don't need to behave like an idiot, you don't have to be The Big Meanie...just act like the Alpha dog, as instructed by Jan, and watch the transformation. I thank you Jan, my mother-in-law, real estate agent and mailman thank you, and my "babies", Ruck and Xena thank you!

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary methods have changed my house!, August 18, 2001

By 

Jon - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dog Listener: A Noted Expert Tells You How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation (Hardcover)

I came home from work one day and my wife was excited to see me as she said, "come look at this." She called our dog, a seven year old Westie, into his area where he is always reluctant to go. But this day he walked right in without making a scene. She told me she had seen Jan Fennell on television that day and had simply tried one of the concepts she talked about. We got the book, and immediately our Westie has settled right in to our new pecking order, and has significantly settled down.

We are more than impressed with the insight that this book gives. It has greatly improved our relationship with our dogs, and I would recommend this book to any dog owners. Understanding the canine culture is fascinating.