How Dogs Learn (Howell reference books) [Hardcover]

Mary R. Burch (Author), Jon S. Bailey PhD. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0876053711 | ISBN-13: 978-0876053713 | Publication Date: May 4, 1999 | Edition: 1

"...this book should be on every animal trainer's bookshelf for future reference. How Dogs Learn covers the content of an undergraduate course in learning and behavior, but the examples are taken from dog training it is practical and very useful without sacrificing scientific and technical accuracy." --Jack Michael, PhD, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University

How Dogs Learn explore the fascinating science of operant conditioning, where science and dog training meet. How Dogs Learn explains the basic principles of behavior and how they can be used to teach your dog new skills, diagnose problems and eliminate unwanted behaviors. It's for anyone who wants to better understand the learning process in dogs. Every concept is laid out clearly and precisely, and its relevance to your dog and how you train is explained.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

How Dogs Learn explains the fascinating science of operant conditioning. The authors, recognized experts in this field, are also experienced dog trainers, and they explain each operant conditioning principle using dog training examples. For the first time, behavioral procedures that are used with humans, such as Behavioral Diagnostics and Functional Analysis, have been translated for applications with dogs. How Dogs Learn will help all dog owners solve canine behavior problems and improve their proficiency as trainers.

From the Back Cover

"...this book should be on every animal trainer's bookshelf for future reference. How Dogs Learn covers the content of an undergraduate course in learning and behavior, but the examples are taken from dog training?it is practical and very useful without sacrificing scientific and technical accuracy." —Jack Michael, PhD, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University

How Dogs Learn explore the fascinating science of operant conditioning, where science and dog training meet. How Dogs Learn explains the basic principles of behavior and how they can be used to teach your dog new skills, diagnose problems and eliminate unwanted behaviors. It's for anyone who wants to better understand the learning process in dogs. Every concept is laid out clearly and precisely, and its relevance to your dog and how you train is explained.
A Howell Dog Book of Distinction

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (May 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876053711
• ISBN-13: 978-0876053713
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Professional Trainer, July 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Dogs Learn (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

As a professional police dog trainer this book is the only dog training book that I have read that addresses the heart of in my field training. Late in life I decided to learn about the science behind training and now a student of behavior science. This book should be a must read for every trainer. Information here goes directly to applied behavior modification something every trainer should have at very least a working understanding of.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An In Depth View of a Dog's Reasoning, May 30, 2001

By 

Scott Robinson (Woodland Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Dogs Learn (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

A very good book for the more technical reader. Ever since Pavlov got dogs to salivate when he rang a bell, man has studied dogs and associated their behavior with ours. This book uses all that great dog data (60-100 years)to tell us more about dogs instead of humans. Novel idea. I liked it. A little dry. I read most books and hope to get something good I can use. This book more than met my expectations. "Behavior Problems In Dogs" I think Bill Cambell was as good or better. Both must reads for the serious trainer.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rereading the good stuff- this is one of the best..., April 1, 2004

By 

Dawn "NJHeart2Heart" (Parsippany, NJ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How Dogs Learn (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

Coming back into the world of dog training after a few years, I grabbed several of my previously owned books to review and redigest. I have only started to read "How Dogs Learn", and found the first chapter fascinating. It outlines, with just enough information without "too much" detail, the history of behavior and training from the scientists' and the trainers' perspective. I found it so helpful to have both histories and to be able to visually see how the two are now forming bridges to one another's vast databases of knowledge.
I also note that the author is very fair in her assesment of those "training forefathers", who though we as positive trainers might disagree with, truly made great investments in the dog training industry, and who deserve to be recognized for their contributions.

I recognized so many of the people involved, as well as the books, which are also mentioned (which is great- If I want to get into more detail, I know what to look for).

I still have much to read, but I am very excited about reviewing the principles of operant conditioning, and seeing more illustrations of how two worlds have begun to forge a united base of knowledge, which is sure to clarify and enlighten all of us trainers in the end.

Dawn D.
"NJHeart2Heart"