Customer Reviews

Dog Training for Dummies

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I thought the parts of this book that talked about training were, for the most part, quite good. The authors give clear instructions and reasons for their practices. For example, don't say "no" to your dog; tell him what you want him to do instead. If he's jumping, say sit, for example. Be consistent. Reinforce commands. Say commands only once. I could give more examples, but you get the idea: sound, sane, and humane advice. The advanced training sections started to lose me a bit. I found them tedious after a while.

Although the authors are very experienced with all aspects of caring for dogs, I thought they were reaching a bit with their nutritional and medical advice. They talked about homeopathic remedies as though they're proven treatments. They're not. Anecdotal evidence is not the same as statistically significant results from controlled studies. Their opinion on vaccines seemed dangerous and unbalanced. They have too much confidence in their alternative nutrition and treatment methods -- maybe they have some effect, but they're not perfect. A well-fed dog could still get fleas and infections and communicable diseases. After a while, they sounded like shills for the company that makes the supplements they use. Finally -- and I hope you'll excuse the e-shouting, but I cannot emphasize this enough -- DO NOT FEED YOUR DOG RAISINS, EVEN FOR A TREAT! Scientists haven't yet identified what it is about grapes and raisins, but they've been implicated in acute toxicity and even death in some dogs.

And as someone who makes a living from the written word, I have to say it seemed to me that the copy editor gave up on this book around Page 200. The text in the last half of the book is full of typos, errors, and repetitive writing -- not repetitive as in emphasizing a point, but repetitive as in restating the content of one paragraph in the next. Ugh.

The training advice was sound. Read this book for that, and disregard the rest.

This book gets put down a lot because it has a couple of flaws. However, overall, it is a great book on Dog Training, and it contains a lot of information the person trying to train their dog really needs to know. This book helps you get inside your dog's head and understand why he does and does not listen. It puts the world as your dog sees it in perspective and shows you how to communicate on his level so you can help him understand exactly what is expected of him.

If you read this book you will become someone who can control their dog and have a happy, obedient canine companion.

This book was both useful and interesting for old hat dog owners and new ones as well. I initially found it at a friend's house and while flipping through the chapters I decided I needed one for myself. Though I am very familiar with dogs, the behvioural sections helped me get a handle on my new puppies' quirks and demands, particularly the section on typing your dog's profile. They were a new breed for me, and rescues, so I appreciated the explanation of behaviours I was not familiar with. I liked this book enough to send it on to my parents when they recently got a new dog as well. I did not find the homeophatic information very helpful at all, however I don't think the inclusion of that information outweighed the potential benefit of owning the book.

Like another reviewer, I am also a veterinary technician and I strongly disagree with her dismissal of many things in this book on the basis that the authors aren't "medically trained". These authors are very experienced and respected people in the dog training/health fields. Their advice on rabies vaccination timing and commercial dog foods are, I believe, valid. The veterinary field (vets and technicians)is not a monolithic block. I personally know many licensed veterinarians
who agree wholehearedly with the health issues in this book. As someone who has a degree in veterinary technology (plus human physical therapy) I am dismayed by the attitude of many of my colleagues that vettech/vet school is the only place to receive valid training and information. There is minimal training inbehavior and nutrition.
I have found that the Volhard's training methods work quite well, and they are also followed and respected by many canine breeding/training professionals.

This was the first book I bought on dog training. Its great because it covers a broad range of topics and is very easy to read. I got noticable results with my dog from their training techniques.

Its a good introduction and starting point from which to then go on to more specialized books.

We've never had puppies before, and suddenly we had two who were 7 weeks old. This book gave a great general outline of the attitude to take, the different ways to work with different kinds of dogs, common mistakes, and basic tips for overcoming them. I use very different physical methods than outlined in the book (i.e. I rarely use a leash when training), but the philosophy is pretty much the same. The only reason I give it four instead of five stars is that, indeed, the actual mechanisms of training weren't for me. Our puppies can now sit, stay, down, high five, and not chase our cats (almost). Not bad for little ones!

Like so many of the books in the for dummies series it is well written and just gets down to business. The approach taken with this book is a nonviolent approach to training with training being enjoyed by both man (or woman) and beast. I have been training my Shiba Inu puppy based on this book for the last two months now and have had good results.

This book has been a huge help in training my new puppy. It not only teaches you how to trian your dog but also how your dog's mind works, how to solve problems and how to "read your dog." All in all, a great book for the beginning dog owner/trainer. The only down side is that a large portion of the material later in the book is focused on training for a show or competition dog, not something the average dog owner really needs to know.

I have had dogs my whole life, but when I got my new puppy, I decided to read this book. I think its FANTASTIC. It taught me A LOT... I found new ways to train my dog that I had never thought of. I think anyone that owns a dog should get this book. Its great.

I have actually bought this book twice. Once for myself to train my Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy, and the second time for my father and his new Chessie pup. Great methodology on how to train your pet with our without treats. Outlines step by step procedures for getting your dog to do both basic obedience and advanced tricks. I still refer to the book from time to time when the dog gets unruly. Only negative is that the book could use better diagrams and pictures.

Definitely recommend picking this book up!